LIKING VS. LOVING ???

[Gracious]

Greetings To You All,

Just curious,

Is "LOVE" a no-brainer, concerning what GOD admonishes of us?  What about "LIKE OR LIKING each other?  Are we admonished (by GOD) to LIKE each other?  If we find that we do "not" "LIKE" our neighbor ... than "how" are we "LOVE" them?

OK Church,

What do you say about these "two" 4 letter words?  What does Scripture say about them?


Graciously Seeking HIS Truth

[bemark]

The truth is most of the time we don't like each other    unless we agree with each other    and then there is a understanding that takes place    we don't want to overstep the boundary in case we are rejected by the ones who love us or accept us      terms and conditions    unspoken strings attached


but the word says we must love     if that is the case then it must come from the father    who is love

Its is a gift     not our own     How can you love the one who hurts you ?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus    we receive the impartation of the fruit of the spirit    in the spirit   by the spirit   

Love

we are commanded to love God first and then our neighbour as our self             it flows from the first to the second

Really we have to also deal    or take to the cross    our own self hatred     and see us the way God sees us

Well       it flows from the kingdom within    through our soul and body     to those about

cant help to be touched       as it flows through

and out of your bellies shall flow rivers of living waters

Revelation 22
New King James Version
 

Revelation 22
The River of Life
1 And he showed me a pure[a] river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

[Gracious]

WOW!!! 

Bemark, you've touched on sooo much!!!  I don't know where to start (which question to ask first!!!) ... so pleeeease bare with me ok?

I get the love part (I think), and thank you for Rev. 22 (love your perspective!) ... but it's the "liking" part I wrestle with.

How do you love what you do not like in another human being? Or, are we supposed to???


Gracious

[naarah bet-Melek]

Try to find the good in all people...which sometimes involves a little digging.  Where their "good" is, God is, and thats where the Love is.  Its just a shame that most people cant operate in His Love.

[Amy]

Okay, let's see if I can take a stab at this... I'll use an example:

My friend Josh from work is into a lot of things he shouldn't be and makes many harmful decisions, however, regardless of his lifestyle and how he treats people, I'm still his friend. I don't like him, and I don't like his choices. He annoys me a lot, but I do love him. I've crossed some lines as an employee and have done things to ensure his safety, because the Lord has called upon me to love him.

Love is a verb. An action word. Not a feeling. When you "love" someone, it means you would do something for them.

Liking someone is a feeling.

[Hisfamily]

I have to agree with Amy.  Love is an action and like is a feeling.  Very well put.

[Mac]

I have to agree with Amy and Hisfamily. Although the bible doesn't talk about liking someone (that I know of), it does give a very detailed definition of Love in 1 Corinthians 3.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.  
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

So, it is clear that Love is way more than a feeling. It is a way of life. Love is action as well as knowledge.

God Bless,
Mac

[Gracious]

Hello All,

Thank you, for ALL of your insightful responses ... for you have "LOVINGLY" admonished areas within me, so that I can concentrate on GOD's Will for my life ... without a lot of the unnecessary distractions that you've warned against!!!   Great script "Mac"!!!

Yeah,

I must admit that I am truly "LIKING" what I've read in every post thus far!  And I thank you for your insight because, from each of you, I'm receiving that "LIKING" a person does not necessarily predicate (imply) "LOVING" that person.  In other words, these two words are not synonymous with each other - they do not mean the same thing, tho' they may often walk hand in hand.  Nor are they reliant upon each other ... we do not have to "LIKE" a person that we may "LOVE".  By the way Amy, I have a co-worker like that too ... whew ... neighbors like that can TRULY drain you (as in TEST your Faith) can't they??? (LOL)  Is that a good thing?

Yet, as Christ- Followers, how important is this word "LIKE" with reference to our neighbor???  I mean, we SAY & are able to scripturally back-up the fact that "LOVE" is optimum ... BUT ... is that REALLY - HONESTLY the way that "we" Christians live our lives???   Don't we "wage-spiritual-warfare" against our neighbor, each & every time that we "choose" to speak against (JUDGE), or ignore, or demean our neighbor ... if for no other reason than the fact that we simply do not "LIKE" them?


Gracious

[Amy]

By the way Amy, I have a co-worker like that too ... whew ... neighbors like that can TRULY drain you (as in TEST your Faith) can't they??? (LOL)  Is that a good thing?

In a way, yes.

My friend Josh got fired, and I haven't seen him in a few weeks nor have I heard from him, but I've still been praying for him everyday. I didn't like anything about him really. The ONE thing I did like about him was the fact that even though he took things too far with me sometimes (he's 26, I'm 16), he DID respect me enough to stop when I asked him to. I think that's the only thing I really liked about him. But I looked after him and I loved him for some reason. I suppose God may have had something to do with it. 

I think it's a good thing that these people test our faith as long as we look to God for help when we need it and as long as we keep our faith. 

[Mac]

Yet, as Christ- Followers, how important is this word "LIKE" with reference to our neighbor??? 

I think the reference to "like" is irrelevant. The Lord did not instruct us to LIKE our neighbor..He instructed us to LOVE our neighbor. And those two are different. Take a homosexual, drug dealer, murderer, liar, thief, etc......Although I do not like what he/she does, because Christ instructed us, we should hate the sin but LOVE the sinner...Now, is THAT what we do? How do you "Love" them...I say through compassion and offered help, assistance, guidance, etc... you show Love the way Christ intended you to... But ignoring the facts of what they are or what they do would not be prudent..

I mean, we SAY & are able to scripturally back-up the fact that "LOVE" is optimum ... BUT ... is that REALLY - HONESTLY the way that "we" Christians live our lives???  

I guess that is only answered on an individual basis...No way to answer that...Only God knows someones heart...

Don't we "wage-spiritual-warfare" against our neighbor, each & every time that we "choose" to speak against (JUDGE), or ignore, or demean our neighbor ... if for no other reason than the fact that we simply do not "LIKE" them?

It depends...What do you mean by spiritual warfare? If you mean defending your faith, as a Christian, well then yes...I say spiritual warfare is a good thing.  The Bible says we are not to lose our saltiness...If we loss our salt, we are useless...That can be found in the Beatitudes...Matthew, Mark, Luke...

As far as judging goes, as I said earlier, we do not know someones heart, but we are "fruit inspectors"...The bible is FULL of scripture that says good fruit can't and will not bear bad fruit and that bad fruit can't and will not bear good fruit...The bible also says in 1st John chapter 3 that, he who practices sin is of the devil..See here...

4Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
7Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

So as you can see, we can know who, according to scripture, who is a child of God and who isn't...Now if that is what you call judging someone, well then I am guilty...I will call a liar a liar...I will call a thief a thief...I am stating fact...Not judging...Fire is hot and water is wet...I do not believe that is being judgmental of water or fire...I can't help it if they do not like the fact that they are what they are...Just as well as someone calling me a Christian...The difference being I am not ashamed of what I am....They are.

And again, I do not have to like my neighbor....As long as I treat them the way I would want to be treated AND handle them the way Christ asked me to when he described love, all is good in my opinion..If I dare opine..

I guess it boils down to this, what are the fruits of the spirit? We find it here in Galations 5:

16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

So, if we follow those rules and allow the fruits of the spirit to show, we WILL LOVE our neighbor..We will not be conceited, provoking or envious....Those things are not fruits of the spirit....


God bless,
Mac

[Gracious]

WOW!!!  Mac,

Your tough, but honest & I am grateful to you for your insight!!! 

Manna to you

Thank you!!!

[Gracious]

By the way Amy, I have a co-worker like that too ... whew ... neighbors like that can TRULY drain you (as in TEST your Faith) can't they??? (LOL)  Is that a good thing?

In a way, yes.

My friend Josh got fired, and I haven't seen him in a few weeks nor have I heard from him, but I've still been praying for him everyday. I didn't like anything about him really. The ONE thing I did like about him was the fact that even though he took things too far with me sometimes (he's 26, I'm 16), he DID respect me enough to stop when I asked him to. I think that's the only thing I really liked about him. But I looked after him and I loved him for some reason. I suppose God may have had something to do with it. 

I think it's a good thing that these people test our faith as long as we look to God for help when we need it and as long as we keep our faith. 

Amy, did I read you right?  You are only 16? 

I am definitely blessed by your wisdom ... for it stretches well beyond your years!

[Amy]

By the way Amy, I have a co-worker like that too ... whew ... neighbors like that can TRULY drain you (as in TEST your Faith) can't they??? (LOL)  Is that a good thing?

In a way, yes.

My friend Josh got fired, and I haven't seen him in a few weeks nor have I heard from him, but I've still been praying for him everyday. I didn't like anything about him really. The ONE thing I did like about him was the fact that even though he took things too far with me sometimes (he's 26, I'm 16), he DID respect me enough to stop when I asked him to. I think that's the only thing I really liked about him. But I looked after him and I loved him for some reason. I suppose God may have had something to do with it. 

I think it's a good thing that these people test our faith as long as we look to God for help when we need it and as long as we keep our faith. 

Amy, did I read you right?  You are only 16? 

I am definitely blessed by your wisdom ... for it stretches well beyond your years!

Haha! Yes, you read correctly. And thank you.

[Hisfamily]

No where in the Bible does it say "hate the sin but love the sinner".  It isn't wrong to hate.  The bible says even God hates certain things.

[Mac]

No where in the Bible does it say "hate the sin but love the sinner".  It isn't wrong to hate.  The bible says even God hates certain things.

I am not really sure what you mean here...While you are correct that the bible doesn't say, "Hate the sinner", we are instructed, through Christ's actions to denounce sin...Repent of it...Jesus loved the sinner. He sat with the unwanted (Tax collectors, sinners, etc..) when he feasted at Levi's. He told the woman at the well to go and sin no more...Jesus became angry at the people in the church for making a money maker out of his Father's temple...So, through his actions, Christ "taught us" (instructed through His actions) to Love the sinner but to denounce or turn away from sin....

Yes, you are correct about God hating things..But the operative word here is "things".... It is ok to hate some things, for instance SIN...But we should never hate someone...There is a huge difference.  We, as humans, can't hold true to the ability to love the sinner but hate what they do...But God can...This is a great article on the subject....

http://www.gotquestions.org/love-sinner-hate-sin.html

You can use that link but here is the article...

Question: "Are we to love the sinner but hate the sin?"

Answer: God loves mankind and He is love.....hang on to those truths. The Bible clearly teaches that God is love, as well as that God shows love. For example, 1 John 4:8-9 says, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

Many Christians use the cliché "Love the sinner, hate the sin." However, we must realize that this is an exhortation to us as imperfect human beings. The difference between us and God in regard to loving and hating is vast. Even as Christians, we remain imperfect in our humanity and cannot love completely, nor can we hate without malice. But, God can do both of these perfectly well, because He is God! God can hate without any sinful intent at all. Therefore, he can hate the sin and the sinner in a perfectly holy way and still be willing to lovingly forgive at the moment of that sinner's repentance and faith (see Malachi 1:3; Revelation 2:6; 2 Peter 3:9). Mysterious, but true, God can perfectly love and hate a person at the same time. This means He can love them as someone He created and can redeemable, as well as hate them for their unbelief and sinful lifestyle. We, as imperfect human beings, cannot do this, thus we must remind ourselves to "love the sinner, hate the sin."

How exactly does that work? We hate sin by refusing to take part in it and by condemning it when we see it. Sin is to be hated, not excused or taken lightly. We love the sinner by being faithful in witnessing to them of the forgiveness that is available through Jesus Christ. A true act of love is treating someone with respect and kindness even though they know you do not approve of their lifestyle and/or choice. It is not loving to allow a person to remain stuck in sin. It is not hateful to tell a person they are in sin. In fact, the exact opposites are true.

Be careful with that...Hate is a slippery slope and one that I believe Christ teachings have shown us to avoid...We should love...Fruits of the spirit do not include hate...

Galations 5
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

So, be careful with hate..Jesus told us that hatred is an act of sinful nature and that we will not inherit the kingdom of God if we live like that.. So, I would say, based on what scripture say's, it is wrong to hate...

[Gracious]

Posted by: Mac, on: Today at 01:59:37 PM

"...Yes, you are correct about God hating things..But the operative word here is "things".... It is ok to hate some things, for instance SIN...But we should never hate someone...There is a huge difference.  We, as humans, can't hold true to the ability to love the sinner but hate what they do...But God can...This is a great article on the subject...."

Yes Mac,

I agree with you conceptually, please also consider the following regarding GOD's & our "own" hatred, which may speak to "Hisfamily's" meaning:

Proverbs 6:16-19
(King James Version)

16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren

All of the above, are "human" characteristics.  And they are sourced from the devil ...AND...  GOD "does" HATE each of them.  From Holy Scripture we know that YES our GOD does HATE!  Equally, scripture is most explicit concerning WHAT it is that GOD hates, as well as the consequences for us, should we walk in that which is abhorant to HIM.  Why?  Because ...  When we sin, we are challenging His character and authority.  THIS is a defiant arrogance that shall not be tolerated by HIM.

Now,

Man DOES & CAN "HATE" his brethren ... yet, is this action within HIS Will for us?

I would have to answer YES.   

We know that "Biblically" speaking, our GOD (from the beginning of HIS Inspiration) CAUSED the hearts of men & women (HIS children) to be hardened (filled with hatred & defiance towards each other)!  Scripture also shows WHY HE did this.

Is it within the Will of GOD, for us to "HATE" our brethren today ... OR ... Can we truly "LOVE" our brethren with hatred in our hearts???

Again, I would say ... YES.  We ALL do it daily!!!  And we truly suffer because of this.  Because if our HATRED is left unchecked – it will inevitably consume & destroy us.   Which brings to mind another "action

[Mac]

Yes Mac,

I agree with you conceptually, please also consider the following regarding GOD's & our "own" hatred, which may speak to "Hisfamily's" meaning:

Proverbs 6:16-19
(King James Version)

16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren[/size][/center]

This goes back to my argument that God can hate and love at the same time..See the article...We, on the other hand, can't...We do not possess the ability..

From Holy Scripture we know that YES our GOD does HATE!  Equally, scripture is most explicit concerning WHAT it is that GOD hates, as well as the consequences for us, should we walk in that which is abhorant to HIM.  Why?  Because ...  When we sin, we are challenging His character and authority.  THIS is a defiant arrogance that shall not be tolerated by HIM.

Yes, God hates..I agree the scriptures say so.

Now,

Man DOES & CAN "HATE" his brethren ... yet, is this action within HIS Will for us?

I would have to answer YES.   

We know that "Biblically" speaking, our GOD (from the beginning of HIS Inspiration) CAUSED the hearts of men & women (HIS children) to be hardened (filled with hatred & defiance towards each other)!  Scripture also shows WHY HE did this.

I must part ways with you here. God did NOT cause our hearts to harden..Our sinful nature and disobedience did that when Adam and Eve ate of the Tree..God created us PERFECT...However, he created us with a free will to choose..And sadly, Adam and Eve chose disobedience. They allowed Satan to ruin what God had offered us...Can you imagine what it would have been like? Walking in the presence of the one and only Holy God!!!

No Gracious, God did not harden our hearts..Our choices did..It is a consequence of our actions. Not a result of the creator making us that way.

As I said in the other post, read Galations 5;

Galations 5
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred , discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Is it within the Will of GOD, for us to "HATE" our brethren today ... OR ... Can we truly "LOVE" our brethren with hatred in our hearts???

Again, I would say ... YES.  We ALL do it daily!!!  And we truly suffer because of this.  Because if our HATRED is left unchecked – it will inevitably consume & destroy us.   Which brings to mind another "action

[Gracious]

Posted by Mac, on: Today at 04:35:59 PM

From Holy Scripture we know that YES our GOD does HATE!  Equally, scripture is most explicit concerning WHAT it is that GOD hates, as well as the consequences for us, should we walk in that which is abhorant to HIM.  Why?  Because ...  When we sin, we are challenging His character and authority.  THIS is a defiant arrogance that shall not be tolerated by HIM.

Yes, God hates..I agree the scriptures say so.

Now,

Man DOES & CAN "HATE" his brethren ... yet, is this action within HIS Will for us?

I would have to answer YES.   

We know that "Biblically" speaking, our GOD (from the beginning of HIS Inspiration) CAUSED the hearts of men & women (HIS children) to be hardened (filled with hatred & defiance towards each other)!  Scripture also shows WHY HE did this.

I must part ways with you here. God did NOT cause our hearts to harden..Our sinful nature and disobedience did that when Adam and Eve ate of the Tree.[/b].God created us PERFECT...However, he created us with a free will to choose..And sadly, Adam and Eve chose disobedience. They allowed Satan to ruin what God had offered us...Can you imagine what it would have been like? Walking in the presence of the one and only Holy God!!!

No Gracious, God did not harden our hearts..Our choices did..It is a consequence of our actions. Not a result of the creator making us that way.

Hello Mac,

Concerning our GOD (at Will) "causing

[Mac]

Hello Mac,
Concerning our GOD (at Will) "causing

[Hehealedme]

.

[Mac]

My brother-in-law believes that hell is on earth as we live on it now and that once we die, we all go to Heaven...he is Protestant (is that part of the Protestants' beliefs?)...

No. I am protestant as well..But I have never held that belief..The bible just says that this world is evil and that the world is under the control of the "evil one". I do not believe we are living in Hell on earth. The bibles description of hell is to vivid for this earth to be confused with it...In my opinion of course..

There are so many belief's out there...So many things for people to hope in...False things..But the way I see it, if it is not in the Holy Word of God, then it isn't right..It can't be used for rebuke or instruction as the bible say's.

God bless,
Mac

[Gracious]

This is not Heaven..Nothing like it..On the contrary, scripture says the world is evil...

My brother-in-law believes that hell is on earth as we live on it now and that once we die, we all go to Heaven...he is Protestant (is that part of the Protestants' beliefs?)...

Well ... Hello "Hehealedme

[Gracious]

Our Deity's desire is that we prosper - RIGHT HERE - IN "THIS" HEAVEN ... where we are!  That we "LOVE" one another & do right by each other ... while we are yet on THIS side of "the chilly Jordan" ... Amen?  Tho' "hate" is an awful distraction towards this goal, there were times in biblical history, as well as times of today, that GOD Wills it necessary!

This is not Heaven..Nothing like it..On the contrary, scripture says the world is evil...

1st John: Chapter 5
18We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. 19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Perhaps our concerns should lean towards a deeper understanding "OF" HIS Will - through HIS eyes (which is attainable through our earnest prayer, WORSHIP & Praise). True, we may NEVER completely understand the WHY's of HIS Plan, but rest assured, HE shall always supply us with "more than enough" to live in HIS peace - while we are yet here!

I think you left out one of the most important, if not the most important, one...The Holy scriptures...Maybe you meant for it to be a part of worship...

God Bless,
Mac

Ahhh ... "Mac" ... perhaps concerning your "getting" of scripture re: "the heavens" ...  "you" who have mispoken???


Gracious

[Mac]

Ahhh ... "Mac" ... perhaps concerning your "getting" of scripture re: "the heavens" ...  "you" who have mispoken???
Gracious

Umm, I really do not understand what you mean here..What am I "getting" and what have I misspoken? I am curious..I really have no clue what you mean.