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Love Your
Enemies
By Marnie Pehrson
SheLovesGod.com
Christ
taught us to forgive and forget, love one another, even to love our enemies.
How in the world do we do that?
Christ taught us to forgive
and forget, love one another, even to love our enemies. How in the world do we
do that? How do we forgive and love a serial killer or a child molester or a
dictator when many of us have a hard time loving our own mother-in-law? This
seems like a very daunting commandment indeed. Most of us just give up and say,
''I'll never be able to do that, so why try?''
If love is Christ's greatest
message, then wouldn't He have given us clues as to how to accomplish it? Would
He command us to do something that is impossible? Perhaps the secret to
accomplishing this commandment is hidden in His other teachings.
He also commanded, ''Judge
not, that ye be not judged.'' (Matthew 7:1). At first glance you might think
this commandment is just one more that is impossible to keep. After all, do you
let a known serial killer in your front door because you don't want to judge
him? Or do you let a known pedophile baby-sit your children? No, you have to
use common sense and good judgment. Judgment -- now there's that term again --
that thing He said not to do.
So how do we resolve this
seemingly illogical commandment to ''judge not''? Here is the subtle solution.
We should not judge people, but we may judge things -- actions or principles.
We do not know the life history or circumstances of the child molester. He may
have been abused himself. He may know nothing else. Giving him an excuse or a
rationale for his behavior does not make it right. Neither does it give you the
incentive to have him watch your child. But, when you separate his habit from
him, you are then free to forgive him, have pity on him, and yes, even love
him. You don't have to love or accept his habit or allow it to infringe upon
your life.
When we realize that we don't
know all the facts or all the circumstances in another person's life -- when we
realize we don't know all the steps that led up to making them the person they
are, we then know why we are not the ones to sit in judgment on their souls. We
may judge their actions. Our judicial system is perfectly valid for determining
consequences for actions. But, only God knows the soul, the heart and the mind
behind the offending actions.
Yes, we may judge actions. We
may use good judgment when we decide whether we want someone else involved in
our lives or the lives of those for whom we are accountable. But, when we are
able to truly separate the offender from the offending actions, we will be
closer to being able to forgive and even love them. Thus, ''judge not'' is the
key to ''love one another.''
E-mail Marnie: webmaster@ideamarketers.com
Marnie's URL: http://www.pwgroup.com, http://shelovesgod.com,
http://ideamarketers.com
Marnie Pehrson is an
Internet developer, writer & moderator of "Finding Your
Way Home -- A Christian Perspective," a Christian support community
helping
you progress from whatever stage you are spiritually to the next level. Join
in and receive inspirational quotes, articles, and thoughts like this 3-4
times/week. Also feature your own articles in the community and voice your
opinions at http://www.ideamarketers.com/christian/
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