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 |  634055 | Jan 8, 2007 5:12am | KJV: Matt 5:43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This rule I honestly admit that I find the hardest to obey.
But, I reason that if Jesus loves them, then I can (and should) love them too.
But when we are talking about criminals, I mean big time ones (such as serial killers and rapists) how do we love them?
Currently I think that we can hate the action that the person does, but love him because he is one of God's children, even though misguided.
What do you think? |
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Sponsor |  Ewtn2000 | Jan 9, 2007 11:39am | I think you are right in saying that this is a hard teaching for us to follow. Our Lord also said turn the other cheekI see this to mean that if someone does us an injustice, let it be, accept it if you have to, don't vindictively do him an injustice in return.
CCC 2303 "Deliberate hatred is contrary to charity. Hatred of the neighbor is a sin when one deliberately wishes him evil. Hatred of the neighbor is a grave sin when one deliberately desires him grave harm. "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven."
Christians are called to go beyond strict justice and act with charity with regards to others. This command of Christ against personal vengeance and strict justice for individual Christians does not, however, eliminate the right of a civil authority from exercising justice and even using capital punishment, as St. Paul notes in his reference to "the sword" in Romans. |
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|  timwat | Aug 7, 2007 11:40am | Our Lord tells us in Luke 7 that they who are forgiven much love much as a result. I have found in my own life that this love and gratitude for Christ spills over to love for my fellow man - brethren, unbelievers, felons, etc.
A fundamental reason I find it difficult to love my enemies is that the initial response in my flesh is to only consider the offense in light of what I think I deserve. What is helpful for me at those times is to consider:
- My enemy's offense compared to my rebellion against Christ
- What I really deserve in light of my rebellion against Christ throughout my life - and even up to today
- What I received from Him instead, simply because He is a gracious and merciful God
- My Lord's example of unjust suffering and His response, as well as His direct promises that I will endure the same because of my sin, the sin of others, and simply living in a world still burdened with sin
- Matthew 18:21-35
This certainly doesn't mean loving enemies is easy - ever! Real offense, real injustice and real pain and suffering touch us at the very core, or it's merely an inconvenience.
But I've found that it is right here that the world can observe that following Christ really does change sinful people from the inside out. It's an opportunity from Christ Himself to show ourselves as children following a gracious God.
Blessings,
Tim |
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| | | lizzy | Aug 15, 2007 7:48pm | Yes i agree this is the right way to love your enemy..its not difficult to see how hate and war can esculate all out of control..but in reality it IS difficult to know how to rise above what apears to you to be pure hate and disrespect for you or your family, jealousy, greed, or just plain sadistic bullying.
Do you strike back but in a non violent way?
Do you enquire of your percieved enimy `why do you do this?`
Sometimes life can feel oppresive when its a small tribulation compared to so many others whome are innocent of blame.
Forgiveness often calls for a higher power and a supernatural strenth. |
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