2006-08-16 13:54:53 · 44 answers · asked by Peziord 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You don't have to no. No one is going to hold a gun to your head or anything.
2006-08-16 13:59:46 · answer #1 · answered by Mawyemsekhmet 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Well when you say have to, what do you mean by that. As in I have to love the Islamic extremists or I'm going to hell. Well no, I don't think that's true. If you do not love your enemies your not going to hell. However if you wish to go farther on your spiritual journey, and move into a closer experience with god, then yes it would be very helpful to love your enemies, including Islamic extremists. So just make sure you have "have to" in the right context. You have to love them if you wish to understand god in a more personal way, It is one of the many things that have to be delt with on your spiritual path, so at least attempt to and you may better understand Jesus and live out his love.
Secondly Loving an enemy especially an enemy that would like to kill you is a very difficult thing to do. I would suggest really trying hard to do this though. Pray over it. Loving your enemy could be interpreted as honestly wishing good upon them developing empathy and understanding. I no it's difficult and tough I have an extremely hard time with it but we are all imperfect and god knows accepts, and is willing to help us with that
2006-08-16 14:27:27 · answer #2 · answered by rabeekay 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This teaching might be easier to follow if you were to imagine yourself a poor young person who had been born into a much different culture than the one that you were born into.
Would you place the same value on your life as you do now. Would striking out in violence toward real or imagined "oppressors" seem like a justifiable option? As an uneducated young person, would you be susceptible to a person or group of people twisting your religion to the point where you thought you had "God on your side" when you committed an act of violence.
Now, before anyone says I'm justifying this type of behavior, I'm not. The point I'm trying to make is that the more you practice understanding the shorter your list of "enemies" will get. Think about it.
2006-08-16 14:27:53 · answer #3 · answered by On The Path 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are 10 different Greek words for love used in the new testament. If you use a Strong's Concordance and study this, you will see the different kinds or levels of love. Therefore, we should love our enemies, but not in the same way we love Jesus or or friends and family.
2006-08-16 14:04:16 · answer #4 · answered by petezsmg 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It basically getting to the point that if you "love" your enemy then you choosing not to judge or develop any feeling this way or that way about it...
.... completely leaving them for God to deal with and that is what is best. God laws are supreme and perfect and if you look in Corinthians... love delights in justice being served. God is love.
That is why we are also told to pray.... the more that we turn them over (instead of thinking how much we hate them & what we could do to them), the more they will experience their own wrath of the choices they have made but we have to turn them over to God.
You can choose to love or to hate.
You have a free will....
Hopefully though, this has enlightened you.
2006-08-16 14:27:50 · answer #5 · answered by SuperPrincess 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If God made you, then he also made the extreamist. Just as you would make mistakes and learn, so must the extremist. People often see too much of their own delusion of how things should be for them and not enough of the divine in everything and everyone.
2006-08-16 14:01:38 · answer #6 · answered by neuralzen 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. The word "love" Jesus used is an action word. It doesn't mean feelings of love. It means behaving in love. So yes, our words and actions should show love to all people--even those who are the most extreme.
2006-08-16 14:09:26 · answer #7 · answered by happygirl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means to seprate the man from the sin!
Islamic extremist no, a man who is an islamic extreamist yes!
2006-08-16 14:07:32 · answer #8 · answered by Grandreal 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Know thy brother, and love him as the Lord Jesus hath loved thee.
2006-08-16 13:58:42 · answer #9 · answered by Tofu Jesus 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, love the sinner, but hate the sin - that is exactly what Jesus does for us!
2006-08-16 14:06:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is a true test and a sometimes trying part of being a Christian. We must overcome hate and anger to find love...
2006-08-16 14:01:21 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋