Christians are told to pray for their enemies, for those who persecute them, for those who slander them (for instance, Matthew 5:44 and Romans 12:14). There are examples, most notably Jesus on the cross (Lk 23:34) and Stephen (Acts 7:60). This is connected with forgiving but isn't identical to it I don't think. But this is all pretty general and maybe doesn't seem so clear in actual detailed circumstances. At least there are many times it's not clear to me.
By "guideline" I mean something like this: "Based on the New Testament, Christians should not pray to God asking Him to send to hell those who have harmed or insulted or persecuted them." That is, a guideline is a general statement of something that is or is not a good words to pray, based on the New Testament. And one ought to connect it to specific verses or examples from the New Testament.
Sample prayers of this kind would be cool. For all I know there is a web site or book filled with prayers of this kind.
2007-09-19 16:24:12 · 10 answers · asked by wilsonch0 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Awesome answer from JC is the man...I'd cite most of the same verses but here's how I'd summarize it...
Pray for God to bless your enemies and pray that he will give you the opportunity to bless them as well. Pray that God will bring them closer to him and pray that he would let you play a role in his plans for them.
Remember that the Lord reserves the right of vengeance to himself and he doesn't need our help to figure out the best way to do this. Praying for vengeance is pointless...and it reveals a lack of trust in God. Have faith that he will deal with your enemies in his own way and in his own time. Focus your attention on your own "beam"...forgive your enemies and then look for ways that you can show them the love of God.
2007-09-19 16:50:46 · answer #1 · answered by KAL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no longer except Jews think of that the advent of Moses invalidated the covenant with Abraham. The exciting factor is that Abraham and Moses made sacrifices to G-d however the Jews on the instant do no longer. Why no longer? isn't it nevertheless written interior the Torah or did they rip those pages out? it is not because of the fact Jews began gratifying the ten commandments and not longer needed sacrifices for his or her sins because of the fact the Torah mandates. I say that Jews won't be ready to fulfill the OT regulations as you act like Jews do fulfill the OT regulation and Christians do no longer. i could say that neither fulfill the regulation. No, the Jews on their very own made the determination to stop offering sacrifices for sin with the clergymen and alter. they could have primary the Tent of assembly which G-d which exchange into their different decision and continued to make sacrifices for sin. instead, they have become an extremely distinctive team that span polar opposite viewpoints as distinctive from Dr. Laura to Barbara Streisand with the only factors in undemanding being: a million. you won't be ready to be a Jew and have self belief in Jesus 2. All solutions are completely replied interior the impartial internet site spoke of as Jews for Judaism from which come the only conceivable and possible solutions. even however, Messianic Jews have self belief they nevertheless worship in a Temple with the sin requirement made on the alter fulfilled. you notice, the question isn't approximately whether human beings sin. The sacrifical device exchange into created because of the fact human beings do. there's a shank bone on the Passover plate remembering the day sins have been forgiven. The question is whether or no longer there is forgivenness of sins and how that's won.
2016-11-05 22:13:21 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, first of all we have to love people the way that Jesus does. And through the eyes of God. We are all God's children. Some of us are lost and distant from him, denying him and hurting him and ourselves. His heart aches for us. The love that we know is very minimal in comparison to the love that our Father has for us. If you know the love he has for you, know that he is not a respecter of persons. He loves us all the same. You can't thoroughly pray for a person without having love for them. Look at them through the eyes of God, they are his lost children that he loves greatly. So much that he gave his perfect son to die for them. And then pray for them. Pray for them like you would your own child that was driving themselves off the end of a cliff. With desperation, their eternity depends on it. And they do not even know, the love that God has for them, the peace that he gives. What it is like to lay their head on him and rest in his comfort and his shadow. I figured I would help you to understand instead of referring you to a book. This is an understanding that God will teach you if you ask him. The most powerful thing you can ever do is ask God to teach you to love others like he loves you.
2007-09-19 16:41:18 · answer #3 · answered by t2ensie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I think one of the clearest points of Scriptures on how we should pray for those who "persecute", "mistreat" us, or our considered our enemies comes from Romans 12.
No, it doesn't talk about prayer but it talks about our attitudes and how to treat others.
Romans 12:14-21
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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BTW, I am preaching on this very concept this Sunday.
2007-09-19 16:30:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD. Isaiah 54:17 (New King James Version) †
2007-09-19 16:32:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Although I am no longer Christian, I would recommend the words used by Jesus on the cross....
"Father, forgive them. They know not what they do."
2007-09-19 16:36:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anne Hatzakis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think God doesn't want us to go by the rules of our enemies.
Allow God to fight the battles. "All things work together for good who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." He takes care of His own.
2007-09-19 16:29:36 · answer #7 · answered by firechap20 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
......forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us........ Remember when the Apostles asked Jesus how we should pray? In the Gospels Jesus Himself gives us the "Lord's Prayer"
Matthew 6: 9-13
"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
Luke 11:1-4
He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." And he said to them, "When you pray, say:
‘Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation"’.
Unless we are able to forgive those who have wronged us, we may not be forgiven by the Master.
2007-09-19 16:29:46 · answer #8 · answered by Augustine 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
why are you telling the christian to change their prayer to this and that,connect this prayer with that prayer.Let it be,the bible is already messed up as it is.If bad to worst scenario,they will change the prayer,eg; "in the name of the father,son and son of a gun".please no more changes.
2007-09-19 16:36:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
pray for your enemies...in doing so you will heap a coal of fire upon their head........God bless
2007-09-19 16:29:36 · answer #10 · answered by cecstar 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋