|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
"Do I have to LIKE..." - 9/16/2008 3:45:11 PM
|
|
|
sgpianoman
Posts: 314
Joined: 3/10/2006
From: Florida
Status: offline
|
One of the things I enjoy about bible study at church is discussion. Someone brought up the question: "I know i am supposed to love everyone, but do i have to like them?" Of course many answers was close to "love the person, don't like what they do" all the way to "you don't have to really like everyone, because sometimes people just do not get along".
I thought it was a good discussion question.
What do you think? Any scripture to back the answer is even better!
_____________________________
In the words of Bill Gaither...."WHY NOT??"
myspace.com/sgpianoman
Southern Gospel Fall Fest 2008 in NOV
www.northfloridaconcerts.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: "Do I have to LIKE..." - 9/16/2008 5:26:40 PM
|
|
|
jaimestarcross
Posts: 781
Joined: 11/28/2005
Status: offline
|
Love your neighbor as you love yourself?
How do you love someone without liking them too?
I don't like the bad things a person may do but
I still like/love them as a person... for example
when my friend was charged with contributing to the
death of his infant. I didn't like what he was accused of but I still
talked to him and showed Christ's love.
In the end he was cleared of wrong doing but he's still
judged as guilty by lots of people who'll not associate with him at all and
they don't like me for being friends with him.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: "Do I have to LIKE..." - 9/16/2008 6:37:41 PM
|
|
|
deermousie
Posts: 1895
Joined: 9/26/2007
Status: online
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: sgpianoman
One of the things I enjoy about bible study at church is discussion. Someone brought up the question: "I know i am supposed to love everyone, but do i have to like them?" Of course many answers was close to "love the person, don't like what they do" all the way to "you don't have to really like everyone, because sometimes people just do not get along".
I thought it was a good discussion question.
What do you think? Any scripture to back the answer is even better!
I was going to say that we can love someone without liking them, because love is an action, not a feeling. But then I found this:
(1 Pet. 1:22)
Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love (friendship) of the brethren, see that you fervently love (unconditionally, like God does us) one another with a pure heart .
So now I'm going to have to sit back and let someone better versed than me answer this; obviously my thoughts aren't matching up with Scripture.
BTW, some people *are* hard to like - they are abrupt, thoughtless, proud, rude or selfish. I knew a pastor who said that God put one of these in every group so Christians could practice loving unconditionally. If everyone else is fine, you're it. 
_____________________________
Want to know where a certain word or phrase in the Bible is found? www.biblegateway.com Yay!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: "Do I have to LIKE..." - 9/17/2008 10:17:00 AM
|
|
|
Focusing
Posts: 6020
Status: offline
|
Well, I sat in a sermon one time and learned about "Jesus people" ... these are people we don't like, but we know we are to love them as Christ loves us, so we need to pray for Him to love these people through us. The preacher was being serious but delivered it in a light-hearted manner. I don't know, maybe you had to be there and hear him say it.
At any rate, when there are people I really don't care for, I do pray and ask God to love them through me because I just cannot do it. It's honest and sincere, and to tell you the truth, it has made it easier for me to deal with certain people.
Not a Biblical answer, but something important I learned.
_____________________________
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven
|
|
|
|
|
RE: "Do I have to LIKE..." - 9/17/2008 1:35:32 PM
|
|
|
jesuschick247
Posts: 2512
Status: offline
|
I think it is possible to love everyone, and yet not like them. We love them because they are a person who God created in His image and who has an eternal soul and we love the because, we are concerned where they will spend eternity. We may not like their actions or how they treat them, but since we care about their eternity, we still love them.
I like the way the really old Skillet song, "Hey, You! I love your soul!" puts it -- "...I can't depend on your hate to define my love, am I strong enough to love your soul? No bounds on the deep, no bounds on the wide, am I deep enough to love your soul? God, in you I am strong enough, strong enough, I am deep enough to love your soul."
It's only by God's grace and mercy that we are here in the first place, do you think Jesus felt like dying on the cross for our sins? I highly doubt it! But, He loved us, our souls, so much that He was willing to do whatever it took to bridge the gap in between us. So, can't we at least try to love others like Christ has loved us? No, it won't always be easy, but we can put forth an effort!
The scripture I keep coming back to is I John 4:11- " Beloved, if God loved us so very much, we also ought to love one another."
_____________________________
<I'm the Bride of Christ! And one day, I will meet Him face to face! ;)
Love is not a fight...but it's worth fighting for!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: "Do I have to LIKE..." - 9/18/2008 7:01:24 AM
|
|
|
DaveW
Posts: 4110
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: MD suburbs of Washington DC
Status: offline
|
"Like" is an emotional response, a perceived comfort and compatibility.
To biblically "love" someone, you make a decision to seek for their good, placing their needs above your own. That has nothing to do with how you feel about them.
_____________________________
Avatar is Saphira 5 months and Louvena at 23 months!
We are now grandparents TWICE!!
====================================
Our CD is now available here:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/dswaggoner
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
