Pure Christanity: harder than it sounds?

Question

It says in the bible (I'm not sure where but I know its in there) to love everyone. Yet, people still hate. I thought it meant to love EVERYONE, gays, terrorists, murderers, child abusers, rapists, non-christians, ect. I'm not categorizing them in the same group though! Theres a big difference in that I find it easier to care for gays and non-christians than terrorists or murderers... It has to be hard to follow that path and love someone who could abuse or kill without feeling guilt, especially for the parents of young children who are kidnapped and raped or killed. How do you go about being a good Christian and forgive that?
"And forgive us of our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us". It would make me feel as guilty as the murderer if I could forgive that easily.
What do you people think?

Answer 1

Yep, it is hard. If it weren't, Jesus would never have needed to come and save us.

First, in being called to love others, it doesn't mean that we have to have *feelings* of love toward them. It means that we need to value them as people that God created, and to want them to know him. It doesn't mean that we need to want to be around them socially, or to want an easy life for them, or to want to walk up and hug them.

Can I have feelings of friendship toward people that don't agree with me? Of course. Am I likely to get chummy with a child rapist or a terrorist? Nope...but I can still pray for them, I can still realize that they have value in God's eyes, and I can still take the opportunity, if given to me, to show someone like that who God really is through how I live.

Jesus didn't say we just have to forgive and forget without a thought. He did say to turn it over to him and let him handle the future, and not to harbor vengeance toward that person. This is for two reasons - first, because all it will do is make us bitter and cold, and second, because harboring hatred toward someone prevents us from being able to pray. It's not so that the guilty person can go on and have a carefree life - it's so that we don't get dragged down with them.

Forgiveness doesn't mean acceptance into fellowship; it means that you refuse to harbor hatred and vengeance against them. I think sometimes we overlook that. Would I accept someone like that into my home, or let them near my family or friends? No way.

We're not perfect, and God knows that full well. He doesn't expect us to never trip and fall. He does expect us to follow what he says, and to trust that he has good reasons for how we're asked to live.

JMHO...

Answer 2

First of all, it's about TRYING to love all. Of course it's hard to do so. If it were easy, everyone would be able to do it. And I believe you get more points for trying than for succeeding.

No, it ISN'T easy to forgive. But it IS healthy.

And then there's the part where we are urged to "hate the sin, but not the sinner". No, it isn't easy, or the world would be a much better place. The idea is to strive to make the world a better place.

The whole thing about religion is that it is about trying to improve the world by trying to eradicate those parts of human nature that make it impossible to survive together in an ever shrinking world.

Hate and murder, killing for religious reasons or gain of territory, these things are part of human nature, things that we need to learn NOT to do...that is the whole purpose for religion in the modern world.

Answer 3

You're going to find a lot of inconsistencies in the Bible, as you read it more and more. Most of it will run contrary to your own personal beliefs. Did you know that the bible speaks against any and all Secular entertainment? I don't know about any of you, but there's no way I'm going to watch and listen to nothing but Christian programming.

The best thing any of us can do is to worship God in the best way we are able to. Use the Bible's teachings as a guideline, not as LAW. That's how I managed to stay a Christian as long as I did.....

Answer 4

There is a difference between love and like. To love someone is to shed tears for them when they do or are wronged. To like a person takes work sometimes. It is not always to like people. Mark Lowery a Christian comedian says it this way. "THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT I WILL CRY AT THEIR FUNERAL BUT I WOULD NOT GO ON VACATION WITH THEM."

You are very correct in your statement that Christianity is a lot harder then it sounds. There are lots of things every second of every day that try to drag us away from our relationship with God.

Answer 5

well, the Bible says ALL have sinned and God loves us.,.all of us.,. so HE sent Jesus His ONLY son to die 4 us and save us,.,He really loves us 4 who we are no matter how sinful we are.,.remember Jesus was also once a human and He passed the same hardship.,.the hardship of loving sinful people who actually tortured him to death.,.and also in the end he was ready to forgive them.,.US.,.

I Corinthians 10:13

Answer 6

I like Unitarianism. I used to go to the Baptist Church. I believe but do not follow the Church. Why should I dislike someone for being gay or following another religion? Also, I am not against birth control and such, other reasons, etc.

Answer 7

We are totally called to love, everyone.

Please dont think that disagreement is not love. I disagree with my husband, but that does not change my element or amount of love for him in any way.

Because of Jesus we are able to unconditionally love. Of course, we are human and mess up at times...but we should always be loving on everyone in Jesus' name Gods peace :)

Another great question, btw!

Answer 8

The Bible says that you must love evryone but it does not mean that you must love the persons action.When a person is doing something realy horrible like murdering they aren't doing it themselves they are being controled by deamons and that's why they don't feel any guilt.

Answer 9

not harder than it sounds...just as hard as it sounds.
to love someone is tough when forgiveness is in the mix, but it is about peace and humility...for example.
Jesus says not to resist an evil person, if they hit you on the right cheek let him hit you on the left also. if they are suing you for your coat give them your hat also and if someone forces you to carry his bag one mile carry it for two miles.
give to those who ask of you and lend to those who ask to borrow.
These are very challenging commands! sure it is easier when it is someone you love, but that is not what Jesus says.
by his standard it does not matter. why? because this kind of heart can change even the most hard hearted and ruthless people. terrorists, murderers, everyone...what we have to remember is that it is the sin that is the issue not the sinner. it is Satan that rules those who are not in Jesus Christ.
and you should learn to forgive easily because we all will be judged in the same way we judge others and God will not forgive those who do not truly forgive others.
now, forgiveness does not say, "what you did was okay" that would be to condone evil. what forgiveness says is this, "what you did to me was wrong, but i am willing to let it go and move on, i won't hold this against you." that is the forgiveness of God.

Answer 10

The answer to this question is very simple. Phillipians 4:13 says, " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

While it is true that Christianity is "hard", that doesn't mean that it is impossible to love one another unconditionally, even despite the *sin*. Its not the people that we hate, its the sin. We hate sin, and so does God. But, God loves his people, Yes, we all are his people and we are called according to his will.

Thereagain, though. just because God loves us, doesn't give us a ticket to do what we *think* is right. The heart is our judge. Its whats in the heart that matters. God will always look at the motives of the heart. He calls us to a place of repentance and to repent is to turn from that sin in sorrow and to acquire the hunger to never go back to that lifestyle again. To instead, fully seek out God's will for your life.

Yes, sin is sin, but its the sin that takes people to their final destination, Hell. Without repentance, its impossible to get into Heaven. Sin is not allowed into God's Holy Kingdom. Therefore, even the seemingly harmless of the sins can keep us from being with our Lord and Savior in Heaven.