Please...
People...what people do and who they are are NOT the same thing? understand? You can hate what they do but love them regardless..please...I beg you. As a Christ-following group of people can we PLEASE just get that part right? *sits pleading with whoever will listen*
I am so sick of people saying that as a disciple of Christ, "oh we have to love everyone but we don't have to like them." bull shit. I do not care if they raped and killed a loved one, hate what they did, be mad, do what's necesary even but love them! Yes it's freakin hard!
1 John 2:9-11 "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him."
In high school I wanted to make a T-shirt that said either "I love Hitler..." or "I love Osama..." on the front and on the back write, "...but I hate what they did. God forgive them." Am I so crazy to do this? We claim to love and follow a God that loved the very people who killed his son right in front of Him. did it hurt God? YES, was it hard for Him? seemed like it. Does he still love everyone even when he punishes them or kills a whole nation? yes! God himself says that He does not wish ANYONE to perish and Christ asked God to forgive his enemies.
2 Peter 3:9 "9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
I understand it being hard. I understand that we will fail at this and do stupid things sometimes. But good gosh when our very philosophy of life or theology states that in certain circumstances we can hate or dislike people...there is something freakin wrong!
I am so mad at the enemy for turning us against one another. I am so mad that he has clouded the minds of people so badly that we hurt and hate or own race, or our own people, our friends, family. He puts so much sinful pride in us that we can't "seem" to forgive one another or quit being selfish for two seconds. I hate how this american/western culture has changed Christianity into this comfort seeking, make everybody happy, avoid conflict, and do what's easier theology.
1 Peter 4:12-13 "12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
Matt 7:1-3 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"
guys, I love you. If i didn't there would be some major problems with me typing all this. ironic actually. I do not ask this of unbelievers, I do not ask this is people I do not know. I do not ask this of people that I have not developed a bond with. the people that this applies to should know that holding each other accountable is necesary. If this hits a cord, then take it to God. Defensiveness is not of God because when you are at peace with him, you have no need to defend anything, especially yourself. I'm bringing this up for us...all of us.
Please guys...no more hate. no more 'dislike'. Just a deep passion for everyone including the hard to love by seeing them thru God's eyes.
JESSIE
I am so sick of people saying that as a disciple of Christ, "oh we have to love everyone but we don't have to like them." bull shit. I do not care if they raped and killed a loved one, hate what they did, be mad, do what's necesary even but love them! Yes it's freakin hard!
1 John 2:9-11 "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him."
In high school I wanted to make a T-shirt that said either "I love Hitler..." or "I love Osama..." on the front and on the back write, "...but I hate what they did. God forgive them." Am I so crazy to do this? We claim to love and follow a God that loved the very people who killed his son right in front of Him. did it hurt God? YES, was it hard for Him? seemed like it. Does he still love everyone even when he punishes them or kills a whole nation? yes! God himself says that He does not wish ANYONE to perish and Christ asked God to forgive his enemies.
2 Peter 3:9 "9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
I understand it being hard. I understand that we will fail at this and do stupid things sometimes. But good gosh when our very philosophy of life or theology states that in certain circumstances we can hate or dislike people...there is something freakin wrong!
I am so mad at the enemy for turning us against one another. I am so mad that he has clouded the minds of people so badly that we hurt and hate or own race, or our own people, our friends, family. He puts so much sinful pride in us that we can't "seem" to forgive one another or quit being selfish for two seconds. I hate how this american/western culture has changed Christianity into this comfort seeking, make everybody happy, avoid conflict, and do what's easier theology.
1 Peter 4:12-13 "12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
Matt 7:1-3 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"
guys, I love you. If i didn't there would be some major problems with me typing all this. ironic actually. I do not ask this of unbelievers, I do not ask this is people I do not know. I do not ask this of people that I have not developed a bond with. the people that this applies to should know that holding each other accountable is necesary. If this hits a cord, then take it to God. Defensiveness is not of God because when you are at peace with him, you have no need to defend anything, especially yourself. I'm bringing this up for us...all of us.
Please guys...no more hate. no more 'dislike'. Just a deep passion for everyone including the hard to love by seeing them thru God's eyes.
JESSIE