love your enemy

[truelight Mike]

The way of Christ is a better way. It is a higher way. And sometimes for the disciple it is a hard way but the kingdom of God is worth it

 

[Deeje]

Amen

Is this your experience with the churches of Christendom TM? I don't see it. I see them being "friends with the world" by sending military personnel onto battle fields with consciences soothed because of feeling like killing was wrong for a follower of Christ. (James 4:4) Chaplains in the armed forces do not tell their charges what Jesus taught, but fly the banner of another religion...nationalism. These two ideologies are incompatible but you would never know it...the churches have amalgamated them as if they both serve the interests of the same god...nothing could be further from the truth.

They teach that it is OK to hate your enemy and to drop bombs on innocent women and children. Where will I find this in my Bible?

 

[truelight Mike]

Is this your experience with the churches of Christendom TM? I don't see it. I see them being "friends with the world" by sending military personnel onto battle fields with consciences soothed because of feeling like killing was wrong for a follower of Christ. (James 4:4) Chaplains in the armed forces do not tell their charges what Jesus taught, but fly the banner of another religion...nationalism. These two ideologies are incompatible but you would never know it...the churches have amalgamated them as if they both serve the interests of the same god...nothing could be further from the truth.

They teach that it is OK to hate your enemy and to drop bombs on innocent women and children. Where will I find this in my Bible?

Yes I agree. I believe that modern Christianity is far removed from the teachings of Christ. That is what we are preaching here

 

[Deeje]

Yes I agree. I believe that modern Christianity is far removed from the teachings of Christ. That is what we are preaching here

May I ask...who is "we"? And what do you classify as "modern Christianity"? What do you see as the future for "modern Christianity"?

It seems to me that ancient Christianity from about the second century onward was beginning to become unraveled. It gradually weakened over time and eventually became unrecognizable....ripe for a takeover. Enter Constantine the Great!
The activities of the early church (4th century Roman Catholicism) bore all the hallmarks of the foretold apostasy....the "weeds" that Jesus spoke about.
What took place from then on was a complete departure from all that Christ taught. All the modern churches are daughters of that "mother" church.

 

[truelight Mike]

May I ask...who is "we"? And what do you classify as "modern Christianity"? What do you see as the future for "modern Christianity"?

It seems to me that ancient Christianity from about the second century onward was beginning to become unraveled. It gradually weakened over time and eventually became unrecognizable....ripe for a takeover. Enter Constantine the Great!
The activities of the early church (4th century Roman Catholicism) bore all the hallmarks of the foretold apostasy....the "weeds" that Jesus spoke about.
What took place from then on was a complete departure from all that Christ taught. All the modern churches are daughters of that "mother" church.

Our church's website is www.earlychurchtruth.com

 

[use_your_brain]

What if we don't love our enemies? What will be the risk?

 

[truelight Mike]

What if we don't love our enemies? What will be the risk?

Who knows what all we miss out on if we chose a different way than God’s way. It does not only affect us it also affects others too

 

[Neo Deist]

A parent might love their child but not allow that child to do anything he or she wants. A child might love a parent but if the parent has Alzheimer's and acts out, the child might have to restrain the parent or put him or her in an institution. This applies in the more general sense.

My parents and my children are not my enemies...

 

[Unveiled Artist]

If you 'return evil for evil' how are you superior in any way to the one who hates you?

I have to point this out because it is confusing of what I know of the Christian faith. Ima replace the person "you" with god.

How is god superior in any way to the one he hates when he return evil/judgement/punishment on evil/sin of the person/sinner?

Why would a Christian love his enemy when god does not for a sinner if he does not become christian?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Question for Christians.

Why would a Christian love his enemies when god doesn't love his enemies?

Is there an exclusion that god does not have to love his enemies while christians do?

 

[use_your_brain]

Who knows what all we miss out on if we chose a different way than God’s way. It does not only affect us it also affects others too

what will we miss if we choose a different way than God's way?

 

[Etritonakin]

Is there any teaching higher than the teaching of Jesus to love your enemy?

There is the understanding that your enemies have the potential to be with you forever -but no longer as enemies.

King Nebuchadnezzar tried to kill Daniel and his friends, but Daniel consistently said to him "O, King, live forever".

God is able to destroy both spirit and body in Gehenna -but perhaps he is able to bring all to repentance. We do not know.

1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

 

[Etritonakin]

Question for Christians.

Why would a Christian love his enemies when god doesn't love his enemies?

Is there an exclusion that god does not have to love his enemies while christians do?

God does love his enemies -but he is God, and does it somewhat differently.

He will make them gods by dealing with them in no uncertain terms.

Ultimately, God has killed all who have died -but he will also resurrect all of them.

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Eze 21:4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:
Eze 21:5 That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.

Isa 66:16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death

 

[Unveiled Artist]

God does love his enemies -but he is God, and does it somewhat differently.

He will make them gods by dealing with them in no uncertain terms.

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Eze 21:4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:
Eze 21:5 That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.

Isa 66:16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

What type of love does god have for his enemies to where he is excused of disobeying his own commandments? (sorry to put it bluntly; it is confusing)

 

[Deeje]

I have to point this out because it is confusing of what I know of the Christian faith. Ima replace the person "you" with god.

How is god superior in any way to the one he hates when he return evil/judgement/punishment on evil/sin of the person/sinner?

Why would a Christian love his enemy when god does not for a sinner if he does not become christian?

God is the Creator of all life. He has set conditions for it to continue. Remember that in Eden, right from the start, life was conditional. It was very simple....obey and live...disobey and die. Those conditions have never altered. Those who fail to meet the conditions God has placed on life, will have the gift withdrawn for the benefit of the ones who show faith and are willing to live their life as God commands. There is no place for people who want to do things their way...its God's way or the highway. He gets to call the shots because he sets the rules. We must follow them in order to keep living...they are not difficult, nor do they cause us any harm...all of God's rules are for our benefit.

We are tenants on his earth.

Would you tolerate rebels in your house if they were destroying your property and and causing harm to the rest of your family? Would you not evict them for the sake of other family members who just wanted to live in peace?
That is what God will do. Why is that so hard to understand?

 

[cambridge79]

Our church's website is www.earlychurchtruth.com

Examining Eve's mistake, the woman's head covering, modesty, and Paul's teaching on women keeping silent

this looks more the church of monthy python to me.

you preach love your enemies but you can't even respect your women, i smell another misogynistic group in disguise here

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/first/women.html

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Would you tolerate rebels in your house if they were destroying your property and and causing harm to the rest of your family? Would you not evict them for the sake of other family members who just wanted to live in peace?

A Christian can find love for the rebels. He does not need to punish them for their misdeeds; but, from their actions not from the Christian's, they wil suffer the consequences. In the real world, the law would take over in this case; however, that is not my point.

A Christian should find love for the rebels.

Likewise with god.

God should find love for his "rebels."

If a Christian is required to love his enemies and, this includes, not punishing them (which is contrary to love), why cannot god do the same as what he asks of the Christian?

Satan is an enemy of god yet Christian's are told that treat enemies as children of god (if I got that right in the gospels), why can't god satan?Great Disciples of The Buddha?

The Christian faith doesn't need to be justified correct. If it is true that god can go against his own commandment of loving others (thou shall not kill, for example), let me know.

Other than that, the confliction with what he tells Christians to do and what he does yells out literally and metaphorically that I dont see how any Christian can overlook it.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Love triumphs even if it dies

You know what would be nice? Jesus' transformative powers making enemies into friends. He can supposedly make people saved, right? Why should I forgive those out to hurt me if he has the power to switch them over to the light side of the force? Forgiveness is not going to make them stop being evil. Only a true transformation of spirit can. I have to wonder what Jesus is waiting on.

I mean, you know how women are taught how to avoid getting into rape situations? You know what would be nice? Teaching men not to rape. Sometimes it's just better to be proactive. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and all that...

What do you mean by higher? Before Jesus, there was Dhammapada 1:5 "Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal."

Trying to combat hatred via more hatred only makes hatred grow and spread. The solution is to stop hating. Doesn't matter who says it. What matters is doing it.

It is not hatred to stop evil people who are harming others and have no plans to stop. It is love towards their past, current, and future victims.

You cannot be a Christian if you don't obey Jesus' commands. If you 'return evil for evil' how are you superior in any way to the one who hates you? There is no victory in that....only defeat.

Jesus forgave the Romans for killing him and lots of Jews and Christians died when the Romans went on killing sprees. How well did that forgiveness work out for all the victims?

Jesus said..."I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name." (John 15:11-15)

And before he laid down his life, he ran away from angry mobs and whined NOT to be killed. Jesus wasn't into it at all until he had no choice anymore.

Yes I agree. I believe that modern Christianity is far removed from the teachings of Christ. That is what we are preaching here

I agree, but it's also true that whitewashing Jesus (racially and morally) has caused a lot of problems. He got angry, he got sarcastic, he didn't help people unless it was plot important ... we should accept him for what he was, not what we want him to be. He is not a Care Bear.

They teach that it is OK to hate your enemy and to drop bombs on innocent women and children. Where will I find this in my Bible?

The conquest of Canaan, the monarchy period of Israel, Jesus' advice to dump your family like a hot potato to follow him, killing nearly the entire globe in an apocalypse, etc ...

What if we don't love our enemies? What will be the risk?

We can stop them from hurting others. The problem is that many people are considered enemies but have done nothing wrong. Bigots have lots of irrational enemies. Only those who are actively causing harm and have no inclination to stop should be "hated", in the sense we need to counter them, stop them, etc. War should be last resort, but it should remain on the table in case hugging doesn't work.

Ok, I realize I'm sounding like a hawk. Keep in mind I'm proud of the world for using diplomacy to deal with Iran. I'm proud we're reducing our silliness with Cuba. I consider these violent issues to be done by bigots, as most of the people we are taught are enemies just aren't, or they are such incompetent enemies it would be immoral to treat them as we would competent ones. I am largely against sanctions as I see it hurts "the people" more than the governments. I am against war because most of the time it's not actually due to any real threat, just greed and hypocrisy. We go to war with the Middle East because we can take them. China and Russia do far worse and yet we don't go after them. Our moral outrage is fickle and hypocritical and stupid. I am not against war or force so much as I am against hypocritical use of it. *mytwocents*

King Nebuchadnezzar tried to kill Daniel and his friends, but Daniel consistently said to him "O, King, live forever".

Things didn't work out so well for him either, per the story.

God is the Creator of all life. He has set conditions for it to continue. Remember that in Eden, right from the start, life was conditional. It was very simple....obey and live...disobey and die. Those conditions have never altered. Those who fail to meet the conditions God has placed on life, will have the gift withdrawn for the benefit of the ones who show faith and are willing to live their life as God commands. There is no place for people who want to do things their way...its God's way or the highway. He gets to call the shots because he sets the rules. We must follow them in order to keep living...they are not difficult, nor do they cause us any harm...all of God's rules are for our benefit.

But then He started advertising His grace. Why is the application of His grace worse than health insurance companies?

 

[JoStories]

Well for 1 it's not easy in my experience... depending on how severe the wrong suffered is and by whose hand the wrong comes by seems to make a difference

IMO, that is your ego talking. You want to view yourself as being better than your enemy because you can be more magnanimous than they. Good for you. What purpose does that serve, other than to stroke your ego? To make you feel better about you.

 

[Etritonakin]

Things didn't work out so well for him either, per the story.

Whether you are referring to Daniel or Nebuchadnezzar... no... they both pretty much died -and had difficult lives.

However, the story is not over.