yeah....but do you have to like them?

[Sower]

28 minutes ago, leah777 said:

Ok, they are definitions of types of love. What is your definition of love itself and what that entails, what is involved in showing love.

I believe genuine love is an action.

Well done
is better than
well said.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments"

 

[appy]

On 4/6/2021 at 11:11 AM, Riverwalker said:

Not quite same, one is a person and one is an action. Love the sinner hate the sin

 

That is an extremely good point.   So there is a level that we do not let the unbeliever in. I mean I will love and forgive the guy who killed my first wife 36 years ago....but do I have to invite him over for dinner?

Loving an enemy that has done physical harm, doesn't exactly mean that you have no choice but to hang out with an abuser, not at all. And it certainly is NOT telling us to be doormats. But that none of us from one human to another has the right as an individual to act as vigilantes. In other words we don't have the right to take the law into our own hands.

We can not live in this world without coming into contact with unbelievers. But the passage Miss Muffet cited, means that we should not make unbelievers our inner circle of friends of whom we seek advice from or hang out with on a steady basis.

We should not yoke ourselves with an unbelieving business partner, friend, or marriage partner. Because you and the other person have two different mind sets when it comes to biblical values and Godly principals. And will always be pulling in two different directions, chaffing one another.

There is the tendency for Christians to be pulled into the wrong direction by an unbeliever. Too much time around unbelievers, and you will find yourself being pulled further and further away from God. A Christian is to be an influence to unbelievers not the other way around. Unbelievers are pretty good at peer pressure and derailing your fellowship with God.  And I do believe this is why the author of the passage says we should not yoke ourselves to an unbeliever.

 

[Riverwalker]

3 hours ago, appy said:

Loving an enemy that has done physical harm, doesn't exactly mean that you have no choice but to hang out with an abuser, not at all. And it certainly is NOT telling us to be doormats. But that none of us from one human to another has the right as an individual to act as vigilantes. In other words we don't have the right to take the law into our own hands.

We can not live in this world without coming into contact with unbelievers. But the passage Miss Muffet cited, means that we should not make unbelievers our inner circle of friends of whom we seek advice from or hang out with on a steady basis.

We should not yoke ourselves with an unbelieving business partner, friend, or marriage partner. Because you and the other person have two different mind sets when it comes to biblical values and Godly principals. And will always be pulling in two different directions, chaffing one another.

There is the tendency for Christians to be pulled into the wrong direction by an unbeliever. Too much time around unbelievers, and you will find yourself being pulled further and further away from God. A Christian is to be an influence to unbelievers not the other way around. Unbelievers are pretty good at peer pressure and derailing your fellowship with God.  And I do believe this is why the author of the passage says we should not yoke ourselves to an unbeliever.

 

I believe you have said it all.

[Walter and Deborah]

On 4/6/2021 at 9:39 AM, Riverwalker said:

Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 [o]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust

Okay God says we have to love them...but do we have to like them?

I have dealt with a lot of people over the years and at first the worst ones among them (Trolling Atheists) I found very hard to love. They were rude crude immature and disruptive all things that don't sit well with me. But as a went on I realized that while some of these people were just plain immature ...whatevers, some of them were hurt and lashing out because something inside them told them they wanted God to be real, but something in their life made that very difficult. The ability to separate those two is not always easy, which is why I think God wants us to treat everyone with love, lest in our Christian zeal we steamroll someone who really needs help. A failing I still fall into today.

 

But the question I am left with is this. What is the difference between loving your enemy and liking them. And are you required to do both?

Thanks for your post, and for taking heed, since love is stronger than like, I would say that, I'm not required to do both, but to do as the scriptures says in many areas.

Love always, Walter and Debbie

Edited April 8, 2021 by Walter and Deborah
More info.

[1to3]

On 4/6/2021 at 1:30 PM, Marathoner said:

Let's look at the verses which follow to answer your question, brother. 

For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:46-48 NKJV)

We are to regard our neighbor as ourselves hence, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). This definitively answers your question, my friend.  

 

[1to3]

On 4/7/2021 at 1:11 AM, Riverwalker said:

Willfull love...  I understand that

love by choice, choosing Gods will over our own. 

[1to3]

On 4/7/2021 at 2:42 PM, Starise said:

So how can I love but not like someone? We try to see them through the eyes of Christ. Jesus loves them.He knows everything about them and still loves them. He doesn't like sin, yet He loves us.

 

Easier said than done sometimes. I acknowledge that.

 

when it becomes hard remembering this helps.:

 

Matthew 25:40

The Sheep and the Goats
…39When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ 40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ 41Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

 

[TheBlade]

I'm still trying to figure out how I read "but do you have to kill them". I was like WHAT? haha

My answer is yes. Why does Christ like you? Just what does He see that others don't?

Still asking Him show me what you see..