Acceptable to wish harm on people who deserve it?

[AndItWasGood]

If we are supposed to be like Jesus, is it commendable to wish harm on people who deserve it? Jesus repeatedly wished woe on certain parties in the Gospels. For example:

Matthew 11:21
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."

 

[thereselittleflower]

NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Jesus was God and could read hearts, and so knew what actually layed within them.

We are not God and we can't. We are to love our enemies, pray for them, not wish them harm.

To wish them harm is to do the opposite of what we are commanded to do - holding unforgiveness in our heart which will cause the root of bitterness to flourish and by this become defiled - we risk our very salvation.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

Jesus told us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, etc

I agree with Therese...

God bless

 

[AndItWasGood]

I agree. But perhaps it would be acceptable for someone like Padre Pio to wish woe on others, since he could read souls.

 

[AndItWasGood]

I don't think it is wrong to want the unrighteous to be punished, so long as we desire that they are ultimately saved. I think my opinion can be well supported using scripture.

 

[AndItWasGood]

We are to love our enemies, pray for them, not wish them harm.

I agree that we are to love our enemies always, however loving them and wishing them harm are not mutually exclusive. If they are, how could Jesus (who is perfect love) wish woe on certain others? Often harm does these people good, spiritually speaking.

 

[AndItWasGood]

To wish them harm is to do the opposite of what we are commanded to do - holding unforgiveness in our heart which will cause the root of bitterness to flourish and by this become defiled - we risk our very salvation.

God doesn't forgive the unrepentant, so why should we?

 

[MoNiCa4316]

It's true that sometimes suffering leads people to God..but we should not wish suffering upon anyone...God knows what they need, we do not.
And even if we did, that's just not our place.
We should just pray for people and try to show them God's love, that is all.

God bless

 

[MoNiCa4316]

God doesn't forgive the unrepentant, so why should we?

I believe that God is willing to forgive everyone, people just don't always accept the forgiveness.

We should be willing to forgive everyone too

 

[MikeK]

I hope that evil people don't get the punishment that they deserve. I certainly don't want the punishment that I deserve.

 

[CatholicFlame]

I think there have been alot of good answers here from everyone.

I would just say that there is no teaching that says we should wish harm on anyone in the gospels. The only real teaching that I see are those that tell us to pray and try to help others come to love God. If we stick to the bible, we learn alot about what to do to others.

I don't think that we are wise enough, though, to know how to speak woe to people in the way that Jesus did.

His understanding is beyond ours.

 

[AndItWasGood]

I would just say that there is no teaching that says we should wish harm on anyone in the gospels. The only real teaching that I see are those that tell us to pray and try to help others come to love God.

I don't think taht we are wise enough to know how to speak woe to people in the way that Jesus did.

His understanding is beyond ours.

Fair enough. Can't argue with that.

 

[AndItWasGood]

I believe that God is willing to forgive everyone, people just don't always accept the forgiveness.

I agree that God is willing to forgive everyone, WHEN they repent. I do not believe that God extends forgiveness to those who do not repent, and I think my position can be proved from scripture.

We should be willing to forgive everyone too

I agree - we should always forgive when someone asks our forgiveness. However, remember what Jesus said: If someone sins against you, rebuke him, and IF he repents, forgive him.

 

[CatholicFlame]

Fair enough. Can't argue with that.

I know what you are mean about this though.

All I know is that if I tried to get people to turn to God in that way, my conscience would bother me so much that I would most definately end up going to confession afterwards.

 

[CatholicFlame]

I agree that God is willing to forgive everyone, WHEN they repent. I do not believe that God extends forgiveness to those who do not repent, and I think my position can be proved from scripture.

I agree - we should always forgive when someone asks our forgiveness. However, remember what Jesus said: If someone sins against you, rebuke him, and IF he repents, forgive him.

What do you think about forgiving someone who has not asked for your forgivness yet though? Do you think that doing that can help led to reconciliation? Especially if the person would probably never repent otherwise.

 

[AndItWasGood]

What do you think about forgiving someone who has not asked for your forgivness yet though? Do you think that doing that can help led to reconciliation?

I would say, "I'm willing to forgive you if you are sorry".

 

[CatholicFlame]

I guess that makes sense. Of course to not do that would be terribly unChristlike.

I think taht to be able to approach a person who is an enemy to us, we have to be able to approach them like Jesus did to us before we first turned to Him.

the bible says that "While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us."

I know that by forgiving a person even before they ask for it, I am able to talk with them in a way that allows me to love them even though they may currently be angry with me.

I hope that this helps your discrenment brother.

 

[AndItWasGood]

God bless you CatholicFlame, therese and Monica.

 

[AndItWasGood]

And MikeK too, I guess...lol.

 

[CatholicFlame]

Thank you AndIt.