How to love our enemies?

[arunangelo]

[SIZE=medium]Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies, offer the other cheek if slapped on one and express sacrificial love towards them (Matthew 5:43-48). He practiced these teachings in his own life when he sacrificed his own life so that those who hurt and betrayed him may have eternal life. He accepted pain and suffering quietly, and offered no resistance though he had the power to overcome his executioners. Furthermore, he forgave and prayed for his them, and was concerned about the hurt they were causing themselves by their unjust actions rather than his own suffering. We, however find it extremely hard to follow these teachings, especially when we have repeatedly been hurt and betrayed. We therefore continue to harbor hate and revengeful thoughts towards those who hurt us. This disturbs the peace in our heart and those around us. If, however, we follow his teachings out of pure obedience, we allow his spirit (which is unconditional love) to work in our heart. This will set us free from the oppression of hate and revenge. Furthermore, if the other party is open to his Spirit, through our prayers and actions they too will accept his spirit. This will end the cycle of hate and hurt in the world.[/SIZE]

 

[afaithfulone4u]

I like your thoughts and this is true that we must forgive everyone and know that they know not what they do for they are held captive to Satan's ways and he is their father and brings his children up as bullies, tyrants, evil doers who persecute the children of God to gain in this life, because they don't realize that there is a God who is a Good Father and wants to help them to Break Free and overcome their sinful ways to set them free from their prision of hell and torment day and night.

It is Biblical to always turn the other cheek, to return no evil for evil for if we do as they do, then we are the same as they are.. but do remember that the most important thing one can do to show love to our enemies(the lost) is to bring them the truth.

Jesus said to love them just as I have loved you. He is the Way the Truth and the Life for He is the Word of Life and we must follow him in Truth/Word to find our Life in the promised land over flowing with milk and honey and peace that only living a godly life can bring.. for walking crooked in life not only is lame, but keeps us in constant hot water with God and we reap exactly as we sow.

John 6:63
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
KJV

Sow the Seed of God's Word which Jesus said is Spirit and life into yourself and others whom we are commissioned to love in the truth, that teaches us how to walk with Christ in goodness, love, peace, generosity, patience, kindness, honesty putting others BEST INTEREST before yours, knowing that the consequences of our actions bring forth fruit, that we shall eat of when our harvest comes. Do this so that your path to the promised land gets easier and easier as the mountains in your life are made low and the valleys made more level and your walk more STRAIGHT and smoooooth!
Spread the Seed everywhere you go through their eyes and ears so it makes it's way to their heart and give Bread to the eater.. this is the greatest act of love you can give anyone for it will raise them up it standards so that they are honored in life and God can bless them because they receive the Word of God, for Jesus' body is Food, the Bread of life:
Luke 4:4
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
KJV
John 6:32-35
32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
KJV

Also want to add that when we hold other's in UNforgiveness then we are judging them and are punishing them for what they did to us.
But God has played a little trick on us that is perfect Justice really, He has made it so that when we hold one in unforgiveness, it is like I heard someone say, like us taking poison in our own bodies but expecting THEM to die. It eats at us and causes DIS-EASE to come into our bodies making us sickly and diseased due to stress hatred and anger. Our Con-SCIENCE works in the same manor, when we feel we have sinned, it bother's us and we become stressed, worried and always looking over our shoulder in fear of being found out. Perfect Love(Obeying God's Word) casts out fear!!

God's forgiveness is conditional... for one we must recognize our sin and ask for forgiveness and turn from it... but it also depends upon our willingness to do the same to others, as we are asking Him to do for us.
When someone does us wrong or we see someone in the media who has done wrong, we should NOT seek their punishment!
We pray for them for they know not what they do? We should never stand in judgment of them, BUT, we must recognize it as sin if it is and keep from participation with them and try to reach them with God's Word to help them to come to repentance to change their ways before they get in trouble. Carnal man only dishes out punishment, but those of the Spirit try to bring them out of the sin to save them.
We must remain blameless as we continue our daily sacrifices of our own flesh that still needs much cutting away.

 

[7angels]

when is the time that we are not to turn the other cheek?

 

[trivialtheology]

Jesus is talking about our attitude toward the enemy. Practically and generally this is not a valid moral teaching. For Jesus himself does not condemn war, if not, he would have warn his disciple not to carry a sword.

 

[IBeMe]

We're talking about two different things, here.

Psa 141:5 "Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities."

"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:"
"For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."

A smite on the cheek was a real common form of punishment. We read where both Jesus and Paul were unjustly smitten.

Let's say I did something wrong.
Under the law (Moses) I'd go before a priest, judge or ruler.
In these times, I might go before the pastor, or God might punish me.

Accept the punishment, make double sure you keep everything squared away on this side of eternity.

"If they shall confess their iniquity ... if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant ..."

:::::::

We're called to spiritual, not physical warfare.

"For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."

So, we put our wrath aside.

That doesn't mean we let someone harm us.

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:"

We love our enemies by keeping the commandments of God before them.

 

[Dan57]

when is the time that we are not to turn the other cheek?

"Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him" (Luke 17:3).

I don't believe Christ was teaching us to be willingly mistreated, but to not engage in offensive behavior. Walk away from trouble if possible (turn the other cheek), instead of getting defensive and returning evil for evil (1 Peter 3:8-9). Paul said; "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18).

"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools" (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

Matthew 18:23-35 describes a situation of not being merciful to a hypocrite. And remember that Christ himself demonstrated anger and violence when he overthrew the tables of the moneychangers in the temple and drove them out with a whip, that he made himself (John 2:15).

Praying for our enemies is not necessarily a good thing for them; (Matthew 18:6).