On a scale of 1-10, how important is Jesus's command "Love on another as I have loved you" to fundamentalists?

Question

Is judging or condemning people who are different a priority over and above loving?

Just wondering.

Gary: If any part of my question was specifically unloving or hateful, please point it out to me.

Answer 1

If I may, I'll answer Gary B and indirectly also answer you.

Gary, you said "if somebody is headed for hell, the least loving thing I can do is let them go there without saying anything to them." And this is correct; it's the compassion for our fellow man as Christians that makes us desire, as God does, that "none should perish".

The problem comes when fundamentalists *think* that other Christians -- such as Catholics -- are "headed for hell" and take it upon themselves to dissect and attack our beliefs on the basis of their own interpretation of the Bible, particularly where it comes to salvation although they don't usually stop there but go on to condemn an entire laundry list of Catholic doctrines and practices. Their tone can vary from condescending to pitying to outright hateful, all in the name of "love". Understandably, we don't feel very "loved" by all of this.

Which, of course, is where your statement "...it seems the 'fundamentalists' you apparently have no love for are not alone... just wondering about that" comes in.

I don't mind an honest question about doctrinal differences and gladly discuss them. I do mind being told I'm going to hell, or treated like an imbecile who can't read Scripture. This is heard much more often than "loving" concern over my soul's final destination.

Answer 2

Second only to loving God is loving thy neighbor.

I heard an interesting thing on Christian radio the other day. It was a comment made by one of the higher ranking leaders within the Southern Baptist church about the stagnation of evangelical outreach amongst Southern Baptists. From what they said, their bringing in of new members has been stunted since around the mid to late 50's. The leader actually said...
"nearly half of the 11 million Southern Baptists who profess to be, may not actually be SAVED". (because they lack the heart to 'reach out'..which is evident in a true christian)

Its a harsh indictment on the body of Christ but if the behavior that you exhibit is not one of Christ...then one has to question whether you even are a follower.

I considered this interesting in that, for those who make the racism of SBs synonymous with Christianity....the idea that "THOSE" folks dont actually represent God throws some heavy wrenches in the justification for rejection of God based on the actions of people.

Answer 3

I'd give it a 10. This is one of those questions that can be perfectly answered by Scripture:

"Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet'; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law." (Romans 13:8-10)

But remember to anti-gay Fundamentalists this does not matter. All that matters to them is that they constantly use the Bible to promote homophobia and revile and scorn gay people. This is their version of "Love."

Answer 4

Jesus's command not to judge is surely the most misused in the Bible. Final judging and condemning is for God alone to do - but we are told to examine ourselves and others according to God's word. It is God's word, not personal opinions, that judge and condemn people. Now, such should never be delivered in a harsh and unloving way; but they can still be delivered.

Look at it this way: if somebody is headed for hell, the least loving thing I can do is let them go there without saying anything to them.

And it seems the "fundamentalists" you apparently have no love for are not alone... just wondering about that.

Answer 5

Not a fundamentalist, so I can only offer my observation: lots of them say that their judging and condemning is love. They jump through lots of logical twists of scripture to make it support their assertion. They also might say it is discernment instead of judgement, but I fail to see in the Holy Bible where Jesus said "One command I give you, discern one another."

Answer 6

A protestant fundamentalist once actually told me that Jesus' command to love one another was just for the brethren. He meant that it was only for people who were already in the faith. Anybody outside of their clique got nothing but scorn and judgment.

Answer 7

Of course all of God's commands are equally important. There is no scale. You confuse the term judgement. God has given authority to governments to judge its citizen when crimes are commited. Informing someone of there crimes in an effort to help them to stop and see thier sinfullness is love not judgement. If I were to tell you speeding is a crime I am not judging you. The police who catch your are. In the same way if I show you how you are commiting crimes against God I am not judging. That will be done by God.

Answer 8

I'm not from US, so I don't even understand who are these people about whom you are talking about.

But, let me ask you: what is love? Is love saying to a sinner: you are OK, while knowing that one day God will judge him/her if they don't repent? I don't think so!

So, if somebody is speaking judgement driven by love and giving them Good news in the same time, then I would say it's real LOVE!

But, if somebody is judging people because they think of themselves as better than the rest of the world (real believer never thinks of himself better, only more blessed by God because of underserved mercy and grace that he knows Him and is saved from his sins!), then it's for every condemnation!

So, I guess I want to say to you: not everybody who speaks against sin is not loving! When I say to somebody: you are a sinner and you need to repent, I do it from love, and not because I want to humiliate that person nor do I think I am better than that person.

BORN AGAIN CATHOLIC: just to answer to you: we protestants believe that Catholics are wrong because Paul said it in Galatians 1:8-9. Wait before you spit on me, 1) I'm not from US and 2) I live in a Roman-catholic country (where they are on the power - and act like that. In my country, Roman-Catholics are fundamentalists!!!

Answer 9

not a fundie but I see it all the time. they talk a good game but when the rubber hits the road its all about being better than the rest of us. Real christian, right?

Answer 10

it does not seem to be very much of a priorty from the fundies i have seen