Love your neighbor AS YOURSELF

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jullianna
  • Start date Start date
  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Sean, it’s kinda silly for people to hate someone for merely expressing an opinion, so don’t sweat it. I actually prefer honestly, sans hatefulness (and I don’t see any hatefulness in your post). J

While I realize and agree that was not the point Jesus was making in that passage as a whole, I disagree that to “love yourself” is wrong (if that's what you mean...not sure). Jesus loves us. All of us. Not just everyone else. He loved us enough to die for us. If you were the only person on the Earth, do you think He would have died for you alone? I think He would have. J So…if He loves you, what is wrong with YOU loving you?

I realize that when a lot of people think about loving themselves, they think in terms of pride and vanity (because that’s what the world does), but that’s not what I’m talking about here. J I’m talking about our value to God in the scheme of things. I’m talking about love in the way God looks at it, not the corrupted version of man.

I’m also going to have to disagree with everyone loving themselves. There are a lot of people who have been beaten down so far that they feel subhuman. We most definitely have a sinful nature, but some people are far more susceptible to the lies of the evil one and allow him to do quite a number on them…making them feel that they don’t matter to God or anyone else. I pray you don’t know any of them and I wish I didn’t. Takes a whole lotta love to restore such a one.
 
I totally get whatuyou are saying. currently I am suffering from a nasty chest infection because I ran myself into the ground rather than admit I wasn't well and say no when people needed me to do things. on the other hand I think even doing that people and inherently selfish. think how many times a day we think or say I or me? what we really need to do is put God first. I think he is more than capable of looking after us. ps excuse lack of capitals and punctiation. my phone is being silly
 
the focus is love your neighbor,how? as you love yourself.Treat others the way the way you want to be treated.Our enemy is ego ( pride) only what God says about us really matters.
 
I completely understand, leelee. This is exactly how God led me to begin to consider this topic and allow Him to make changes in me. I nearly died last Fall because I felt guilty about not helping people 24/7 and did not take the time to rest and heal properly.
 
This is something we discussed in a small group meeting recently. And people had very mixed feelings. Some expressed how they were introverts and didn't really feel comfortable befriending people. Others had trust issues that got in the way of their interaction with others. For me, I love reaching out to others. But there are times I seek quiet and reflection. Even Jesus took some time to fast and pray.

We all have different personalities. But we are often pressured to follow a general approach to ministering to others. I don't allow people to pressure me or guilt me to do something. I seek guidance from the Spirit. Life is beautiful with the Holy Spirit at the helm. But life can be miserable if you let others tell you how you're suppose to love.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back