Loving your enemies

[JFSurvivor]

In the Bible there is a whole slew of verses about loving your enemies. I have some thoughts and some questions on that...

Luke 6:27-36
V.35-36: Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.

So here is what I am thinking:God loves everyone, even "bad people".

In my mind (and I don't know if God sees it this way, this is just how I see it) there is no such thing as "good" and "bad" people. There is just hurt people. when someone hurts me do I get upset? yes but I also wonder what they are hurting about too.

I think God put these verses in there because He knows hurt people, hurt people and he doesn't want that cycle to continue and the only way to break that cycle is to love those who hurt you. So then the focus is more on helping them than on yourself and how much you are hurt. Of course it is healthy to process your anger and hurt in a healthy way and I think part of that includes seeing that individual who hurt you as another hurt individual. I don't know if that's how it is and I'm not claiming to know the heart of God but I am just saying what I have seen from my experience.

So what do you think about this?

Also, Romans 12:19-21 states that if you are kind to your enemies it will be like heaping burning coals on his head. Why did it say that? It's like "be nice to your enemies so they suffer." I don't get that. I mean is it saying "be nice so the natural consequences come about to that person and they change for the better." or what? I'm all confused. Thoughts?

 

[Sirk]

Being able to process pain with others connects you with them. It tears down walls. Love is transparent and open. A person who is closed off is full of fear. God doesn't want us to hide from Him or from those close to us. Isolation is where satan wants you so he can shame you and defeat you. Handling conflict and processing our own pain in healthy ways is how we can grow. Conflict is opportunity for personal growth....forgiveness is for you not your offender.

 

[Danacovert82]

I have a question: how do we be nice to our enemies when we don't have contact with them, and don't want to ever have contact again? Ponder that for a while.

 

[crossnote]

In my mind (and I don't know if God sees it this way, this is just how I see it) there is no such thing as "good" and "bad" people. There is just hurt people. when someone hurts me do I get upset? yes but I also wonder what they are hurting about too.

So the rapist who rapes your 4yr old girl or the terrorist who slits your mother's throat making you watch because you didn't deny Christ are hurt people and need therapy?
Gee, our culture in it's narcissism sure has lost sight of good and evil.

I agree with the main point of loving our enemies but not the above sentence.

 

[JFSurvivor]

I have a question: how do we be nice to our enemies when we don't have contact with them, and don't want to ever have contact again? Ponder that for a while.

I dunno....I guess part of that could be seeing their hurts even if you don't intend to see them again and pray for them.

 

[Sirk]

So the rapist who rapes your 4yr old girl or the terrorist who slits your mother's throat making you watch because you didn't deny Christ are hurt people and need therapy?
Gee, our culture in it's narcissism sure has lost sight of good and evil.

I guess I was thinking in terms of family members and friends and such who can be our enemies at times. Of course there are extremes of everything.

 

[crossnote]

I guess I was thinking in terms of family members and friends and such who can be our enemies at times. Of course there are extremes of everything.

I amended my comment.

 

[crossnote]

'The heap of burning coals' was actually a do good expression giving them warmth to travel from place to place.

 

[JFSurvivor]

So the rapist who rapes your 4yr old girl or the terrorist who slits your mother's throat making you watch because you didn't deny Christ are hurt people and need therapy?
Gee, our culture in it's narcissism sure has lost sight of good and evil.

Ok so a terrorist and a rapist are two COMPLETLY seperate cases. One involves demonic activity and it's not the rapist.

Also might I remind you that I also was sexually assaulted. I am angry at those who did it but I understand why. I don't usually talk about it on here because this has actually been a pretty safe place for me to vent my frustetions.

Believe it or not but one of the guys who assaulted me is actually just a big teddy bear inside who really needs a hug. I know that sounds weird but it's true. I saw a side to him that is so deeply hurt it pains me to think about. I know exactly what hurt him too because he told me about it. Now he's confused about a lot of things and no one really gets why he is the way he is. I would NEVER go back to him because that would be dangerous but I understand.

The teacher at my school whp was such a jerk? His mom had cancer and he was told she was going to die multiple times (She didn't but it was still scary for him). His mom never really validated him and gave him love cuz she had none to give.

His mom was raped, made to work hard labor from a young age, had to raise all her siblings and turned out to be a very mean woman.

Does this mean they get a pass for doing what they did? No. But I understand and it makes it easier to forgive them, easier to pray for them and easier to love them....even within my anger and hurt. Does that make sense?

 

[Jason0047]

In the Bible there is a whole slew of verses about loving your enemies. I have some thoughts and some questions on that...

Luke 6:27-36
V.35-36: Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.

So here is what I am thinking:God loves everyone, even "bad people".

In my mind (and I don't know if God sees it this way, this is just how I see it) there is no such thing as "good" and "bad" people. There is just hurt people. when someone hurts me do I get upset? yes but I also wonder what they are hurting about too.

I think God put these verses in there because He knows hurt people, hurt people and he doesn't want that cycle to continue and the only way to break that cycle is to love those who hurt you. So then the focus is more on helping them than on yourself and how much you are hurt. Of course it is healthy to process your anger and hurt in a healthy way and I think part of that includes seeing that individual who hurt you as another hurt individual. I don't know if that's how it is and I'm not claiming to know the heart of God but I am just saying what I have seen from my experience.

So what do you think about this?

Also, Romans 12:19-21 states that if you are kind to your enemies it will be like heaping burning coals on his head. Why did it say that? It's like "be nice to your enemies so they suffer." I don't get that. I mean is it saying "be nice so the natural consequences come about to that person and they change for the better." or what? I'm all confused. Thoughts?

God hates the sin but loves the person. If that was not the case, then He would not have died for us while we were yet sinners. Does this mean God loves us when we sin? No. God is not unrighteous. God is Holy. God does not like it when we sin but He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Repentance is confessing and forsaking sin. In the case of an unbeliever it would be merely admitting your sin (or that you are a sinner) and then accepting the Lord as your Savior. But loving your enemy is something we want to do because it is God moving within in our hearts and minds convicting us to do so. For loving others is a mark of a believer.

 

[Sirk]

God hates the sin but loves the person. If that was not the case, then He would not have died for us while we were yet sinners. Does this mean God loves us when we sin? No. God is not unrighteous. God is Holy. God does not like it when we sin but He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Repentance is confessing and forsaking sin. In the case of an unbeliever it would be merely admitting your sin (or that you are a sinner) and then accepting the Lord as your Savior.

Contradict yourself much?

 

[atwhatcost]

I have a question: how do we be nice to our enemies when we don't have contact with them, and don't want to ever have contact again? Ponder that for a while.

I want you life. You've always been able to walk away from your enemies?

In the past, my enemies have been my brothers, my parents, my bosses, and my cousins' mother and grandfather. (I was stuck living with that part of my family for 11 months too.)

Then again, scripture doesn't tell us we have to be nice. It tells us we have to love them. Which, come to think of it, in all but three cases, stopped my enemies from being my enemies, but it wasn't easy. It is/was God given.

 

[Jason0047]

Contradict yourself much?

God loves us.... but He will not tolerate anyone sinning against Him. If a person does not repent, they will be destroyed. God is Holy and He cannot condone sin. He does not like a person's motive to sin. But He does love the person and does not wish that any should perish.

 

[jsr1221]

Ok so a terrorist and a rapist are two COMPLETLY seperate cases. One involves demonic activity and it's not the rapist.

Also might I remind you that I also was sexually assaulted. I am angry at those who did it but I understand why. I don't usually talk about it on here because this has actually been a pretty safe place for me to vent my frustetions.

Believe it or not but one of the guys who assaulted me is actually just a big teddy bear inside who really needs a hug. I know that sounds weird but it's true. I saw a side to him that is so deeply hurt it pains me to think about. I know exactly what hurt him too because he told me about it. Now he's confused about a lot of things and no one really gets why he is the way he is. I would NEVER go back to him because that would be dangerous but I understand.

The teacher at my school whp was such a jerk? His mom had cancer and he was told she was going to die multiple times (She didn't but it was still scary for him). His mom never really validated him and gave him love cuz she had none to give.

His mom was raped, made to work hard labor from a young age, had to raise all her siblings and turned out to be a very mean woman.

Does this mean they get a pass for doing what they did? No. But I understand and it makes it easier to forgive them, easier to pray for them and easier to love them....even within my anger and hurt. Does that make sense?

I completely agree they don't get a pass. Does a killer convicted of first degree get a get out a jail free card just because the Bible says to love your enemies? Of course not. People that do bad things need to be punished for them. Having said that, I think loving your enemies means you don't carry the resentment with you. I know that's easier said than done, and anyone that says they don't struggle with loving their enemies are completely full of themselves. My nephew's dad is a complete narcissist, and has brainwashed my sister and nephew into thinking no one loves them. No one has seen heard from my sister and nephew for a couple years now. My nephew's dad is an evil person that has caused my nephew to already have psychological problems, and my sister and family a huge amount of pain. He will continue to do so. Having said that, my nephew's dad is also a son of God. Just like I am. Just like you are. Just like we all are. I'm no better in God's eyes than he is. I think loving your enemies means we pray for them. We pray they seek God, and that the Holy Spirit guides them. Because as long as we're alive, there's still a chance we can get saved.

 

[Jason0047]

I want you life. You've always been able to walk away from your enemies?

In the past, my enemies have been my brothers, my parents, my bosses, and my cousins' mother and grandfather. (I was stuck living with that part of my family for 11 months too.)

Then again, scripture doesn't tell us we have to be nice. It tells us we have to love them. Which, come to think of it, in all but three cases, stopped my enemies from being my enemies, but it wasn't easy. It is/was God given.

The Scriptures say we are not to just love in word but with our actions, too. This is what loving is all about. Yes, being nice would be considered loving them. If you are not nice... you are not loving them. I mean, you can't say bad things towards people or kick somebody down a flight of steps. That is neither nice nor is it loving.

 

[Willie-T]

So the rapist who rapes your 4yr old girl or the terrorist who slits your mother's throat making you watch because you didn't deny Christ are hurt people and need therapy?
Gee, our culture in it's narcissism sure has lost sight of good and evil.

I agree with the main point of loving our enemies but not the above sentence.

Yep, those are the exact people Jesus was talking about... the same ones who murdered Him.

 

[Willie-T]

Ok so a terrorist and a rapist are two COMPLETLY seperate cases. One involves demonic activity and it's not the rapist.

Also might I remind you that I also was sexually assaulted. I am angry at those who did it but I understand why. I don't usually talk about it on here because this has actually been a pretty safe place for me to vent my frustetions.

Believe it or not but one of the guys who assaulted me is actually just a big teddy bear inside who really needs a hug. I know that sounds weird but it's true. I saw a side to him that is so deeply hurt it pains me to think about. I know exactly what hurt him too because he told me about it. Now he's confused about a lot of things and no one really gets why he is the way he is. I would NEVER go back to him because that would be dangerous but I understand.

The teacher at my school whp was such a jerk? His mom had cancer and he was told she was going to die multiple times (She didn't but it was still scary for him). His mom never really validated him and gave him love cuz she had none to give.

His mom was raped, made to work hard labor from a young age, had to raise all her siblings and turned out to be a very mean woman.

Does this mean they get a pass for doing what they did? No. But I understand and it makes it easier to forgive them, easier to pray for them and easier to love them....even within my anger and hurt. Does that make sense?

More than you may know, But, more importantly, it makes good sense to Jesus.

 

[Sirk]

God loves us.... but He will not tolerate anyone sinning against Him. If a person does not repent, they will be destroyed. God is Holy and He cannot condone sin. He does not like a person's motive to sin. But He does love the person and does not wish that any should perish.

I wouldn't be doing my civic duty if I passed up an opportunity to illustrate that the mighty Jason is a hypocrite just like the rest of us.

 

[atwhatcost]

God loves us.... but He will not tolerate anyone sinning against Him. If a person does not repent, they will be destroyed. God is Holy and He cannot condone sin. He does not like a person's motive to sin. But He does love the person and does not wish that any should perish.

Seriously, dude. (And I use dude here, because some folks take offense at buddy.) Is this your calling in life? Give you're same ole-same ole shortened and private gospel no matter the topic? (Private gospel as opposed to the real one.) Because this has absolutely nothing to do with the topic! "Loving your enemies"

So, ye Ole Perfect One, how boutcha teach us all how to be sinless when it comes to an enemy? And, by enemy, I'm not going with a family member ticked us off for a moment, I'm talking the jerk who mugged you, the idiot who raped someone you loved (because the stats say one in four women have been raped, so, given even if they oversimplified the stats, by your age you know a man or a woman who has been raped), the creep who stalked you or someone you love to the point of terror, or the person who murdered someone you love. Since you, above all men, are prefect, please teach us how you dealt with that perfectly.

 

[crossnote]

Ok so a terrorist and a rapist are two COMPLETLY seperate cases. One involves demonic activity and it's not the rapist.

Also might I remind you that I also was sexually assaulted. I am angry at those who did it but I understand why. I don't usually talk about it on here because this has actually been a pretty safe place for me to vent my frustetions.

Believe it or not but one of the guys who assaulted me is actually just a big teddy bear inside who really needs a hug. I know that sounds weird but it's true. I saw a side to him that is so deeply hurt it pains me to think about. I know exactly what hurt him too because he told me about it. Now he's confused about a lot of things and no one really gets why he is the way he is. I would NEVER go back to him because that would be dangerous but I understand.

The teacher at my school whp was such a jerk? His mom had cancer and he was told she was going to die multiple times (She didn't but it was still scary for him). His mom never really validated him and gave him love cuz she had none to give.

His mom was raped, made to work hard labor from a young age, had to raise all her siblings and turned out to be a very mean woman.

Does this mean they get a pass for doing what they did? No. But I understand and it makes it easier to forgive them, easier to pray for them and easier to love them....even within my anger and hurt. Does that make sense?

I realize this and yes, some hurt people do some pretty wicked things. I was just commenting on your moral equivalent statement that you believe in your mind 'there is no good and bad people, just hurt people'. I realize you stated as an opinion so I countered with my opinion.