man, i don't know. i think these are hard questions.
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one of our cats, not long ago, we discovered had feline leukemia, and an autoimmune disorder. she was dying of a common cold, and we knew that nothing could be done to either preserve or prolong her life.
but we didn't stop offering her food and water, or comforting her, or loving her. we didn't euthanize her, and we didn't stop trying to care for her whatever way we could, even knowing that ultimately nothing we did would save her, here on earth.
i prayed ever day for her, knowing that if God willed, He could make her whole - and thanking Him for the time He gave us with her, and for using us to give her joy in this life for the short time allotted to her. He gives; He takes away - still i will praise Him
so even if someone is a "lost cause" - should we treat them the same?
depending on what we're talking about within the premise of this thread, we could be talking about a person who is spiritually dead, dying, on their way to destruction - whom only God can actually save. should we treat them as we treated this cat that we loved, serving them however we can?
but Christ said "let the dead bury their dead" to the person who would put caring for the dying before following Christ.
and our cat, she is our family, but spiritually, the dead are not our brothers and sisters, because we have been brought into the household of the living.
compassion, we need it; we received it, and we need to display it.
if Christ was not ashamed to touch a leper, i think we shouldn't be either - and not afraid that by doing so we will be defiled. He has made us clean, and only our feet need to be washed, right?
is anyone is a "lost cause" to Him?
to us, it seems sure. but to God? all things possible, and all things ultimately in His hand