A_Son_of_God
Nemesis of the Trolls - Especially dumb ones
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2024
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- 163
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You may have heard of the Christian command by Jesus that we should "Love our enemies", and "turn the other cheek" etc. Other scriptures say, "Happy are you when people persecute you, and lyingly say things about you. Leap for joy". So does this mean we now have to embrace our abusers, and be happy that we're being abused by these people?
Well, everything written has to be taken in the context of how it was written. Secondly, there are language barriers with translation that mean certain words can either not be explained clearly, or need a whole chapter just to explain the technicalities of a text. From my experience in here, I know that even these two paragraphs are too long for a number of people to follow. No, we're not getting smarter. We're being brainwashed into stupidity. People just don't have the attention span, nor the desire to have one, that they used to.
But getting back to the point, we can consider the context of how these scriptures were written.
"Love"
The word translated "love" from the Hebrew and Greek into English come from a number of words, with different meanings. Here is an article for those who wish to look at these meanings of the word "love" in these languages.
But to get to the point, those of us who have children, or have partners, know full well that loving them does not mean you won't get irate with them at times, nor does it mean that you'll ALWAYS have yourself in control of your vocal limits, trying to speak over one another. But that's not based on being unloving. It's based on not being understood, and not having the patience to endure what feels like a wrong. Sure, we can do better, but the point is, this is not an issue of love.
Loving Our Enemies
So when Jesus was saying to love our enemies, he was not expecting us to bring them home with us, knowing that they'll stab us to death in our sleep and burn our houses down. How do we know? Because he explains it himself. "“All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must do to them. This, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean.", while at the same time saying, "so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous." Here, Jesus is showing that God's love is demonstrated in that he allows both the righteous and the unrighteous to enjoy sun and rain. Even though some of those would be completely separated from God, God still provides them with these things.
And Paul gives an example of this when he says, "So, then, as long as we have the opportunity, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith." So, Paul shows "working what is good towards all" is important.
Turning the Other Cheek
So, what about this turning of the other cheek? Is that a command to become a punching bag for the wicked? Not at all. How do we know this? Because the principle of being struck is explained in another scripture where it is shown as a slap - a provocation (Matthew 5:39). Admittedly, this is an area I could improve on, as I do get sick of the antagonisers, and I've been seeing this all my life. But back on the point, the Scriptures are talking about not being provoked by such things.
"Happy" When Persecuted
So, what about this being happy while being persecuted? Well, in regard to this, this is specifically speaking about being persecuted for the sake of Christ, or for God. When being persecuted for doing the right thing, it is a strength to endure it. It proves an issue that Satan is wrong in that we worship him only because of what we get out of him. It is purely based on faith that we endure under such circumstances, and yes, as much as God does promise to reward us, there certainly is no immediate reward without the fact that God has promised to fix things in his own time. But Jesus here is stating that when we're persecuted for HIS sake, we should be glad, because we are identified as Christ's disciples, as he wasn't just persecuted, but he had the leaders scheming against him, rabblerousing the masses to try to kill him, making out he was crazy, and eventually taking his life from him. Yet, Jesus came here specifically to do that. To have his life taken, so that when universal decree stated that he was innocent and entitled to his life back, instead of taking it back, he bought you and me with it. Sinful you and me. So that's why we can be happy, because we can recognise we're on the same path.
Final Thoughts
John 15:8-12 shows Jesus talking to his apostles at the evening meal he had with his faithful apostles, while Judas had headed off to do his deed. You will note that Jesus spoke of observing HIS commandments, and that this would demonstrate that they love him. One of these commandments he then emphasises again - that they have love among "themselves". In other words, they were to demonstrate a brotherly love, in the same manner that Jesus demonstrated to them while he was still with them on earth. A little later, in verses 17-22, Jesus emphasises that they'd undergo hatred from the nations. Yet he was emphasising that the apostles maintained this love amongst themselves, regardless of what the world did, and they were also to be kind to people. Nonetheless, Jesus highlighted that their actions made them accountable, and without excuse for their wickedness.
So, the love shown to those who hate us is not the same as the love of those who are our close companions. Nonetheless, both instances require a Christian to show love in how they deal with others, even while we're in this imperfect state.
Well, everything written has to be taken in the context of how it was written. Secondly, there are language barriers with translation that mean certain words can either not be explained clearly, or need a whole chapter just to explain the technicalities of a text. From my experience in here, I know that even these two paragraphs are too long for a number of people to follow. No, we're not getting smarter. We're being brainwashed into stupidity. People just don't have the attention span, nor the desire to have one, that they used to.
But getting back to the point, we can consider the context of how these scriptures were written.
"Love"
The word translated "love" from the Hebrew and Greek into English come from a number of words, with different meanings. Here is an article for those who wish to look at these meanings of the word "love" in these languages.
But to get to the point, those of us who have children, or have partners, know full well that loving them does not mean you won't get irate with them at times, nor does it mean that you'll ALWAYS have yourself in control of your vocal limits, trying to speak over one another. But that's not based on being unloving. It's based on not being understood, and not having the patience to endure what feels like a wrong. Sure, we can do better, but the point is, this is not an issue of love.
Loving Our Enemies
So when Jesus was saying to love our enemies, he was not expecting us to bring them home with us, knowing that they'll stab us to death in our sleep and burn our houses down. How do we know? Because he explains it himself. "“All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must do to them. This, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean.", while at the same time saying, "so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous." Here, Jesus is showing that God's love is demonstrated in that he allows both the righteous and the unrighteous to enjoy sun and rain. Even though some of those would be completely separated from God, God still provides them with these things.
And Paul gives an example of this when he says, "So, then, as long as we have the opportunity, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith." So, Paul shows "working what is good towards all" is important.
Turning the Other Cheek
So, what about this turning of the other cheek? Is that a command to become a punching bag for the wicked? Not at all. How do we know this? Because the principle of being struck is explained in another scripture where it is shown as a slap - a provocation (Matthew 5:39). Admittedly, this is an area I could improve on, as I do get sick of the antagonisers, and I've been seeing this all my life. But back on the point, the Scriptures are talking about not being provoked by such things.
"Happy" When Persecuted
So, what about this being happy while being persecuted? Well, in regard to this, this is specifically speaking about being persecuted for the sake of Christ, or for God. When being persecuted for doing the right thing, it is a strength to endure it. It proves an issue that Satan is wrong in that we worship him only because of what we get out of him. It is purely based on faith that we endure under such circumstances, and yes, as much as God does promise to reward us, there certainly is no immediate reward without the fact that God has promised to fix things in his own time. But Jesus here is stating that when we're persecuted for HIS sake, we should be glad, because we are identified as Christ's disciples, as he wasn't just persecuted, but he had the leaders scheming against him, rabblerousing the masses to try to kill him, making out he was crazy, and eventually taking his life from him. Yet, Jesus came here specifically to do that. To have his life taken, so that when universal decree stated that he was innocent and entitled to his life back, instead of taking it back, he bought you and me with it. Sinful you and me. So that's why we can be happy, because we can recognise we're on the same path.
Final Thoughts
John 15:8-12 shows Jesus talking to his apostles at the evening meal he had with his faithful apostles, while Judas had headed off to do his deed. You will note that Jesus spoke of observing HIS commandments, and that this would demonstrate that they love him. One of these commandments he then emphasises again - that they have love among "themselves". In other words, they were to demonstrate a brotherly love, in the same manner that Jesus demonstrated to them while he was still with them on earth. A little later, in verses 17-22, Jesus emphasises that they'd undergo hatred from the nations. Yet he was emphasising that the apostles maintained this love amongst themselves, regardless of what the world did, and they were also to be kind to people. Nonetheless, Jesus highlighted that their actions made them accountable, and without excuse for their wickedness.
So, the love shown to those who hate us is not the same as the love of those who are our close companions. Nonetheless, both instances require a Christian to show love in how they deal with others, even while we're in this imperfect state.