C
If God is love, then it only makes sense that hate would separate you from Him and that those far from him would partake in it. I see it everywhere I go, intolerance and fear. It's come to my attention that people fear, in a sense, what they don't understand and that leads to hatred. Also, envy causes one to hate whomever they're envious of.
It would be hypocritical to say that I've never dealt with the above on one level or another, but looking at others for what they are, children of God, helps me to love them as Jesus would. Others before me have felt the same way and tried to speak against it in various ways eg. Jesus, MLK, Gandhi, etc. Often times, however, those with hate in their hearts prey upon goodness; I think we all know the struggles that they faced.
My question is, how can we as Christians, and more precisely, teenagers in today's world more effectively tolerate and reach those with hate in their hearts? It can be a challenge to talk with non-believers, and even other Christians, when faced with such hostility. The last thing we need is personal vendettas getting in the way of furthering God's kingdom on Earth.
It would be hypocritical to say that I've never dealt with the above on one level or another, but looking at others for what they are, children of God, helps me to love them as Jesus would. Others before me have felt the same way and tried to speak against it in various ways eg. Jesus, MLK, Gandhi, etc. Often times, however, those with hate in their hearts prey upon goodness; I think we all know the struggles that they faced.
My question is, how can we as Christians, and more precisely, teenagers in today's world more effectively tolerate and reach those with hate in their hearts? It can be a challenge to talk with non-believers, and even other Christians, when faced with such hostility. The last thing we need is personal vendettas getting in the way of furthering God's kingdom on Earth.