Is it wrong to not like someone?

[Lik3]

I know it is wrong to hate somebody and not to forgive. However, is it wrong to not like someone because of their character flaws or is it hypocritical since we all have character flaws? I personally don't like Rielle Hunter and I think John Edwards is a snake. I am watching Rielle's interview and she seems rather arrogant to me. I will pray for both of them and will pray about this question.

Since I am on the subject of not liking people, how did Jesus Himself feel about the Pharisees? They were the religious hypocrites of the day and I was wondering about that. I am not saying that he disliked or hated them, but I wonder about that because he obviously did not like how they conducted themselves.

 

[WinBySurrender]

I know it is wrong to hate somebody and not to forgive. However, is it wrong to not like someone because of their character flaws or is it hypocritical since we all have character flaws? I personally don't like Rielle Hunter and I think John Edwards is a snake. I am watching Rielle's interview and she seems rather arrogant to me. I will pray for both of them and will pray about this question.

Since I am on the subject of not liking people, how did Jesus Himself feel about the Pharisees? They were the religious hypocrites of the day and I was wondering about that. I am not saying that he disliked or hated them, but I wonder about that because he obviously did not like how they conducted themselves.

Jesus hates without malice and loves without condition. Unfortunately, we aren't wired that way in this life. I believe the important thing in a circumstance where we find ourselves disliking someone is to remember they, too, are God's creation and He desires a relationship with them just as He does us. From that perspective, we can love someone and not really like them. In fact, we have to. It is Christ's command.

 

[renewed21]

IMO, yes it is wrong to dislike someone; based on

-the command to love your enemy. One example here..
Matthew 5:43-48 (NKJV)


Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 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,[b] 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. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren[c] only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors[d] do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.



-understanding God's grace

Ephesians 2

By Grace Through Faith

2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

This is how I see it. Excellent question to discuss. Thank you.

 

[DCJazz]

I don't think it's wrong to dislike someone. Hate, yes. Dislike, not so much.
Of course, that doesn't mean you can just ignore them either, I'm guessing.

Good thing about love is it transcends the petty 'like/dislike' scenario.

 

[joey_downunder]

In the past I tried to make myself like people who seemed unlikeable. I discovered the hard way that these people were unlikeable because they were genuine troublemakers.

Are you mistaking your discerning that these people are evil/in error for ''not liking them ''and then have started accusing yourself of being unchristian?

 

[Metal Minister]

Dislike, sure, but not hate. In that regard we must pray for guidance and patience and work all the harder to bring them to Christ! Remember, love the sinner, hate the sin! May God Richly Bless You! MM

 

[PashNut4Jesus]

I'm sure you dislike the character Rielle Hunter and John Edwards have cultivated and you dislike their actions. People who do bad things are still made in God's image and therefore are deserving of some level of respect from Christians. Check out James 3:2-12 about the tongue being an unruly evil . . . with our tongues we praise God and with the same tongue curse men who are made in God's image. If you have been walking with God for a time, you will be able to separate people from their actions somewhat and view them through God's eyes. We must also remain mindful that we are sinful too and in just as much need of God's grace. That will serve us well in being able to reach out to others in love who don't deserve it because we don't deserve it either. However, I do understand and relate to what you say.

Blessings

 

[David Pratt]

King James Version Bible


Romans Chapter 12

19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.



1. Adolf Hitler


2. Osama Bin Laden


3. Muammar Gaddafi


4. John Wayne Gacy


5. Jeffrey Dahmer


6. Charles Whitman


7. John Allen Muhammad


8. Grigori Rasputin


9. Brian David Mitchell


10. Jesse Timmendequas


11. Andrea Yates


12. Marybeth Tinning


13. Jim Jones


14. Marybeth Tinning


15. Jerry Sandusky


17. Saddam Hussein


18. The Nanking Massacre


19. The Rwandan Genocide


20. The Manhattan Project



Luke Chapter 6

27. But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.


Titus Chapter 3

3. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.


Luke Chapter 6

35. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.

36. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

37. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:



TO Lik3

The only way a person could forgive & love these people above, especially their victims, if they were filled with Holy Ghost. Without Him.... it would be impossible.





John Chapter 15

9. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full.

12. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.


Mark Chapter 12

29. And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment.

31. And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

You can dislike actions but to dislike people is sin. You can not dislike and love a person at the same time. God tells us to even love our enemies.

 

[Metal Minister]

You can dislike actions but to dislike people is sin. You can not dislike and love a person at the same time. God tells us to even love our enemies.

I would have to lovingly disagree. If someone is our "enemy" then by definition we dislike them. I agree Jesus's words are absolutely true and we should love them, love them enough to bring them to the Lord! May God Richly Bless You! MM

 

[David Pratt]

TO - Metal Minister
I think you perfectly worded it better than one in this thread, including myself.

 

[SharonL]

You can love with a Christian love, but not like the person's actions. That does not mean you hate them.

I too cringe at the sight of Edwards and Hunter - but as a Christian I need to work on this - I find it hard to have any feelings for these people also.