What does 'love thine enemy' really mean?

[OakWood]

We didn't love the Nazis. We went to war against them.

We didn't love the Taliban, we fought them.

We don't love al-Qaeda.

[missmuffet]

After giving us the command to love our enemies,He then gives us the command to be perfect Matthew 5:48.That is impossible for a human.So why does Jesus demand these things? Matthew 19:26 ²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

[Izzel]

Lets see if Paul love his enemies and then match that to what Jesus said 

 

Acts 13:6-12

King James Version (KJV)

6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at thedoctrine of the Lord.

[Remnantrob]

Esteem them better than yourselves.

[chloe_fantastic]

We're commanded, as individuals, to love our enemies, as individuals.

 

I don't see how this can possibly be instituted and kept as foreign policy for an entire nation, unless those shaping the policy are all Christians, and will always be only Christians.

 

Even if such were the case, I don't see the Bible as promoting pacifism, per se (yes, I know about "turn the other cheek" but I believe this also to be largely an individual mandate, and I also believe it has its limits). There are cases where war or other military action is simply inevitable, because we live in a fallen and sinful world, and while we may be loving as we can be, others will not be.

 

It certainly wouldn't be loving to stand aside while these evil men would oppress and brutalize those too weak to defend themselves. Even in stopping them, I believe there's love to be seen. We reap what we sow. The more evil they're allowed to commit, the more evil they'll reap to themselves. Also, imagine at some point they repent. I know I've felt much sorrow over the sins I've committed. Stopping them could save them much misery in the long run, as well as those they'd seek to harm.

[Butch5]

We didn't love the Nazis. We went to war against them.

We didn't love the Taliban, we fought them.

We don't love al-Qaeda.

This is one of the reasons many reject Christianity.

[Sevenseas]

 

We didn't love the Nazis. We went to war against them.

We didn't love the Taliban, we fought them.

We don't love al-Qaeda.

This is one of the reasons many reject Christianity.

 

 

 

um...no.

 

They reject Christ...not Christianity.

 

God has already offered His love through His Son.

 

The book of Romans makes it plain that people are without excuse when they reject God and turn away from Him.

 

Saying we did not love the Nazis is a ridiculous statement.

 

Did an army of Christians go to war against Germany and its allies?  did everyone else just stay home and hope that "Christians" saved the world from a demonic beast?

 

Were all the leaders of various countries Christians and by default everyone in that country was too and they all went to war and hated Nazis?

 

Think about what you saying here.  It really makes no sense.

 

If anyone who was a Christian just stayed home and said "I am a Chrisitan and I will love those who are murdering men, women and children in concentration camps", 

how do you think that would go over?  Do you think everyone would accept Christ then?

 

How about God?  What things did He command the Israelites to do in the OT?  Did He say love everyone and just sin along with them and worship false gods because

if you don't, people will one day hate Christians?

 

There is only one reason a person does not accept Christ.  They are rebellious.  Not everyone who says they are a Christian is actually a believer.....but those who are,

recognize the falseness of saying that believers are the reason that people reject Christ as their Savior.

[Sevenseas]

Esteem them better than yourselves.

 

 

that is not so.

 

The Bible says to esteem other believers above yourself

 

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

 

5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:   Phil 2

 

The words you refer to are with reference to those who are UNITED in Christ.  It does not apply to every person on this earth.

 

It is impossible to be one with those who are opposed to the gospel.

[nebula]

We didn't love the Nazis. We went to war against them.

We didn't love the Taliban, we fought them.

We don't love al-Qaeda.

 

When you read Revelation, and God is sending disasters to the earth and its inhabitants,disasters that lead to death, do you think God loves the people any less?

[OakWood]

 

 

We didn't love the Nazis. We went to war against them.

We didn't love the Taliban, we fought them.

We don't love al-Qaeda.

This is one of the reasons many reject Christianity.

 

 

 

um...no.

 

They reject Christ...not Christianity.

 

God has already offered His love through His Son.

 

The book of Romans makes it plain that people are without excuse when they reject God and turn away from Him.

 

Saying we did not love the Nazis is a ridiculous statement.

 

Did an army of Christians go to war against Germany and its allies?  did everyone else just stay home and hope that "Christians" saved the world from a demonic beast?

 

Were all the leaders of various countries Christians and by default everyone in that country was too and they all went to war and hated Nazis?

 

Think about what you saying here.  It really makes no sense.

 

If anyone who was a Christian just stayed home and said "I am a Chrisitan and I will love those who are murdering men, women and children in concentration camps", 

how do you think that would go over?  Do you think everyone would accept Christ then?

 

How about God?  What things did He command the Israelites to do in the OT?  Did He say love everyone and just sin along with them and worship false gods because

if you don't, people will one day hate Christians?

 

There is only one reason a person does not accept Christ.  They are rebellious.  Not everyone who says they are a Christian is actually a believer.....but those who are,

recognize the falseness of saying that believers are the reason that people reject Christ as their Savior.

 

 

By the way, I'd just like to point out that when I started this thread, I knew that I wasn't making sense myself. I was trying to spur discussion. You'll have to excuse my not always apparent sarcasm.

I agree with everything you've said by the way, but sometimes it's nice to get assurance that people think the way that you do. I had to be sure. I was always a bit confused between the statement 'love thine enemy' and the apparently contradictory statement 'fight evil', but for some time I've guessed that there is such things as 'just' wars.

I also realise that despite Jesus's statement about turning the other cheek, Christians still have a right to defend themselves.

I believe that Christians should never seek revenge (that is for God only) but we are allowed to fight evil, in fact it is our duty to.