Jesus tells us to love our enemies so that we can be children of God (resembling Him). Is this only a personal issue, or can it be applied to the world scene?
If loving our enemies is His will, then how should we (Christians) love Iraq, and the Muslim world? WWJD? What would Gandhi-ji do? What would Martin Luther King Jr. do?
How do you try to practice loving your enemies?
2007-05-17 03:32:57 · 12 answers · asked by PaxMaker 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
all Gods laws and commandments are deep and have global implications and knowledge and wisdom come from fearing the Lord ..
2007-05-17 03:36:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In every being dwells the Lord,.. Love thy neighbors,...
Yes, it applies to everyone. Iraq is a nation in need of help. To abandon them now is to also abandon our faith in the Lord. And not all Muslims are bad, just like people, some can be good or bad, remember, the Lord came to save those who needs saving. We [all] are sinners.
You may have an enemy and you never know that maybe to someone, you are an enemy.
Love them all, it's a struggle but still, it will promote a better place,....
Now, if only we can convince that certain person to stop sending more troops in Iraq,... To attain peace by war?, It is really not the answer. Two wrongs will never make a right. Tsk!
2007-05-17 03:42:15 · answer #2 · answered by coco_loco 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Before you can answer the question "Just what did God mean when He said.............?", you must step back and look at the situation from God's perspective, and with His purpose in mind.
God wants people to be reconciled to Him. The ONLY vehicle for this is a saving faith in Christ. All that He directs us to do is with that goal in mind.
Loving your enemy means "Do for him that which is most likely to get him to Christ." That doesn't always mean the same thing as "Do for your enemy that which pleases him or that which results in the least conflict with him."
As a tangible example - Let's say you have a cousin who's addicted to heroin. If you really love him, you'll do for him that which will get him free from his bondage. What he'd LIKE for you to do is either leave him alone, or give him some money to go get his fix. But you love him, and act on that love, and live your life fighting with him because you won't give up on him - and you won't just sit back and do nothing (which would result in lack of conflict) and give him the impression that what he's doing is OK with you.
2007-05-17 03:59:00 · answer #3 · answered by teran_realtor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The commandment is global. I can't get inside the heart of Gandhi-ji or Marthin Luther King, Jr., but they would say that we must do it, because Jesus said it.
I have no problem with Iraqis or Muslims in general. But if you're referring to terrorists, one way to practice with is to think about the mothers and fathers, who hopefully are not terrorists. They could be very much like your mother or father, but with an out-of-control child that they love. Kind of an in-the-back-door way to try to love.
Edit: Answer below reminds me to qualify what is meant by loving my enemies. I pray that they will open their eyes to God's Word, become new beings and go to heaven.
2007-05-17 03:47:58 · answer #4 · answered by cmw 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I try, and fail miserably every day. Lucky for me, the Bible specifically states that I am not judged according to that, but by the motives of the heart.
Hypothetically speaking, if a non-believer COULD love at all and managed to love their enemy, it would still be SIN!!! God says that unless it comes from a regenerate heart, it is sin.
2007-05-17 03:36:58 · answer #5 · answered by Soundtrack to a Nightmare 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Regardless if what they are doing you should be praying for their soul, ask god to reveal to them that what they are doing is wrong. It is not them it is the spiritual being around them that show them the wrong way. No one is perfect but if you read then you should know that everything that is happening in the world is just prophecy of the bible. All this must come to pass before the return of Christ, so just love them and pray for them
2007-05-17 03:37:47 · answer #6 · answered by Pastor Martinez 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"loving your enemis" should incuded everybody, that is your enemy. SO if Iraq is your enemy then treat them nicley,such as maybe suppproting or dontating supplies to lost famiels, and pray for them, the most important is praying for them. Get to know them better, and show compasionate .
2007-05-17 03:39:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
By not seeing them as enemies.
Love unifies...you have to see how they are like yourself.
Every religion on the planet aspires to this - loving all, unconditionally.
~ Eric Putkonen
2007-05-17 03:42:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a nice slogan to fool people with.
"As long as Israel has intentions of building their temple on the ashes of Islams third most Holy site, the Muslims will have intentions of building a Caliphate on the ashes of the Zionist State." ---- anonymous
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2007-05-17 03:35:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If everyone practiced loving their enemies then no more war...nice thought...but I won't hold my breath.
2007-05-17 03:36:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋