Common view on ‘Loving Your Enemy’

Picture Credit:

http://giadinh123.com/media/15110/a-nguoi-yeu-vi-ban-be-khich-eu-1.jpg

A revolutionary subject in the bible with regards to the qualities of a true Christian – ‘Love your enemy’! Though it’s hard to love their enemies, God’s people are yet to define the very term “Enemy”. Besides, there are numerous verses in the bible that speaks how to love and avoid enemies’ within the limits of God’s righteousness. Yet, loving our enemies seems inappropriate when the power of Satan is often manifested on earth in human forms. And remember that the true Christians operate with the mindset of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), being able to discern good and evil! So, let’s see what the bible has to say about it:

It is divinely logic when the bible question believers in Matthew 5:46; “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the sinners or tax collectors doing that?” And at the same time, this whole idea is contrasted with another verse written in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15; “Do not be yoked together with sinners or unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” Also, it is written in Psalm 1:1; “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers”.

In short, those verses in the bible about ‘loving thy enemy’ bring much confusion. The true discernment from the Lord is the key to decipher this dilemma, I suppose! Since the word of God is true and have no confusion, there shouldn’t be any doubt on this topic rather to conclude with an understanding based on the light and dark theory – where the darkness cannot prevail in light. It is imperative to understand as well this concept as a common knowledge that “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). (Read also the verses written in Romans 12:19-21, which gives additional light to this concept)

Therefore, loving your enemy is not necessarily the act of associating with the evil people and functioning in their midst, for any reason; instead it is the concept or a mindset that treats everyone as same at any given time or situation. And it is written in Matthew 5:45; “That you may be children 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”. In addition, the bible says, do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9). In other words, show respect and humility to everyone without any partiality – a sort of best way, to love each and everyone. With the true love of God in our hearts, we cannot hate our fellow beings, I suppose. Amen

Ultimate faith

Picture Credit: http://christianitymalaysia.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/faith-worship-god-jesus.jpg

Now, what is the purpose of faith? – I suppose, it is about to believe in God and to be saved then by His grace. Apparently, this faith-concept mentioned in the bible is the center for all wisdom – as it is written “fearing God is the beginning of the knowledge”. In simple words, through the faith alone we are saved. Though grace is the byproduct of faith, it carries the true meaning of God’s love and care as a part of His sovereign disposition.

When it comes to Christianity, the term ‘faith’ stands for Jesus Christ himself – and for that reason, we believers are obliged to live a life that He has shown us through his entire ministry. For it is written in James 2:17, NIV-Bible; “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Scripture is so clear that faith in Jesus without obeying His commands is useless and moreover it denies the acceptance of God indirectly as it nullifies the very meaning of faith by itself.

Some traditional Christian teachings claim that the ‘action’ mentioned in the bible is solely about helping the poor, or being active in man-made churches, or those meticulous religious rituals, or other related activities in the name of Christianity. Certainly, that helping hand for the sake of the Lord is good and leads to many blessings – but as per the Bible, God wants more than the idea of helping others. It is written in Hebrews 10:5-7, NIV-Bible; “When Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased”. Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’” Being the followers of Jesus Christ, we are all obliged to do the same – to do the will of God, which is the obedience to the word of God – the perfect action in faith. In other words, faith is the blessing of the Lord to know Him thoroughly, and to stand firm in His precepts.

Again, when the bible says, “by grace you are saved” – it means, by God you are saved. And remember that without God is drawing you near to His son Christ Jesus, no one can reach this ultimate faith which leads to grace. In a sense, the chosen people are certainly ordained by the Lord, to know him and to worship him essentially forever. Amen

Do not give the dogs the sacred!

Picture Credit: http://www.jeffrandleman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/week-37.jpg

Being a true Christian one should be able to decipher the warnings in the bible – at least to demonstrate the rightful obedience or to safeguard oneself against the evil. It is written in Matthew 7:6; “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces”. It might take a while to understand who those pigs and what those pearls are, since the common perspective on ‘bible preaching’ is to propagate only the good news. It’s hard for the secular world to incorporate this divine truth as it is meant only for the chosen people of the God.

In short, do not force or share the precious word of God to anyone until they are made ready by the Lord – as it is written in John 6:44-45, NIV-Bible; “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me”. In a sense, it is quite difficult or impossible that non-believers accept the bible principles unless they are destined!

Therefore, renew your minds completely in the Lord first before you could reach out to others (Matthew 7:3-5). The Bible declares that if anyone tries to exceed these warning will definitely botch by the enemy. To be more precise, without being enlightened, no one is supposed to preach or teach the word of God, as it could turn to be the workshop of the devil instead. And since the scope of teaching and prayer are not limited to the movements of our lips alone; cease not being righteously good in the sight of the Lord. Amen