Love your enemy? Does this mean even people who are against us?

Question

1 Corinthians 5:11 - "But now I am writing you to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man."

1 Corinthians 5:13 - "While God judges those outside? Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”

Titus 3:10, 11 "As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition; knowing that such a man has been turned out of the way and is sinning, he being self-condemned".

Then we have:

Matthew 5:43-45 "...Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you"

How would you explain that "apparent" contradiction?
No bashing please.
I'm sure someone will have a good thorough answer! :0)

So far I have had great answers!

The reason I asked this question is because "someone" who no longer has faith, used that scripture (Matthew 5:43-45 - love your enemy) as an excuse to not "shun" apostate teaching. The general attitude for the congregational members is to not "mix" with people who have "gone astray", but I read about one such a person (who went astray) who quoted the scripture about loving your enemy as an excuse.

Answer 1

Nice - placing the other scriptures as a counterpoint and seemingly opposed to the words of Christ.


Think of it as this....

Why should we have a great compassion and feel love toward these people and yet refrain from deep association if they refuse to follow God's Way?

This is the only life they will have. Hope they enjoy it and it is rich and full of the things they believe bring them happiness.

The enemy offers only some happiness in this life - what does the Christian doctrine (the bible) say about this?

Mark 10:21

Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." (NAS)
-
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (KJV)
-
And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. (ASV)

Remember Jesus too was tempted by Satan to take power and wealth. Jesus declined and rebuked him. Many people are give these and do not know the true riches and strength lies with God Almighty through His son.

This world is all they have and is all many of them will ever have.

Answer 2

It isn't such an apparent contradiction at all. First of all the first three passages you give are the words of Paul and he was saying that a person who is not with you is against you and since the whole concept of Christianity was fairly new, he did not want to see negative influences infiltrate and ruin the whole mission. In Matthew, that is Jesus talking and of course He always gave the best of all options as the one we ought to choose. Now these people may have been cast out of the group but never did Paul say that they were not to be prayed for. Earlier in 1 Corinthians 5 around verse 9 or so Paul says that he was not referring to those of the outside world but to those who were supposedly brothers or sisters in the church. He did not want to chance the "yeast destroying the whole batch". We can never be wrong to pray for our enemies, even those that are violently opposed to us, even those who hate and ridicule us. That is what Jesus taught us as the right thing to do.

Answer 3

i don't see this as a contradiction at all.

in corinthians & titus, paul is addressing the born again church.

in titus, paul is teaching that if there is one in the church who is contintious & teaching against doctrine, & he cannot be reasoned w/ or made to see the error of his ways, then he must be put out of the church.

again in 1 corinthians, paul is referring to those in the church & the one who will not stop his sins of fornication, covetousness, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.


you have to draw the line in association w/ those who have fallen away & are are not interested in living for God.... & God will judge them.

in matt., Jesus stresses to pray for those who persecute you. you can love a person spiritually (even though you may not get along w/ them physically) & not want them to go to hell, while at the same time, keeping a personal distance from them.

Answer 4

yes... you must love even your enemies Even in the old testament... which we should pay attention to... says not to rejoice in your enemies problems lest God see it and be displeased

It is not a contradiction...
you are mixing those who you love and those who you fellowship with... the prodigal son had a father who loved him enough to let him run away for a time.. is that love... yes

in some of the verses, fellowship is broken, but it is like a parent exptessing tough love, not letting the child back home till they quit drugs

it is important to break fellowship because the person will no longer be comfrotable with sin, in the end it is more loving than pretending nothing is goign on

it is also loving to those around, so they don't think the believers are into sin

one must speak the truth in love... even though the message may sound unloving to the hearer sometimes.. the intent is love or is supposed to be

Answer 5

Yes. Jesus did not have in mind the sort of affection that might exist between close friends. The Greek term for love used at Matthew 5:44 comes from the word a·ga′pe. This word carries the meaning of love that is guided or governed by principle. It does not necessarily include warm affection. Because it is guided by righteous principle, such love moves one to seek the best interests of others, regardless of their behavior.

Answer 6

The apparent contradiction you pose is solved by defining love as it was understood by the Biblical writers. Presently, love appears to imply unquestioning acceptance of another’s preferences as long as no obvious harm results. However, according to the ancients, true love is a fixed, rational intent to seek the well-being of another. Therefore, I can truly love someone by the act of confronting their wrong behavior as harmful to them. Sometimes the problem is resolved quickly, but sometimes a person will persist in behavior that harms themselves or others. In that case, one should not give approval to such bad behavior by acting as if it has no effect on the relationship. Bad deeds disrupt good friendships. But that does not mean I cannot continue to act to help my “enemies” overcome what troubles them. No practicing Christian hopes for their enemy to starve or freeze to death. Many, many Christians have shown a generous, unselfish love to their persecutors without approving of their bad deeds. This love has manifested itself in many ways, including not only prayer, but also food, housing, clothing, medical care, etc. Yet such love must also include the courage to disapprove of evil deeds, even while hoping for an uncertain reconciliation. Otherwise, it fails to seek the ultimate well-being of the other, and thus falls short of the true meaning of love.

Answer 7

Hello Paul S... :)

In Corinthians 5:11..Paul is talking about other believers in Christ..not non believers..our brothers and sisters in the Lord..

Titus 3:10-11..Is speaking of more the same..brothers and sister that have turned away from the Lord..not those that do not know him..

Matthew 5:43-45 Is speaking of those that are not believers in Christ..those that mock and or condemn us..we are to ~Love~ our enemies and pray for those that persecute us.. :)


In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With ~Love~ your "Friend" In Christ.. :)

Answer 8

Corinthians is written by Paul of Tarsus.

Some of Pauls writings directly contradict the 4 main Gospels, or contradict them in spirit. However, when the bible was compiled, the proto-orthodox section of christianity won the debate about which books to include. The proto-orthodox worshiped Paul.

The truth is that God loves all the sheep, especially the lost one.

Answer 9

Your enemy is someone against you.....that's what it means to have an enemy.
The examples you quote are not personal enemies of you but of God, Himself because they are wicked, promoting false religion. They disobey God and even rebel against Him and professing Him a liar. God doesn't want us to hang with these types or let them in the fellowship to freely cause confusion and disharmony and even lead the innocent astray.
No contradiction at all........one is talking about people who "have it in for" you, personally - the other is talking about campaign against God, sinful, wickedness at it's worst.
Everyone has a personal enemy at one time or another and the Christian just has another reason to have more of them. If a Christian has an enemy and it is not his fault, he can pray for that enemy and God will intervene on their behalf. It's part of the provision and protection clause in our contract with the Savior (just a little humor there). And by showing the love of Christ in the face of persecution, you may lead them to the knowlege of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Answer 10

Yes we should love our enemies for a number of reasons. First off, how can we expect people to love us if we cannot show love in return. Also, the less hatred going on in the world the better we will all be. I also heard somewhere that the people who are the hardest to love are the ones who need it the most. Think about that...why are these people your enemies?? Very likely it is because they do not experience enough love in their lives and desprately need someone to love them, though they usually dont know it. Also, though it may be difficult, loving our enemies will bring us personal joy and also bring us closer to God.

Answer 11

First, the scriptures that you quoted from 1 Corinthians and Titus have to do with pseudo-Christians, wolves disguised in sheep's clothing, who are in among the sheep, who's purpose is to deceive and lead weak and unaware Christians astray.
Even if you continue to love and pray for your enemies, would you still want them in the midst of you? Just because we forgive somebody doesn't mean that our forgiveness will have any effect whether they change or not. If the person continues to deceive, manipulate, lie, instigate strife and division, we would be fools to allow them to continue to be in our midst.
Would you allow your child alone in a room with a known child molestor, even if you have forgiven him? Would you put a wolf or a lion or any meat eating predator in a pen full of sheep? Loving them and trusting them are two entirely different things. You can love a son who is a heroin addict, but it doesn't mean you can trust him alone in your home, not to steal your things.
It's just common sense. I see no contradictions.