OK Christians, How Can a Person Actually Love Their Enemies, & When Was it Done in The Bible?

Question

I'm not a Christian, but I'll give this bit of your philosophy a shot. I have a co-worker who is making life very difficult for several people in my office. This person has some authority in the office, & the boss loves her & doesn't see the problems she causes for the work flow of the office or how mean & abrasive she is. So, in this case, how can I love my enemy? What is loving an enemy? Is this really possible to put into practice?

Also, when was this even done in the Bible by God or Jesus? God smote his enemies, led people into brutal battles, flooded the earth, etc. Jesus lectured about not casting pearls before swine, said awful things to the Sadducees and Pharisees, & generally seemed to love only those who loved him. The Bible even ends with God's enemies going to Hell & his friends going to Heaven. Where is the loving of the enemies? Where is this put into practice? If God & Jesus don't do it, how are humans supposed to do it? Thanks for your thoughts!

Answer 1

I want to start by saying I'm not going to push God down your throat or try in any way to convert you. I'm a very liberal Christian - so liberal that many don't think I should use the label "Christian."



That said, there are many instances. The most famous being Jesus' quote as he was dying: "Forgive them, father, for they know not what they do."



Jesus forgave Peter for denying he knew him before Peter had even done so.



When taunted, Jesus generally calmly answered the questions put to him.



It's true that Jesus showed GREAT anger at times. But being angry is not the same at hating; in fact, often we're angry at those we love when we see them doing things not in their own best interest or in the interests of their fellow humans.



As far as the Old Testament, the story of the Exodus is one of God's loyalty to his people even though his people were not always loyal to him.



And yes, there is much violence in the Old Testament. It's important to remember that scripture, though divinely inspired, was still written by humans. Humans often have a limited understanding of the world, and religious thought evolves the same as everything else in the world.



Edit: We don't know that God sent those sent those people to hell. There's no biblical basis for that. We don't know how they lived out the rest of their lives. And many people, me included, see "burning" metaphorically. Being in hell is being in a state without God. Not being an atheist, mind you - many atheists, because they are loving, know God even though they don't label God as such. But being without God - without the ability to give or accept love. Hell is here, within, not necessarily some place far away that you go to after you die.



Why do so many people believe that Christianity is one set of beliefs to which all who believe adhere? It's not; it's actually the Baskin Robbins of religions. Jesus was a radical liberal prone to hyperbole. It doesn't follow that all those who believe in his divinity would be closed-minded, literal-thinking political conservatives.

Answer 2

You might try asking her if she's OK, if she's having any problems at home that you could lend an ear to? People don't usually act like that without reason. They don't get angry in a vacuum. There is always some root cause (that may not be readily apparent to others) for why they are so angry and mean all the time. Offer her your ear.



Jesus put this into practice by healing the ear of a soldier who was coming to arrest Him; also when He was crucified, He said, "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do." THAT'S called "loving your enemy". It requires seeing your enemies as God sees them, not as you or others do.



EDIT: If you willingly took a bullet for someone else (especially someone who hated you), wouldn't you call that "love"? I would.

Answer 3

To answer your question directly: Romans 5:6-10 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.



Loving an enemy is extending undeserved graciousness toward them. It is going down the path with them while they're making it hard for you to do so. It is the absence of malice. It is not being perfectly benevolent or not getting irritated. It is not a denial of emotions but processing them through grace, mercy, kindness, patience and the like. It is also being enough of a friend to tell the person who doing the wrong that they're wrong ("faithful are the wounds of a friend but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful"). It's not weakness, but strength. It's not always succeeding either, as we all fail, but it's the determination to be in a relationship that we either must be in or value in such a way that we continue to consider the value of the other person. (I hope this helps...)

Answer 4

Jesus was the first to do it.



It also occured several times in the Book of Acts.



Remember Jesus died for those Pharisees and even called a Pharisee named Saul to become a new Apostle. Jesus changed his name from Saul to Paul.



You are correct that its not easy to do.



It can only be done with the power of the Holy Spirit.



If you'd like to meet some people who are putting that into practice, let me know.

Answer 5

I'm an Atheist but I think loving your enemies makes sense because it helps you open your mind to better understand there situation and their perspective so you can do less fighting and more compromising.



However the I haven't seen this behavior in the god of the Bible who condemns people to eternal torment just for not believing in him.



(John 3:36, John 3:16, John 3:18, John 3:3, Mark 16:16, John 5:24, Acts 16:31, 1 John 5:13, 2 Chronicles 15:13)

Answer 6

A person cannot love his/her enemies by himself/herself. I see that as the main teaching of the Bible: one can do nothing without God.



It is God that changes our hearts so that we can do what seems to be impossible for human eyes: loving an enemy.



The law (the ten commandments, especcialy) offers a model for loving behavior. "Love" in the Bible is not a concept empty of meaning like we use in everyday language. Also, love does not necesserily means "liking" someone. You can (and you probably should) not aprove someone's behavior and yet love this person. That's exactly what Jesus did toward some religious authorities of those days. Also, when a mother or father punishes a child, that's love. When a mother or father let the child go without showing the wrong behavior, that's not love.



The first thing you should do in order to love an enemy is to ask God the ability to do so, or it will be impossible to do.



God so loved the world that he gave his only son to die for us. That's a love we will never be abble to fully understand. We are God's enemies, and yet he decided that his son should die in our place, what he did because he loved us.



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You don't know how dying counts as loving?



Jesus died FOR us. In our place. We were supposed to die for aour sins. Instead, he died for them.



Imagine someone going to be executed for a crime. And then another person offers himself to suffer the execution. That's what Jesus did.



Imagine you have a bill impossible to pay. Tha bank is going to take everything you have. someone pays the bill for you. That's close to what Jesus did.



I was God's enemy. I was one of those to whom Jesus said "forgive them, they don't know what they're doing". And God did forgive me, answering to what Jesus asked.



God's care for the heart, not for the looks. You look like you love this person, but in your heart you don't. That's why you can only do it if you ask God to do it for you, or better, do something in you.

Answer 7

You bless the pants off of them, if they are not worthy of said blessings the blessings will flow back to you.

Jesus allowed the Romans to beat the crap out of him and said not a word. He could have called down a legion of angels and smote them all into nothingness and he just stood there saying nothing.

I had a period on my life like this, my whole unit said I was never saved and treated me like crap, I just always turned the other cheek. I was soon released from this, by doing my time and got out of the military. I am now the Mother I never was.

Answer 8

You can love your enemy by praying for them, by helping them, by being kind to them. Love is not a feeling, it is an action. You can't make yourself feel something that isn't there, but you can show them love.



Jesus loved his enemies when he was arrested. When they came for him remember Peter cut off the dude's ear? Jesus rebuked Peter and then healed the guy on the spot. That's love. How about when he was hanging on the cross and cried out Father forgive them for they know not what they do. That's love. How about the fact that He died at all? I mean this is God we're talking about here. You know the maker of Heaven and Earth? He humbled himself so far as to become a man and suffer for your sins, you who do not even believe in Him. You deny He even exists, wouldn't that make you his enemy? And He died for your sins, that's love.

Answer 9

Well first figure out what kind of love. Not eros, not brotherly love. But wanting what is best for her. It would be best for her that she have a satisfying and productive work ethic. It would certainly be best for those who work for her.



Divine pedagogy explains the old understandings of God and how with the revelation of Jesus he became to be understood as more than a fertility god, a god of the mountain, and a god of war.

Answer 10

First of all, we are to try to live peaceably with our fellow man:



Romans 12:18 - If it possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.



We aren't required to 'like' everyone we live around.



The bible says we are 'to love our neighbor as ourselves.' What is the greatest thing we could ask for ourselves - Salvation, God's mercy. That is something we know NONE of us deserve, and, as a matter of fact, we know that we who have been saved were ourselves once enemies of God.



Romans 5:6 - in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Isaiah 64:5 - You are indeed angry , for we have sinned - in these ways we continue; and we need to be saved.



So, even though we may not like someone, or they may even hate us. We know that they, in the eyes of God, are no different than us. We are fellow prisoners in God's dungeon and even though we may not like them we pray for them. We know that they're attitude is from sin which I myself have but may express in different ways. We know that if God shows mercy on them they will begin to demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, etc. Then they may even go from enemy to friend, brother, sister in the Lord.



God is different. His hatred is justified. We are His created beings. He can love or hate whomever He wants because He has the authority to. We're all in the same boat and should recognize that. He's the King on His throne and His hatred is righteous. The fact that He even loves any of us is amazing. He didn't have to love any of us rebellious creatures, but in His mercy He loves some of us and in His Justice He hates others.



Romans 9:18 - Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.



www.wecanknow.com

Answer 11

when we come to Jesus for life then he raises us from our spiritual death romans 5:12 to life with him, now Jesus gives a new heart of thankgiving and we are totaly forgiven so the life he raises us to is eternal because of the eternal consequence with sin at the cross they have all been taken away never to see them again. Jesus has ushered in a new covenant at his death hebrews 10:16,18 and we are heirs to this new covenant today and we live in the new testament today, and when we study scripture if we depend on the spirit to reveal truth to us as we read then he will and is always leading us into all truth. Jesus walked in perfect love all the way to the cross and fulfilled the old law (ten commandments) and ushered in the new covenant, now today Jesus come to live his life in and through us today, if we will wbide in him he will produce the fruit of the spirit in and through us today, love peace kindness meeknss self controle we ony bear the fruit we can not produce the fruit of the spirit, the life of the branche is in the vine, (Jesus) this is how we live the christian life today by abiding in Jesus daily. it is all of Jesus holy is the lamb.Jesus died on a cross to take away the sins of the whole world never to see them again now he is offering life to all who come to him through faith in his completed work at the cross.

Answer 12

When Jesus was dying on the cross He said the following with reference to those who were nailing Him onto the cross, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do". Stephen said the same thing while he was being stoned to death and Joseph forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery etc. (It seems you only memorized the parts of the Bible that seem bad to support your view of Christianity)

God tells us to treat others they way we like to be treated. Its that simple

Answer 13

But as philosopher points out, God and Jesus DID love their enemies. Jesus allowed himself to be sacrificed for everyone, including those who hated him. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son..".



When he got on the pharisees case, he was just being honest. These guys thought they were perfect and needed nothing. Jesus pointed out the truth to them. We can't hear the tone of his voice, but I'm sure it wasn't sneering and sarcastic, but full of honesty and love.

Answer 14

Let's say that you are standing between me and this co-worker woman. With this image, I already KNOW that I am standing on higher ground that you or your co-worker because I am staning in the "stead" of God and your desire is to learn how to love and overcome your enemies. The first step to this process is to PRAY aloud and ask God for feelings and emotions that are warm and inspiring to your coworker. Faicng me, telss me you are "facing the Holy Spirit." Once you turn to face your coworker, you are turning BACK to the flesh. Your job is to be a "blessing" to this secretly dispised co-worker and put DOWN all negative comments from your other coworkers. What this "tactic" will do given enough time is create "wonder" in the co-workers mind because she KNOWS she is condescending and problematic to others in the office. Once she begins to "wonder" about you and your postive actions, you are in control and beginning to win the battle over the "thought life" that is rampant in your office. You do not have to become a Christian as God will recieve any one who comes to Him by faith. The battle or game plan that came out of Heaven started in the EAST as that is where ALL future comes from. I'm speaking to you from the east as I always KNOW where everyone is in relationship to me. I am born again of the Spirit and NEVER call myself a Christian because I dis like what is taught in the local church. For example every person born again of the Spirit is always to the "east" of the natural born like you. Christians don't know this and are not taught it but it is true because they are in the "spiritual body of Christ" and this invisible body is ALWAYS to the east of the natural born because WE MUST be in the future to help those ithat are in need in the natural body. I used this imagingry so that you can see yourself in relationship to me. When you finish reading you have to "go back or turn back" to your coworker. This is the SAME imagine seen in the Garden of Ede. The "voice" of God spoke and came in from the east, then Adam. He had to turn from God to face his wife, Eve and she had to turn her back to Adam to face and listen to the voice of the Devil on the west side. Turning back is turning back to the flesh, facing east or seeking God is led by the Spirit and the Counsel of God comes in from the east. No Christians are not taught this and that is a huge problem in the body of Christ.

Answer 15

Jesus on the Cross said about those who crucified Him "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do"



God only condemns when one is beyond redemption and has hardness of heart refusing to repent.



But you have a right to self-defense, which is not the same as not loving your advesary - love means willing the best for the other.









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Answer 16

Treat her kindly. It doesn't mean making your enemies your best friend. It simply means treat them with the same kind of respect and kindness that you do your friends, even if that person doesn't respond to you in kind.

Answer 17

Excellent question.



I have been a Christian most of my life, and I used to ask almost the exact same thing, going right down your list.



Jesus did not hate the Pharisees. He died for them, and several of them (Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, Saul/Paul -- the Apostle, and several others . . . ) became His followers. He told the Pharisees, Saducees and Essennes, the Priests and the Scribes, "Oh, Jerusalem, how I have longed to gather you unto Myself as a hen gathers her chicks, but you would have none of it . . . "



He chastised them but did not condemn them. He railed against them for their hypocritical ways but told them they ought to observe the laws they knew were true and cease being hypocrites.



I don't discipline my neighbor's kids, because they are not mine, and I don't love them quite the same as I love my own daughter, but in disciplining her, I surely wouldn't injure her or abandon her. Jesus was trying to seek and save the lost, just as He is doing today.



And He did not say "go, die and enter hell." No, he said "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."



How about Zaccheus, the traitorous, thieving tax collector?

("Surely, Salvation has come to this house today.")



How about the woman caught in adultery?

("Neither do I [condemn you]. Go [about your business], and sin no more."



How about the thief on the cross?

("This day you will be with me in Paradise.")



In Romans, it says "God commendeth His love toward us in this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."



You want an example of people loving their enemies? Hoiw about David, refusing to kill King Saul at any of the multitude of opportunities he had?



What about God sending Jonah to Ninevah?



Why would God give Egypt ten chances to repent and in the process prove that each of their gods was impotent?



Why did God not just slaughter all of Egypt and let Israel have that land too?



How about the Good Samaritan?

Note that Jesus said this in response to a question of what the greatest commandment was.



he said "Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength, and the second is like unto it . . . Love your neighbor as you love yourself . . . "



A Pharisee from the Sanhedrin demanded to know "Who is my neighbor?"



And Jesus told them the tale of the Good Samaritan, in which a Priest and a minister passed by a hapless robbery victim, left him for dead and went on their way, while a Samaritan (Jews and Samaritans were bitter enemies and would have nothing to do with each other) had compassion on him and went to great effort and expense to help him . . . with no hope of return on his "investment" . . . and Jesus told the Pharisee "Go thou, and do likewise."



This person in your office who is abrasive . . . We all have to deal with such people, and they often hold more power and influence than they ought. I can't address how a non-Christian would handle that. I look at each person as someone created in the image of God, beloved by Him and standing at the precipice of an eternal decision -- Heaven or Hell. I try to treat others in such a manner that they would not reject Heaven by reason of my actions, but I don't know how a non-Christian would handle it. I've been a Christian since I was 3 years old, and I hadn't encountered anything like that by then. Everything I could tell you would involve Faith in Christ and an effort to save the lost.



Does this help answer your question?



As to the Rosary . . .



Mary is not (and never was) divine. She was human, just like you and me, and she is currently dead to this world, just as each of us will one day be, should the Lord tarry. Her only redemption lies in the mercy of Christ, not in some great work, faith or spiritual power of her own.



Mary did not, does not, can not, will not and would not make the promises which have been attributed to her by David, above.



Praying to Mary is of no greater assistance than praying to a stone statue of Molech, except that the demon who owns that statue is a powerful spirit, would be listening and might try to do something for you to enhance your subservience.



EDIT __

I couldn't help but notice that you go by the name "Sugnim," a shortened version of "Meshugnim," meaning crazy, insane, wicked people. It is a term that many devout Jews apply toward Christians out of a lack of understanding of what Christianity really is. We follow the teachings of a Rabbi, One which I would call the Master of all Rabonai, Whose name is Yehoshua, Who was born in Bethlehem, fled to Egypt, returned and dwelt in Nazareth and began a ministry unto all Israel . . .



The biggest difference between a Christian and a mainstream Jew is that Christians believe the Messiah has already come and is coming again.



Catholics, on the other hand, are taught a heretical doctrine that the ROMAN church (small c) replaced Israel, and that Rome is the new Jerusalem, while the Bible specifically states that the New Jerusalem will be exactly where the OLD Jerusalem is, and that it will be the Home of His chosen people, Israel...



The Pink Kitty, the first answerer of this question, has an interesting observation. Yes, that is a tough question, and yes, it requires a lot of thought. Yes, a lot of Christians would go through a few minutes, hours or even days of mental meltdown processing it, but no, our brains were not short-circuiting, thank you.

Answer 18

its rough but ive seen it happen....my son has ADD...in nov 99 he was driving his gf to the movies...He went off the road and she died..Her grandparents are Christians and forgave him....I was so amazed with them..

Answer 19

Jesus forgave them all

Answer 20

Good luck loving my enemies. They're a bunch of racist homophobic redneck f*ckwits.

Answer 21

It is NOT easy to love your enemies, but you can learn to do it. It is hard, and it takes a continual effort, but it is worth it. First, let me give you a personal example. I worked with a woman nearly 20 years ago who I could not stand. She was nosy, a notorious gossip (including about her own friends when they would leave the room!), and felt the need to boss me and give me unsolicited advice at every turn if I should make the mistake of sitting in the lunchroom with her or talking to her at all. She was a part of a group of women that stirred up trouble with other workers just by sitting in the lunchroom stirring each other up for no real concrete reason, making mountains out of molehills and then going to management about it. I saw it happen to others, and it even happened once to me! I really could not stand her (or any of the other women). But I knew that wasn't right, and I hated her the most because she was the one who said the most offensive things to me out of the group. I didn't know how to get over it, and in the beginning I did not want to. Finally I just started by praying, "God, I don't even know HOW to like her! But you say you love everyone, so surely there has to be something good in her. Help me see what it is in her that you see!" I prayed for her sometimes. But in the beginning nothing seemed to happen. Then it began to dawn on me that I would probably have to put down some of my negative thoughts about her, not pick them up again, and just LISTEN to her. Over time, she began to see that I was actually LISTENING to her, and she began to change towards me. Not long after that she got a divorce after around 20 years of marriage. Even though I still had my opinions and thought she was wrong, I just decided to give her mercy and show her compassion and sympathy. In the end, she regarded me as her friend. And I finally regarded her as mine. I never knew her outside of work, and I didn't really know her husband. It is possible that she was suffering through things in her marriage that she couldn't talk about. She was about 20 years older than I was, and maybe she didn't feel free telling everything to someone almost her kids' age. But I was astonished to find that I actually liked her in the end! I don't know when the change happened, but it was true. And in the beginning, I did have to swallow some of her usual unkind remarks and intrusive comments, and just "turn the other cheek". After leaving that company 17 years ago, she's one of the only people I remember fondly.



You also asked for a few examples where forgiveness is demonstrated by Jesus in the bible. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the servants of the high priest came to take Him away because Judas had agreed to lead them to Him, Peter pulled out his sword to defend Jesus, and sliced off one of the soldier's ears. Jesus touched the man's ear and healed it! Then he turned to Peter and instructed him, "Peter, put away your sword!" (John 18:10) "Let this come to pass (Luke 22:51)" "The cup which my Father gave me to drink, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:11) And Jesus concluded to himself and said to them, "Have you come out against me as if I were a robber with swords and clubs to capture me? I was tame daily with you in the temple, and you did not seize me! Nevertheless, the scripture must be fulfilled." (Mark 14:49) They took Him while He was not resisting, though His disciples were willing to defend Him and fight. He told them not to, even though He knew the servants were going to drag Him away! And He healed His enemy.



You asked also if there are examples of God forgiving in the Bible, and you mention that God commands the slaughter of His enemies. While this is true, if you read world history you will find that the armies that God told His people to slaughter were fierce enemies, savage in their behavior, and they attacked the Jews without provocation and raped and murdered and plundered them. That is why God commanded His enemies to be slaughtered - it was to protect PEOPLE, not to seek revenge against a people that didn't love Him. It was to stop savages. But yes, does God show instances where He has forgiven in the Bible? Yes! The most important one is when the Jews and Gentiles in Jerusalem beat, persecuted, spit on, robbed, mocked, whipped and then crucified His Only Innocent Son that ever lived... God said that He would forgive them and save them from their sins by the death of the very man they murdered! It was not easy for God to watch an innocent man being slaughtered. Especially one that loved Him so much that He did not defend Himself! And then to hear His Son say, "Father, forgive them! They do not understand what they are doing!" But John 3:16 makes it clear, that it was always GOD'S idea to provide us forgiveness even for something as awful as murdering the only Innocent One that EVER will live!!



When Jesus said not to cast pearls before swine, it was only because Jesus had assessed the hearts of the people He was talking about, and He knew they were savage, unclean and unreachable. It was not because He didn't love them. He just accurately assessed their hearts.



Hell is reserved only for the very wicked (people like Hitler, Stalin, Moussolini, Mao, Pol Pot, etc) - people so savage in their behavior that they are more like animals than people. It is not reserved for someone like you, or for most people. Even atheists, agnostics and people who believe in "other gods" will find themselves in heaven, because God really is merciful. And that is the truth!

Answer 22

Praying the rosary regularly is a great way to learn to love one's enemies! See the following promises.



The rosary is explained here:

http://www.medjugorje.org/rosary.htm



The fifteen promises of Mary to Christians who recite the rosary:

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.

2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against Hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.

4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.

6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God and become worthy of eternal life.

7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.

8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death, they shall participate in the merits of the saints in Paradise.

9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.

10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.

11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.

12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of death.

14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son, Jesus Christ.

15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.



God bless!

Dave

Answer 23

Maybe after their heads were removed.