Why do we pray for our enemies?

[Jonaitis]

you can say that any sin is God chastening you. Yes God can bring good out of evil, but it dose not change the fact that it is evil. lets take for example someone who is raped. you as a christian go to that person and tell her that she should pray for her enemies and forgive. now that seems to me to be a highly inappropriate way to respond to that situation. A person's dignity has been violated, the core of their being has been altered and they have been stolen from, and you want to criticize them for being upset about it. I have heard of things exactly like this. forgiveness seems to be used as a tool to enable abuse and to scold the victim. Instead of loving our neighbor we scold them for not loving their enemies.

It is truly tragic that there are situations where men and women violate the deepest part of a human psyche in others. However, God has taught us the importance in His word of the renewal of the mind. When we reconcile with the things we deeply repress and resist, we find peace.

Abraham Lincoln once said,

"The best way to defeat my enemy is to make him my friend.”

This is not to say that a rapist must be friends with their victims, but that the victim must overcome their repression by acceptance that it happened, and that it does not define them. No matter what happens to people, they can still be sinful in their reaction. The victim of rape is being arrogant when they do not find it in their heart to forgive, because, in one sense, they don't think their perpetrator deserves it, even though they are human too. When the victim comes to see the reason why the perpetrator did what he did, and is able to forgive them, which requires a great deal of humility, then they can find healing and freedom to live again. You may call this cruel, but it is really love.

 

[Adventist Dissident]

that's why it's supposed to be sincere
from the heart

sincerity is not the issue.

 

[Lost Witness]

sincerity is not the issue.

No idea, I didn't make the OP

 

[Adventist Dissident]

It is truly tragic that there are situations where men and women violate the deepest part of a human psyche in others. However, God has taught us the importance in His word of the renewal of the mind. When we reconcile with the things we deeply repress and resist, we find peace.

Abraham Lincoln once said,

This is not to say that a rapist must be friends with their victims, but that the victim must overcome their repression by acceptance that it happened, and that it does not define them. No matter what happens to people, they can still be sinful in their reaction. The victim of rape is being arrogant when they do not find it in their heart to forgive, because, in one sense, they don't think their perpetrator deserves it, even though they are human too. When the victim comes to see the reason why the perpetrator did what he did, and is able to forgive them, which requires a great deal of humility, then they can find healing and freedom to live again. You may call this cruel, but it is really love.

so you just blamed the victim. wow that is bad.

 

[Lost Witness]

so you just blamed the victim. wow that is bad.

Depends, whos really the victim?
the 'victim' or the 'perpetrator'?

 

[Jonaitis]

so you just blamed the victim. wow that is bad.

I would say more of the victim's post-response. If someone wronged you, no matter what it may be, your response is not morally neutral. It is natural for the victim to repress, but to live on in repression is not God's will, and God will use means to bring them to reconcile with their repression (and that requires humility).

 

[Adventist Dissident]

I would say more of the victim's post-response. If someone wronged you, no matter what it may be, your response is not morally neutral. It is natural for the victim to repress, but to live on in repression is not God's will, and God will use means to bring them to reconcile with their repression (and that requires humility).

that has nothing to do with the discussion. you are making up an imaginary response.

 

[Adventist Dissident]

Depends, whos really the victim?
the 'victim' or the 'perpetrator'?

that is sick

 

[Lost Witness]

Admittedly when i didn't know the LORD
I'd say i was very sick
Hurt people all the time,
often without meaning to
was a victim of 'doing it my way'
believing that life was just a party,
that in the end there was no God,
Was quite sick
That's why i want to take a moment and thank all of those who prayed for me

 

[Jonaitis]

that has nothing to do with the discussion. you are making up an imaginary response.

How so?

 

[Lost Witness]

Hallelujah! GOD IS GOOD.

 

[Lost Witness]

that is sick

How can one forgive those who hurt them but not be able to pray for them?
True forgiveness is an act of love, so too isn't praying for those who hurt you
unless you forgive someone, you can't be forgiven.

 

[Jonaitis]

How can one forgive those who hurt them but not be able to pray for them?
True forgiveness is an act of love, so too isn't praying for those who hurt you

Love requires great self-sacrifice. Christ is an example of this.

Praying for our enemies truly humbles us.

 

[bling]

I have been pondering this question as to why and what are we suppose to pray for when God ask us to pray for our enemies? and why? what is the purpose to be achieved? what result should we be expecting?

This has been a source of confusion and perplexity. confusion because it is unclear why and perplexity as to what is the point and what is to be achive.

It seem like nonsense,
so could some please clarify this?

Was I not an enemy at one time?

 

[Tolworth John]

n God ask us to pray for our enemies?

Not ask, command.
Do you know the 10 commandments and how the OT sumerises them into two sentences.
To Love God and to love your neighbour as yourself.
Who is your neighbour, but your enemy.

The sda makes a big deal about obeying the command to worship on the sabbeth.
How big a deal do you make of this command?

 

[Adventist Dissident]

Not ask, command.
Do you know the 10 commandments and how the OT sumerises them into two sentences.
To Love God and to love your neighbour as yourself.
Who is your neighbour, but your enemy.

The sda makes a big deal about obeying the command to worship on the sabbeth.
How big a deal do you make of this command?

wow the personal attacks are massive. this was not about obeying or not obey. it was about understanding how this fits in with love. none of your answers, answered this question. it seem that this was the wrong group to ask, more maturity is needed with this group to understand this issue. Wishful thinking and Hopeful declaration of Ideals betrays that you do not know what you are talking about. I have suffered much as a believer, physical attacks, loss of property, loss of Jobs, homelessness and what I have found is that most of the time the believers are the last to help. Many times it has been at the hands of believers. So when I ask the question I am not asking from a lack of experience and a lack of suffering. I am asking because there seems to be something off here. Wanting good will to people is not what we are talking about. In the midst of me being picked up and slammed on the ground and the insuing pain not one time did it ever cross my mind to pray for to pray for the persons conversion. I was praying to escape the pain, to get away from the person, that God would protect me and that he would stop the person and bring punishment to the person. Not once did it occur to me to say pray for his salvation, because they did not think he need it. This just strikes me as wrong. it does not seem loving. the ideal does not seem attainable. Just the pain alone makes it impossible to pull that off, because it focuses you on your own survival and protection.

 

[Tolworth John]

his was not about obeying or not obey. it was about understanding how this fits in with love.

You asked and I answered a question. My answer was not an attacj but a challenge.

The bible clearly teaches that love for God is linked to our love for others and Jesus made it clear that neighbour includes our enemies.


You have suffered much, I'm sorry you have.
Please do pray for your perscutors, you don't have to try to forgive them.

 

[YahuahSaves]

I have been pondering this question as to why and what are we suppose to pray for when God ask us to pray for our enemies? and why? what is the purpose to be achieved? what result should we be expecting?

This has been a source of confusion and perplexity. confusion because it is unclear why and perplexity as to what is the point and what is to be achive.

It seem like nonsense,
so could some please clarify this?

The Lord has been teaching me about forgiveness this past year, being that I've been surrounded by "enemies", it's not easy but we're called to Love like God, not like the world.

Jesus said:

Luke 6:32-36

32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

 

[Adventist Dissident]

You asked and I answered a question. My answer was not an attacj but a challenge.

The bible clearly teaches that love for God is linked to our love for others and Jesus made it clear that neighbour includes our enemies.


You have suffered much, I'm sorry you have.
Please do pray for your perscutors, you don't have to try to forgive them.

no one is questioning what the bible says. you don't seem to be able to grasp that, please try harder. This is not about you so please stop making it about you. it is clear that you are indifferent towards other people's real life experiences and have no real answers for real life problems.

 

[Adventist Dissident]

The Lord has been teaching me about forgiveness this past year, being that I've been surrounded by "enemies", it's not easy but we're called to Love like God, not like the world.

Jesus said:

Luke 6:32-36

32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinnersd will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

why did you bother posting this? do you think I don't know what scripture says? it is not about what it says. it is about the reality and ability to do so and the practical result and objectives of doing so. you don't seem to be able to grasp that. Please try to wrestle with the question and give a thoughtful response, instead of some knee-jerk reaction to a question you are uncomfortable with.