What to do with enemies?..ref:Matthew 5:44

[Rationalt]

Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Is this advice literal ?.

 

[Stephen Kendall]

If hitting Christ Jesus' teachings causes you pain, fine you will be changed for the better. However, if Christ is hitting you as a stone would crush you, then it isn't so fine. Very few worldly people can accept the teachings of Christ. Maybe because they don't believe in him or trust him. I love the messages of Christ, his teachings & commands, as the son of God and son of man. How can I trust Jesus? Faith is an amazing thing and it is very interesting that God admires a soul that has it. Faith is much better than intuition. Faith is like you already know and trust, you feel that you have found what you were longing for. How can a non-worldly thing as loving your enemies be right? It goes against logic, the world's great prize and pride. Why would a foolish thing as that have any value, and to think that it could even cost you your life? I have one question, is this your life, for Jesus, was being here his life? Is this what you so treasure, living on the world as it is and for such a short time?

With faith comes miracles (they are common place within it), but faith doesn't need miracles, it is just a by-product. With faith comes great peace and love to love even your enemies. What kind of insight is it to see beyond the world's great logic and to see into the man who calls himself the son of God and son of man? The seed of the Word finds a soul that seeks God. The Word grows in him and he brings forth obedience to the teachings & commands of Jesus Christ.

May God bless and open up your eyes to him. Love you brother to be.

 

[Rationalt]

You are assuming too many things, buddy.I assume there would be many ifs and buts in a scripture.

I am looking for an indepth answer from somebody who is well versed with the scriptures.

 

[zaksmummy]

If you hate your enemy, who is affected? Your enemy who doesnt care? Or you, who is in pain, in bitterness etc?

It is you who suffers, so God who is full of love and mercy says, forgive those who hurt you so that you are free from the emotional pain and bitterness that hate causes.

God also says that his ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts, sometimes you haver to accept that as he is God and he made us, he knows what is best for us.

So the answer to the question is yes, the statement is literal. Not easy, but literal.

 

[ebia]

Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Is this advice literal ?.

Yes

 

[Rationalt]

Thanks for the replies from zaksmummy and ebia.

So, the obvious next question is what you do with your enemy, after you have prayed for him.

 

[ebia]

Love and pray some more. I'm not sure what you mean?

 

[ephraimanesti]

Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Is this advice literal ?.

MY FRIEND,

It is not "advice," it is a commandment--and a very literal commandment at that.

Imagine what the world would be like if this commandment were kept!

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[ephraimanesti]

Thanks for the replies from zaksmummy and ebia.

So, the obvious next question is what you do with your enemy, after you have prayed for him.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

They will no longer be our enemies once we Love and Pray for them, because "enemies", as such, do not exist elsewhere but in our hearts.

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[Stephen Kendall]

You are assuming too many things, buddy.I assume there would be many ifs and buts in a scripture.

I am looking for an indepth answer from somebody who is well versed with the scriptures.

I only gave you what came to my heart to speak. I am sorry to have assumed things that were wrong.

I read scripture quite often and ponder about things. Sorry to speak from my own opinion. There are those much better at scripture and can help you find what you are seeking.

I could not imagine disobeying Christ or questioning his teachings or commands to us, so I thought that from your question that you showed a lack of faith. If you are really serious about finding an answer, try reading from modern day martyrs like Richard Wurmbrand or Tom White.

 

[Rationalt]

Dear ephraim,

I was hoping that somebody puts a context where it is profitable(or relevent...damn,i am not good with english.) to love your enemy.

Let me make this slightly more serious.

I am planning to join a cult called malsi.Our cult founder, dammahum, commanded(9:29-30) us to kill the christians who pray to Jesus till they abandon their worship or pay a punitive tax.

So, i am going to break in to you christians homes and ask you to stop worshipping jesus or pay me a punitive TAX(ayzij) and feel subdued.

Now, I know that most of you are going to payup.

 

[ebia]

I look forward to seeing you. What do you drink?

 

[razeontherock]

Dear ephraim,

I was hoping that somebody puts a context where it is profitable or relevant to love your enemy.

Let me make this slightly more serious.

I am planning to join a cult called malsi. Our cult founder, dammahum, commanded us to kill the christians who pray to Jesus till they abandon their worship or pay a punitive tax.

So, i am going to break in to you christians homes and ask you to stop worshipping jesus or pay me a punitive TAX and feel subdued.

Now, I know that most of you are going to payup.

This is not hypothetical, but exactly what happens as Islam becomes majority. What do we see in Scripture? Daniel comes to mind. While he did not respond violently to his oppressors, neither did he give in to their demand to worship their false g-d. And any opposition on his part would've been futile; not only was he hopelessly outnumbered, but G-d had specifically sent this Judgment upon his whole Country.

I think people should be looking at this exact scenario as being very likely a US reality.

If you want an example of meekness, (as in "the meek shall inherit the Earth") look no further than Jesus running the moneychangers out of the Temple. Churchianity today confuses meekness with weakness.

The example our OP brings to the table is NOT the type of "enemy" Jesus tells us to be kind to! This example would only be real in a violent overthrow of our Gov't., i.e. WAR, on domestic soil no less. I hope our culture wakes up ...

 

[ephraimanesti]

Dear ephraim,

I was hoping that somebody puts a context where it is profitable(or relevent...damn,i am not good with english.) to love your enemy.

Let me make this slightly more serious.

I am planning to join a cult called malsi.Our cult founder, dammahum, commanded(9:29-30) us to kill the christians who pray to Jesus till they abandon their worship or pay a punitive tax.

So, i am going to break in to you christians homes and ask you to stop worshipping jesus or pay me a punitive TAX(ayzij) and feel subdued.

Now, I know that most of you are going to payup.

MY (rather silly, assuming the above statement is made seriously) FRIEND,

Historically, there is seen to be no greater honor that a Christian can receive than the opportunity to die as a martyr for His Lord and for his beliefs. As an early Church martyr--Minucius Felix (A.D. 160-23)--put it:

"It is a beautiful thing to God when a Christian does battle with pain. When he faces threats, punishments and tortures by mocking death and treading underfoot the horror of the executioner; when he raises up his freedom in Christ as a standard before kings and princes; when he yields to God alone, and—triumphant and victorious—he tramples upon the very man who has pronounced the sentence of death upon him … God finds all these things beautiful." (The Octavius 37)

Look forward to seeing you soon!

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[Emmy]

Dear Rationalt. When Jesus talks of Love, He means the unselfish love, not the gushing. Jesus wants us to treat all we know or meet, friends or enemies, as we treat ourselves. Jesus died for all Mankind, and God wants us back again, but we have to Repent, to exchange our selfish and unloving character into loving selflessly. Treat all we meat as we would like to be treated, with understanding and kindness, with consideration and forgiveness. Christians follow our Master and Friend, we try to live as Christ did, give the Good-News to all we meet. God is Love, Christ is our Saviour, and we are Christians whose weapon is LOVE. We are not perfect, but we are Christ`s representatives. And Jesus keeps giving us His Love, His Joy, and His Peace to share amongst all. I say this with love, Rationalt. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[Van]

Hi Rationalt, sorry if some of this is redundant, I am simply responding to your opening post. If I understood your question, you are asking if Matthew 5:44 actually means what it says. The answer is yes. But look at one of the qualifiers, "your" enemies. This might or might not including enemies of those you love or are associated with. For example in a tribal culture, a "we/them" culture, then how would they look at "their" enemies. Anyone other than their tribe would be seen as an enemy. Now if we take off our tribal culture hat and put on the global view of Christ, the "them" should not be "hated" for they are potential brothers in Christ, even if they come from a tribal culture and think of us as "them."

All of the foregoing refers to our "individual" attitues and actions, acting on our own, so to speak. But what about if a person, or a gang, or a tribal raiding party, or an army of those who think of us as "them" threatens our lives. The Bible establishes the role of "government" to protect the weak. And the government "does not carry the sword for nothing." So a policeperson, or an military person, acting under legitimate orders can employ lethal force.

Basically the Bible teaches of three levels of response to threats, (1) one, acting as an individual, do what you can to resolve the situation, doing good to those who persecute you. (2) Acting as a member or leader of a church, we fight with words, ideas, and we do not allow enemies (anti-Christs if you will) to hinder the ministry of Christ. Therefore we to not tolerate "that women" who leads others astray. But this must be authorized by a plurality of Elders, not some individual member or leader. See the section concerning church discipline for more information. And (3) acting under the color of legitimate government authorization, using all necessary force to protect the weak.

Hopefully this answers your question.

May God Bless