How on earth are you supposed to 'love your enemies'? I just can't see how you can do that....................

Answer 1

Pretend!!

Old saying - Keep your friends close - & keep your enemies closer!

(kidding) -It's not easy.

Try and learn from their mistakes.

Answer 2

Loving and liking are two different things. You don't have to like your enemies or what they do. To love them means to wish them well and to what is in your power to help them given the chance. It also doesn't mean being victimized by them or being a doormat; sometimes we have to love them from afar. It's a matter of radiating "...peace on Earth and good will toward all humankind."

Martin Luther King, Jr. taught a lot about how to love our enemies. He learned from the teachings of Jesus Christ and Mohatma Gandhi. You may want to google this.

Answer 3

One practices holding the immaculate concept, seeing the Christ-potential, and appreciating/loving that. One doesn't love enemies' knowing aggressivity, as Jesus rebuked devils and told them to be still, i.e., cease being knowingly aggressive.

You might appreciate C. S. Lewis' "The Great Divorce," Martha Beck's "Expecting Adam, and Reverend Richard Wurmbrand's "Tortured for Christ," as examples of how "loving enemies, though not their evil-doing," is possible.

Give 1-800-232-6459 http://www.family.org and 1-800-525-LOVE http://www.klove.com licensed counselors and ministers a call, and ask your question of them. They are helpful.

Answer 4

God doesn't ask us to like what some people do but when we realize that they were created by the same God as we are and that we are sinners just as they are, it becomes easier to understand. You can love the person but hate the things they do that hurt others. You may still need to protect yourself from harm from this person but you still love the person as a brother or sister in Christ. No one can love their enemies without having the love of God and for God in our hearts.

Answer 5

I think that to 'love your enemies' can mean to go the extra mile by including them as humans with dignity and respect. It is easy to love a friend, colleague. It doesn't mean not to protect yourself from them. Pope Paul was shot by an Arab and he went to the prison where the man was and forgave him. This man was repentant. Pope Paul protected himself from this guy, but did maintain his dignity and respect. The guy is suffering the consequences and the Pope didn't say let him out. He just forgave him. So there are parameters to what 'love your enemy means'.

Answer 6

Good thinking. We are supposed to do it through a form of altruism. If sacrifice did not mean giving up something of greater value for something of less value, it would have no moral meaning. So in order to give up what is greater, our own moral reasoning, we have been ordered--commanded--to sacrifice. We must give up our sense of moral responsibility because if it comes from you , a mortal, a flawed creature, it must be your will and not God's will you are following.
The fallacy in that thinking is that you are flawed, that God is not flawed, and that you can be cowered by those who believe it into doing it.
The other answers have been good--like have some compassion; walk a mile in their shoes; etc. But a Commandment is not to be broken even when it goes against logic. Logic belongs to Man. Man is flawed. Commandments come from God, who is not flawed.
Seems to me that particular Commandment proves the opposite: that God is flawed for expecting sacrifice; and that Man is right for having trouble with it.

Answer 7

Those are Christ's words, and it is only through him that you can love your enemies. Ever hear of Corrie Ten Boom? She was held in a Nazi concentration camp and watched her father and sister die, let alone the suffering she herself endured. After the war, she saw one of the Nazi guards on the street in Holland and was able to offer him forgiveness. But only because she had received God's forgiveness. We were all enemies of God, but he still died for us.

Answer 8

u need not love ur enemies just dont have enemies

Answer 9

that's a religious phylosophy.... I think it's there because when we all start learning how they deceive us... and what they are really taking away from us.... our freedom, our peace, our health, our wisdom.... they will be enemies to us all... and I agree with you... there is no point in loving your enemies... it's acutally anti Karmic.

Answer 10

forgiveness.
forgive people's ignorance.

practical application. start on the highway. forgive people for being idiots without yelling, shouting or throwing anything at them.