Are we to love every single person in the world?

zoidar said:

That's great, if you also love others as yourself

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I agree. Easily said than done.

Even on these forums, you say friend to someone and they turn around and say i am not your friend! (That person knows who i am talking about )

Yes, just as God does. That doesn't mean we necessarily associate with them, or approve of their lifestyle, or participate in their sin, but it does mean we do them no harm, and respect their rights.

zoidar said:

As Christians, are we to love every single person in the world, regardless of religion, faith, lifestyle etc?

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Yes.

zoidar said:

As Christians, are we to love every single person in the world, regardless of religion, faith, lifestyle etc?

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I think the definition of what love is can get skewed. But in this instance, I think it means to wish the best for everyone regardless of religion, faith, lifestyle, etc and to treat them as you would want to be treated yourself.

Doesn't necessarily mean you have to personally like every single person. But do not wish ill on them and do no evil unto them.

zoidar said:

I agree fully about loving everyone. But I don't agree that that means making friends with people, but maybe I understood you wrong.

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It says when you live among enemies, keep your body free from impurities. That means drugs and cigarettes. While living among them it is best to be friendly so they can consider you a friend.

zoidar said:

As Christians, are we to love every single person in the world, regardless of religion, faith, lifestyle etc?

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Define love.

solid_core said:

No, we are to love our neighbors. I.e. people that are around us, close to us, people we have something to do with.

We are not required to love all 7 billion people in the world.

Also, biblical love is not a feeling or liking, its forgiving people and helping them.

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What you write has a point, because of course Love is an action towards a person and clearly we cannot act towards people that are not within our sphere of influence.

On the other hand, if we think about it, our sphere of influence is far larger than many might give credit.

If I drop litter on the ground my sphere of influence has suddenly increased to any number of people who I have not met, whether that be the street cleaners, or the town planners or the people paying taxes. So I have to consider whether my act is Loving towards them.

Also when I see an advert for a charity that reaches out to a starving child on the other side of the Earth, whether I like it or not, my sphere of influence extends to the size of a planet, and the decision I make as to whether I'm going to help with my available resources or not is a question of Love.

zoidar said:

As Christians, are we to love every single person in the world, regardless of religion, faith, lifestyle etc?

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Yes we are. Jesus Christ teaches us to love even our enemies.

Lost4words said:

I agree. Easily said than done.

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Some people say that in general we are going to be treated the way we treat others. Some call this Karma. In the hood they say what goes around comes around. Or our chickens come home to roost meaning that our actions are going to come back on us.

zoidar said:

It's not about liking everyone

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Jesus said we are to love our enemy. During the Viet Nam war I was in medics training and they were teaching us that it is ok if we put three arms or three legs in a body bag. Don't try to sort them out because people are really not able to do that. Years later when I was married and I had a son, he kept talking about wanting a brother. So one day we decided to take in a foreign exchange student. We decided on one from China so he could help our son with his math. As it turned out our exchange students father use to drive a truck with weapons & ammo from China to North Vietnam. My enemy gave us his son to take care of for him. I always considered that to be a strange turn of events. The student would explain to me many times the disregard they have for human life in China. There are so many people there that they feel they need to weed them out and eliminate people when they can. This maybe why they have so much abortion in China. Of course all of those little Chinese babies are in Heaven now. It will be our job to teach and train them when we are there. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)

AlexDTX said:

Define love.

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Jesus talks about the love we have for our family and friends: "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?" (Matthew 5:46,47)

Yes, love everyone. No exceptions.

-CryptoLutheran

ViaCrucis said:

Yes, love everyone. No exceptions.

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We have to love everyone on Heaven. It would not be Heaven if everyone did not love everyone there.

zoidar said:

As Christians, are we to love every single person in the world, regardless of religion, faith, lifestyle etc?

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The question itself is asked conditionally, or from a worldly perspective. The true answer is yes, but that answer can only be understood from a point of unconditionality. In other words, we love what is unconditional in a person, which can only be discerned by being unconditional ourselves.

Conditionality is a distortion of the truth. To love that distortion is an act of violence to what you know is true within you.

zoidar said:

Treat others like you want to be treated. Help people in need, give to those that don't have. It's not about liking everyone, not about having a warm feeling in the heart for everyone. You may be angry with someone, highly disagree with their lifestyle, yet being good to them. So a way to put it might be "do love" to everyone.

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Excellent definition. Yes, as you have defined it.

joshua 1 9 said:

Jesus talks about the love we have for our family and friends: "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?" (Matthew 5:46,47)

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Good answer, thank you. My question was directed to the OP, however.