I cannot love my enemy

[eleos1954]

I admit that I could not love my enemy.
If my enemy like Hamas, came and killed my family members, how can I love them from my heart?
Loving my enemy will not change my enemy to become my friend, right?
My enemy may think that I am weak and bully me more.

Sometimes loving your enemy means that you stay out of their way. It is inevitable in this world that some people will be your enemies no matter what you say or do. In these cases pray for them.

 

[dwb001]

Sometimes loving your enemy means that you stay out of their way. It is inevitable in this world that some people will be your enemies no matter what you say or do. In these cases pray for them.

Loving your enemy is giving them a hug as they are stabbing you in the back.

 

[eleos1954]

Loving your enemy is giving them a hug as they are stabbing you in the back.

Nope ... ridiculous thinking ....

1 Corinthians 5:1111 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

much less "stabbing you in the back"

 

[dwb001]

Nope ... ridiculous thinking ....

1 Corinthians 5:1111 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

much less "stabbing you in the back"

So kill them instead? Very Christian.

 

[Michael Snow]

Our ideas get tangled up on this subject. Esp. referencing other's enemies that are not even a part of our experience.

But this should be the starting place. Read the verses carefully.
https://textsincontext.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/good-friday-dying-for-the-ungodly-2/

 

[LayHong_Loves_Christ]

I cannot die for sinners, only Christ can, but not all sinners are saved, those rejected Christ will be judged and go to hell.
If my enemy killed my family, I have the right to seek justice.
I will not revenge like a cowboy.

 

[Hazelelponi]

I cannot die for sinners, only Christ can, but not all sinners are saved, those rejected Christ will be judged and go to hell.
If my enemy killed my family, I have the right to seek justice.
I will not revenge like a cowboy.

You cannot exact justice - the government does this.

All you can do is want for your enemies what you want for yourself: fairness, their families safety, to be treated justly, and salvation in Christ.

These are the things we beg God for.

We cannot expect God to forgive us when we justly deserve hell if we don't want the same for others - even when those others are enemies.

 

[trophy33]

It is inevitable in this world that some people will be your enemies no matter what you say or do.

It is easily avoidable if you live a quite, peaceful life and do not get involved in other people's affairs.

 

[trophy33]

If my enemy killed my family, I have the right to seek justice.

No, you dont. This "right" is what makes the conflicts in the Near East to continue without end. Its a circle of violence and a reason why individual Palestinians think its the right thing to take revenge on Jews and vice versa.

 

[LayHong_Loves_Christ]

Secular laws punishes perpetrator, this is a fair justice system.

 

[Unqualified]

The ones who want to be obedient in all things love their enemies. But if you can’t through God you can. You should at least seek God until you do.

 

[LayHong_Loves_Christ]

If I can love my enemy then my enemy is no longer my enemy but my friend.
Do you understand?

 

[Unqualified]

If I can love my enemy then my enemy is no longer my enemy but my friend.
Do you understand?

Not true, they are still your enemy. You don’t be near them, do you? You pray for them, with the love of the Lord. Have compassion be cause they are sinning against you. You can’t but the lord can work on them. If you love them they will still reject you. But the lord and love never fails. It is an act of love to pray for them according to the Bible.

 

[throughfiierytrial]

I admit that I could not love my enemy.
If my enemy like Hamas, came and killed my family members, how can I love them from my heart?
Loving my enemy will not change my enemy to become my friend, right?
My enemy may think that I am weak and bully me more.

Remember that Apostle Paul was a persecutor of the early Church, even giving the death nod for many. We are all sinners and before we repented and before we were gifted with faith, we were enemies toward God, yet Christ died for us while we were in such a state.
Hopefully, though painfully, you will be able to remember God's great and precious promises of eternal life in heaven for a deceased loved one.
Still, discernment and great discretion are needed to deal with deadly enemies. How does one love them? Their greatest need is prayer that they may receive the gift of faith and prayer for oneself to be equipped to deliver the saving message of the Gospel. in desperate times as those you mention. The sinful nature wants us to strike back or to pray for retribution. Always be ready to give a message or answer or testimony as Scripture states.We have to overcome the sinful nature by exercising the gifts of the Spirit...especially love.
As a word of caution and reminder: you are a murderer in God's eyes if you remain in hatred. Hate the sin, love and have mercy on the sinner.

 

[com7fy8]

It may or may not.
But loving your enemy will change you to become more like Christ
And hating your enemy will change you to become less (and more like your enemy)
This is the point.

Oh my - - and in case we become hateful and unforgiving like our enemies, we could spend eternity with them!!

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (in Luke 23:34)

Jesus prayed this, right while Jesus was on the cross.

Our Heavenly Father plans to change us into how Jesus is > Romans 8:29 > so we may spend eternity with Jesus in His family way of loving. And God is the One able to so change us.

Trust our Father, then, to change you so you are so humble and kind and generous like Jesus.

And notice how that criminal trusted Jesus to save him . . . after Jesus prayed forgiveness to the ones who were hating and torturing and murdering Jesus. I see how that prayer of forgiveness ministered God's almighty power to change that criminal into a brother of Jesus. So, yes, in God's way of prayer and forgiveness, we can minister His love's power almighty to so affect anyone. And even if it does not change a certain person, it can go to others, as God knows will happen.

So, one enemy might make it look as though your love and prayer for the person is in vain; however . . . 1 Corinthians 15:58 guarantees how our labor in Jesus is not in vain.

Perhaps it is like if you give a five dollar bill to an enemy. The enemy might buy booze with it, yes. Then, though, the store owner can use the five dollar bill to buy food for the owner's family. The grocery store then might use the five dollars to purchase food to sell at a special price to a needy person. Then the needy one donates five dollars to a missionary. The missionary uses five dollars to help the missionary's child to get a medical education. Then the child becomes a researcher who helps find ways to treat cancer, then matures to become a pastor. The pastor then uses five dollars to help buy a prisoner a Bible, on death row. The man repents and gives the Bible to a guard, who then uses five dollars he did not use to buy a Bible, but uses his five dollars to . . . .

So God is able to use evil for His all-loving good. Yes, the enemy used the five for booze, but then the five dollars got trapped in the hands of endless people using it for good.

In God's hands, this is. You put forgiveness in God's hands. You are wise to not claim, then, what evil might do!

 

[trophy33]

If I can love my enemy then my enemy is no longer my enemy but my friend.
Do you understand?

Not true. A friend is somebody you trust or want to spend your time with. Loving somebody means you want no harm to come to him and act in this way.

 

[eleos1954]

It is easily avoidable if you live a quite, peaceful life and do not get involved in other people's affairs.

Yep ... I keep my world small ;o)

 

[eleos1954]

So kill them instead? Very Christian.

Of course not .... duh .... we don't associate with them .... but pray for them.