Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

ChristianBibleReference.org ^ | Not given | Not given

[Tax-chick]

It was a “hard saying” when Jesus said it in real life, too :-).

[Salvation]

I’m puzzled by some of the responses on this thread.

I’m wondering if they are only thinking of the “eros” love, rather than “agape” love of “philo” love??

I may not like the way my neighbor behaves (getting drunk every weekend, for example) but that does not mean I can’t have a brotherly “philo” love for him — and maybe some day talk about the neighbor’s drinking habits and family life with him.

[HarleyD]

Christians understand that we cannot live by the law. We all fail. We live by grace. But more important, one has to remember the Golden Rule is the SECOND rule. The FIRST rule is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. When a person's actions to the second rule violates the first rule, then it's time to reexamine one's response. We are to love one another. But we're also commanded by God to shun evil and speak the truth lovingly. A more complete summation of the Golden Rule can be found in the books of Timothy:

1Ti 1:6-11 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

...

1Ti 1:18-19 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,

....

2Ti 4:2-4 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Today most of us don't get offended when someone uses the Lord's name in vain because we want to show them how "loving" we are. But they are violating the 1st commandment for which we are to warned them. Instead, we keep our mouths shut. We're more willing to keep the second rule in violation of the first rule. After all, it's just God were offending and He's forgiving-right?

[DaveMSmith]

I understand these teachings to mean we are to discriminate exactly what kind of love we should express depending on what we know. For example, not enabling a person who does evil or something against our conscious but stepping up an ministering to them - that is love.

I rarely hand out or loan cash - I don't consider that love. I will stay up online or on the phone to help an alcoholic or drug addict not pick up.

[DaveMSmith]

Loving the neighbor is reciprocating the Lord’s love for us.

[DaveMSmith]

BTW, I do get offended by ‘OMG’

[RoadGumby]

To everyone here.

I would like to thank Salvation for this thread. Some of the responses are somewhat surprising.

As a point of information, I am a saved man, trying to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and His Word.

What is illustrative, to me at least, are the words and actions of Christ Jesus during His time here on earth.

He told us that the greatest of the commandments was to love the Lord your God with your whole heart, mind and soul. And then to love your neighbors as yourself, which is like unto the first.

I did not read of any qualifier there. Nothing saying ‘only the nice ones’ or ‘as long as they are pleasant to you’.

Jesus also said, pointedly I might add, that ANYONE could show love or pray for those they love, but where is the reward there? Even wicked people can do that. Instead we should love and pray for even our enemies.

See also Matthew 5:44 where Jesus Directly says love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them who persecute you.

Praying for someone. This is an activity that can be misunderstood.

For my saved children I pray for Gods protection and blessings on them, their children, their homes and lives.

For my unsaved children, I pray for their salvation, that the Lord would work on their hearts and gather them to Him.

For ‘enemies’, I would pray for them. Not for blessings. And of course not necessarily bad to happen to them. Rather that God would open their eyes and hearts to the wrong or sin they are commiting, that He would provide ample conviction to their heart and soul and He would work His will in their lives.

Even on the cross, surrounded by the people who had plotted against Him, who had scourged Him, who had spit and struck and mocked Him, who had conspired to kill Him, and yes even those who had driven the nails through His feet and hands, even there, Jesus prayed FOR those people who HATED Him, asking God the Father to forgive them.

As believers, Christians, we should try to behave as Jesus did, to be Christ-like, not for our own glory but to bring glory to Him.

As far as Jesus being a pacifist, I would say No to that. There is a place for physical action. Remember, Jesus flipped over tables, made a whip of cords and physically DROVE the money changers and animal dealers out of the temple. Not very pacifist.

[Salvation]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3024072/posts?page=27#27

An outstanding post. You put the words of Scripture into everyday language! Wowza!

[PeterPrinciple]

Love has a nice connotation to it. Who would be against love?

But after the first thoughts and thinking cap installed. What does love mean? It has a strong relationship with the truth and very few want to hear that. It is not the warm fuzzy people want it to mean.

[DaveMSmith]

“[...]mutual love consists in desiring what is good to another rather than to oneself, as with the love of parents towards children, and as with the love of those who are moved to do good not for their own benefit but because they find joy in doing it.” Secrets of Heaven 2738 ~ Swedenborg

[trebb]

I’m puzzled by some of the responses on this thread. I’m wondering if they are only thinking of the “eros” love, rather than “agape” love of “philo” love?? I may not like the way my neighbor behaves (getting drunk every weekend, for example) but that does not mean I can’t have a brotherly “philo” love for him — and maybe some day talk about the neighbor’s drinking habits and family life with him.

They are merely exhibiting the worldly flaws that reside in all of us. Else, He would not have had to die for our sins. If we still had to sacrifice something to atone for our sins, my back yard would be an abattoir.

[HarleyD]

The commandments are given to all of us (believers and non-believers) to show us how we all fall short of God's standards. Please note 1 Timothy:

1Ti 1:9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient,

Showing our failings or falling short of God's glory is precisely what all the commandments are about. They are good but we deliberately and willfully don't keep them. Like all the other commandments, our Lord gave the example of the Good Samaritan to show our failings. Our Lord concludes, "Go and do likewise and you shall live." This is a very sly and pointed remark to us to show us that we will not go and do likewise. Sure we might try to do something nice for someone once in a while, but it's a standard we cannot keep up. And if we break one of the laws we break it all.

While admittedly it helps us to think of doing good things, it really is pride and arrogance on our part to think that we do any good works. All good things come from the Father who works through us. God gives us our good works. We understand that we do nothing good apart from the Father and the Son. Only when we abide in Christ, does Christ work through us by means of the Holy Spirit to create our good works.

We don't follow the commandments because it is a "rule". We follow the commandments because God has put it on our heart. And if it wasn't for the Holy Spirit and God writing this upon our hearts, none of us would do anything pleasing to God. It is folly to think otherwise. We don't reciprocate the love of God because that implies our work and strength. We imitate the love because of Christ because of the Holy Spirit working through us. And God has already created our good works to the praise of His glory.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

[DaveMSmith]

From my dictionary:

com·mand·ment Noun /kəˈmandmənt/

Synonyms: noun: command, order, dictate, behest, injunction, decree, precept, dictation

commandments plural
A divine rule, esp. one of the Ten Commandments
A rule to be observed as strictly as one of the Ten Commandments

God wrote the commandments with his own finger. Strive to do your best to keep them and you will be happy.

[Tax-chick]

I’m very enlightened by RoadGumby’s post, and DaveMSmith’s brief summary. Loving another is desiring and working for his good. I think we all agree that the one essential good for anyone is eternal salvation.

Just as parents don’t show love for their children by allowing them to do wrong and stupid things, Christians don’t show love for their enemies (or for anyone) by affirming sin or allowing destructive behavior, if it can reasonably be stopped.

[DaveMSmith]

Romans 7:17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

[HarleyD]

22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Let me ask you a rhetorical question, "Why do you want to 'reciprocate' to God good works instead of doing good works all the time? Isn't this what God really, really would like you to do?

The answer to this question is that we can't as Paul points out. We want to do good but we just can't. We want to obey the golden rule but we only do so piece meal. God expects us to live like Christ-every moment. It isn't so much the charitable works that we do. The problem is in the time we are not charitable.

[DaveMSmith]

We have two natures... the inward/internal or spiritual from 'above' which is conscious after we die and the 'flesh' or natural from 'below' which is of this world. Being 'born again' is starting REPENTANCE and opening the conscious spiritual and feeling the Lord in our life. Fearing the Lord is striving to do the right thing, to the best of our ability... and continuing to do the next right thing... aligning our will with His...

James 3:11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

[HarleyD]

We have two natures... the inward/internal or spiritual from 'above' which is conscious after we die and the 'flesh' or natural from 'below' which is of this world. Being 'born again' is starting REPENTANCE and opening the conscious spiritual and feeling the Lord in our life.

Exactly. And that is precisely why we have the natural instinct to want to follow the things that are of God. It's now our natural instinct to want the Golden Rule. It isn't something we try to do. It is something that God has change our nature to want to do. We are not perfect and fail to follow it completely, but we try and repent when we fail.

Fearing the Lord is an honest appraisal of our situation. God is sovereign and in complete control of everything, including our lives. He could, at a moment's notice, give the command and chaos would come into our lives as it did with Job. And God would be perfectly right and just in doing so. He knows best. We should rightfully fear Him not because He is so powerful, but because we're so wicked. We rely upon His love and mercy. That is why He's our merciful Father. He doesn't judge us as He should. He judges us according to His mercy.

For unbelievers the Golden Rule in some cases is a very nice thing to practice or something to be dismiss. For Christians the Golden Rule is something we try to imitate.

[Salvation]

**Today most of us don’t get offended when someone uses the Lord’s name in vain**

I do!!!

I stop them right there and ask them not to take the Lord’s name in vain.

If they can’t do that, then I walk away from the conversation and refuse to take part in it.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

I take hell’s name in vain. I’be noticed that it makes moonbats very uncomfortable.