Why do we pray for our enemies?

[Adventist Dissident]

@Pipp@

Why are you trying to make this personal? Why do you assume the concluions you do? only an immature person would make the statements you do. I have tried the thing that i am questioning. I am asking because they don't seem to be effective and do not produce any positive results. I have never seen my enemies repent or be saved ever. In fact they seem to double down on their righteousness. Now either I am wrong, the are wrong, we both are wrong, but there is something wrong here. Now when I ask the question. I get a bunch of self-righteous poppycock. "you should this....." "you should that" "shame on you for asking such a challenging question" "how dare you question the faith" "Jesus said it that should be enough" what utter nonsense. this type of nonsensical religion is foolishness and wortless. you have no idea what you are talking about why don't you just admit it, you are afraid to examine your faith. It seems to me that this is just mental exersice to keep my mind and attitude open. that is all.

 

[Tolworth John]

This is not about you so please stop making it about you. it is clear that you are indifferent towards other people's real life experiences and have no real answers for real life problems.

No where have I said this is about me.

Your physical problems are your problems, I have triedto address the spiritual issues you raised.
If you don't like the responces you get, ignore them.

 

[YahuahSaves]

@Pipp@

Why are you trying to make this personal? Why do you assume the concluions you do? only an immature person would make the statements you do. I have tried the thing that i am questioning. I am asking because they don't seem to be effective and do not produce any positive results. I have never seen my enemies repent or be saved ever. In fact they seem to double down on their righteousness. Now either I am wrong, the are wrong, we both are wrong, but there is something wrong here. Now when I ask the question. I get a bunch of self-righteous poppycock. "you should this....." "you should that" "shame on you for asking such a challenging question" "how dare you question the faith" "Jesus said it that should be enough" what utter nonsense. this type of nonsensical religion is foolishness and wortless. you have no idea what you are talking about why don't you just admit it, you are afraid to examine your faith. It seems to me that this is just mental exersice to keep my mind and attitude open. that is all.

I made it personal to try to shed light on a situation I've been going through and hopefully to make it relatable. The words of scripture in action through every day life.
You have also made it personal, and if anyone has been "attacking" here it has been you.
We have to "die to self," we can't live in victimhood our whole lives or we don't grow.
The "why me, I'm a good person" complaint is an issue. The only truly "good person" (sinless) man who walked the earth was Jesus, yet you seem to think you've been through more than him.
P.s. you will be attacked for following Christ.
This is what "suffering for Christ" means.

wow the personal attacks are massive. this was not about obeying or not obey. it was about understanding how this fits in with love. none of your answers, answered this question. it seem that this was the wrong group to ask, more maturity is needed with this group to understand this issue. Wishful thinking and Hopeful declaration of Ideals betrays that you do not know what you are talking about. I have suffered much as a believer, physical attacks, loss of property, loss of Jobs, homelessness and what I have found is that most of the time the believers are the last to help. Many times it has been at the hands of believers. So when I ask the question I am not asking from a lack of experience and a lack of suffering. I am asking because there seems to be something off here. Wanting good will to people is not what we are talking about. In the midst of me being picked up and slammed on the ground and the insuing pain not one time did it ever cross my mind to pray for to pray for the persons conversion. I was praying to escape the pain, to get away from the person, that God would protect me and that he would stop the person and bring punishment to the person. Not once did it occur to me to say pray for his salvation, because they did not think he need it. This just strikes me as wrong. it does not seem loving. the ideal does not seem attainable. Just the pain alone makes it impossible to pull that off, because it focuses you on your own survival and protection.

 

[YahuahSaves]

it was about understanding how this fits in with love.

Contrary to popular opinion, God actually does use "tough love" on us sometimes. This was my main reason for sharing my personal experience. It's hard to think God can allow us "followers" of Christ to experience such hardship, because we believe his love means we're protected from such hardship, which is not the case at all.

God does love you, but he also loves your enemies too.

 

[Adventist Dissident]

Contrary to popular opinion, God actually does use "tough love" on us sometimes. This was my main reason for sharing my personal experience. It's hard to think God can allow us "followers" of Christ to experience such hardship, because we believe his love means we're protected from such hardship, which is not the case at all.

God does love you, but he also loves your enemies too.

hardships come on everyone, some more then others. Hardship does not necessarily mean that God is disciplining a person, it could mean you make bad decisions, it could mean other people make bad decisions, it could mean you are dealing with bad people or it could that you just don't fit in to that situation.

 

[YahuahSaves]

hardships come on everyone, some more then others. Hardship does not necessarily mean that God is disciplining a person, it could mean you make bad decisions, it could mean other people make bad decisions, it could mean you are dealing with bad people or it could that you just don't fit in to that situation.

I agree... so to ask my earlier question again, have you asked God and followed the Holy Spirits leading on how to handle your situation? I know the Lord didn't initially want me to choose the situation I ended up in, but he has certainly used it to teach me something valuable this year (which is the power of forgiveness and how to "love" my enemies by actively helping them and blessing them, no matter what they have done to me).
I can tell you it's the most difficult and painful thing I have had to go through because I've been through so much trauma in life already, I initially thought God was "re-traumatizing" me, and did not love me, but as time goes on I understand he is just teaching me.

So whether you are somewhere by choice or by Gods divine plan, just keep striving to do good, because we can't change how others perceive or react to us. Their behaviour is on them alone.

 

[ViaCrucis]

We pray for them because we are to love them. That means, contrary to the ways of this fallen world, that we are to view our enemy as a neighbor, to be clothed, fed, and taken care of. When someone wishes us ill, we wish them well. When someone curses us, we bless them. If our enemy is hungry and would rather see us starve, we instead give them food that their bellies would be made full.

As St. Paul says in Romans 12, in this way hot coals are heaped upon their head. Their hatred is fought not with malice, anger, or more hate--but rather it is responded to with love. The hot flames of hatred are submerged beneath the water of compassion--and our enemy can either change (repent), or they can cling to their hate. But then it is entirely a matter between them and God, "Vengeance is Mine, says the Lord, I will repay.". Our job is to love without ceasing, to forgive seventy times seven times, to pray, to bless, to show kindness and gentleness--even to those who despise us.

Why? Because while we were still enemies of God, He loved us. While still sinners, Christ died for us.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I have been pondering this question as to why and what are we suppose to pray for when God ask us to pray for our enemies? and why? what is the purpose to be achieved? what result should we be expecting?

This has been a source of confusion and perplexity. confusion because it is unclear why and perplexity as to what is the point and what is to be achive.

It seem like nonsense,
so could some please clarify this?

I think it helps us to see that they are not so very different than we are. That there is a deeper unity that we share, that they are reflections of ourselves.

 

[Hawkins]

I have been pondering this question as to why and what are we suppose to pray for when God ask us to pray for our enemies? and why? what is the purpose to be achieved? what result should we be expecting?

This has been a source of confusion and perplexity. confusion because it is unclear why and perplexity as to what is the point and what is to be achive.

It seem like nonsense,
so could some please clarify this?

A simple example, God's effort is in rescuing His sheep. You however killed him in the middle of the process for your own vengeance. Not only that you killed a brother but also that you made your kill before his salvation.

That's why vengeance belongs to God. Leave that decision to God for Him to decide what action is more proper. And love your enemies to pray for them to be saved.

 

[Fervent]

Christ died for His enemies, praying for ours doesn't seem like a big ask in comparison.