Christians:Is It Possible to Love Your Enemy? (Jesus, followers)

[ChristineES]

This question is mainly for Christians, but anyone else can answer,too, if they want to.

Jesus commands His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who harm them and persecute them. I am wondering if you find this possible to do. (for non-Christians, can you love your enemy?)

I admit I find it hard at times but once I start praying for my enemies it becomes easier. I am not just talking about Bin Laden or whatever but people who seem hostile that I have encountered.

[Saint Tigeress]

I have been able to pray for my enemies, and overcome my bitterness and utter disguist. For me, when I prayed for someone I was angry with, it literally felt like a weight was lifted off of my heart. When I saw them agian, I was able to be "Christ-like" and mean it from the inside out, showing love for them. Of course, this did not take away my honesty, but it softened my whole attitude, outlook, and approach into a definate loving one.

I have never been able to accomplish this without praying about it. I absolutely refuse to "play/pretend nice," and try to never say or do things I don't mean and won't stand by.

Now I have had a time or two where I was so dumbfounded by something so evil someone did, I could not bring myself to pray for them. I had no desire to attempt to feel love for them. I know that sounds horrible. I prayed for myself and the victim of the evil instead.

So with that said, I think sometimes a person can and sometimes, depending on the situation, they might be unable. After all we are only human.

[angellous_evangellous]

Yes, it is hard. The only way to love your enemies is to live the sacrificial life. That is, either let them be satisfied with beating you without resistance (if they have a conscience) or let them kill you (if they don't). It's a high calling that few of us will accept.

[Francine]

It is possible to love your enemy, just as it is possible to give up all your possessions and follow Jesus, and equally rare.

[credance]

Who are my enemies?
People I have let wrong me? No
I live a very simple live compared to what I hear is happening.
I have never had an enemy who shed the blood of a loved one.
If someone representing a group, or gang hurt one of my loved ones in a deliberate act of lawlessness they would probably become my enemy.
Forgiveness and resolution is the message.
"Vengeance is Mine saith the Lord".
Vengeance is the continuation of violence.

[Hope]

The only way to love your enemies is with agape love, which is God's love. This love is unconditional, and has very little to do with one's feelings. You can be justifiably angry at someone over their wrong actions, you can even feel a great dislike for them personally, and, yet, still love them. Jesus didn't mean we had to like our enemies, or feel warm, fuzzy feelings towards them----He simply meant that we should intentionally love them, by choosing to forgive them and treat them with kindness and respect and not return their evil with like evil. It's called "heaping coals on their heads."

[TrueBlue2]

For me, it is the most difficult of all the commandments. Probably the best I can say is "I don't hate my enemies."

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by ChristineES

This question is mainly for Christians, but anyone else can answer,too, if they want to.

Jesus commands His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who harm them and persecute them. I am wondering if you find this possible to do. (for non-Christians, can you love your enemy?)

I admit I find it hard at times but once I start praying for my enemies it becomes easier. I am not just talking about Bin Laden or whatever but people who seem hostile that I have encountered.

I'm sure it's possible, and it's definitely something we should be doing. Sadly, it's not something at which I've been successful. I am generally find it quite easy to forgive when I am wronged -- provided the person who has wronged me is willing to apologize. I know we're supposed to forgive everyone, though, regardless of whether they're repentent or not. That is SOOOO hard for me.

[Ratiocinative]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

Yes, it is hard. The only way to love your enemies is to live the sacrificial life. That is, either let them be satisfied with beating you without resistance (if they have a conscience) or let them kill you (if they don't). It's a high calling that few of us will accept.

There is nothing wrong with self defense, and when you have a family you're expected to defend them. Loving your enemy means that you don't refuse to help them when they need it, even if they've treated you badly in the past. Loving your enemy does not mean that you no longer defend yourself against them. If someone attacks you you're free to give them a good beating. Of course you need to exercise judgement and not use excessive force, but if your life is threatened and you kill them in self-defense you have nothing to feel guilty about.

[sandy whitelinger]

Originally Posted by ChristineES

This question is mainly for Christians, but anyone else can answer,too, if they want to.

Jesus commands His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who harm them and persecute them. I am wondering if you find this possible to do. (for non-Christians, can you love your enemy?)

I admit I find it hard at times but once I start praying for my enemies it becomes easier. I am not just talking about Bin Laden or whatever but people who seem hostile that I have encountered.

It's not that hard. Your enemies do not require anything from you in order for them to be your enemy. It absolves you of reciprocity.