Love The Sinner Hate the Sin.

I have heard that statement all of my life being raised in A southern Baptist church.
However I have seen That verry sentiment used to Judge people and to be standoffish And just to ignore certain people because we do not like the activities they are involved in, Or the way they act, dress or whatever.
However I had A lady explain to me that we do not have to Like a person to love them.
Love being Kind, Patient,compassionate, Longsuffering, Not seeking its own ect...

I do not have to like a person Or what they are doing to Be Kind to them, or certainly Patient, nor do I have to Like them to show them some compassion.
I have Loved this woman for telling me this because It has changed my whole perception and changed how I treat people I do not particulary aprove of, for whatever reason, wheather it is What they do or how they act ect...
I am able to realise I can be compassionate and show them love anyways.
Something else that this woman brought to my attention is that, I know I mentioned this in another thread but I feel this is part of what I want to convey here,
Is that People are often Spiritualy sick, If they were sick with something else like cancer I would not treat them Badly, so Why should I treat someone badly who is spiritually sick.
I have learned that people are exactly the way that they are and the only thing I can change about that is my approach and percetions to it.
In situations I trty, repeat try to take a step back, ask god to keep me from getting angry and to show me how I can be of help.
I try, again I repeat TRY, I do not always remember this especialy when angry or emotional charged, To react with a compassionate heart.
One thing I realise is that I may be the only example of christs love that this person may ever see.
And if I am to Fullfill the comission of leading others to christ, I need to be aware that my actions speak louder than my words ever will, and people are going to Judge My actions, especialy if they Know I am calling my self a christian.

I have always thought the best way to be of witness for Christ is to Live the life and walk in the spirit and have compassion for others as well as having the joy and peace that comes from knowing the lord.
I know the thing that got me to decide I wanted to become a christian was a person I knew who had such compassion and Zest for life that I wanted what they had.
So I asked what it was that was different about them than so many Other people That I knew, I knew something was different.
Thay told me about the lord.
anyways I just was curios what others thought of all of this, How do you deal with those people that work your last nerve, those neighbors who have a dog that barks all night, or the guy who is drunk and obnoxious all of the time?
Are you able to react with Love and compassion. again I say I try to do this I do not always hit the mark, Or what do you do.

I know that praying for people I have had a resentment for helps me alot, and it gives me a different perspective on their lives.
I am not speaking of praying that the neighbor with the loud dog will move away, I am speaking of praying for them that god would bless and touch their lives, and that I would be able to deal with this situation in a loving and compassionate way.
I have found that after awhile of praying the answers do come and I am able to find an aproach that helps the situation

as opposed to just going next door and cussing them out and telling them a good whatfor about the dog Barking all night, which would just mnake the situation more negative and much worse.
Anyways I had all this on my mind tonight, And I just wanted to find out what others do when they run into people that rub them the wrong way.

Have you found any tools that help you Re-act with love?
Because Like I said we may be the only Christians this person may ever meet close up, and would they see us and say I wonder what is different about him/her I want the joy peace and compassion that I see in their life.


So ask yourself this,,
Would I be a draw for Others who see my actions to come to Christ?



So Do I have the joy and peace and compassion that comes from Knowing the lord and having the Holy spirit operating in My life?
Am I walking in the spirit, or am I just calling myself a christin?
Would I draw someone to Christ Or would my Actions push them away from the lord?

I mean we cannot transmit something we haven't got.

___________________
I did change the Title of this thread, people were just commenting on the title and not really even reading the thread.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RockLobster2402,

How many are a "few"? We could ask Noah, Lot, Caleb and Joshua, Jesus, Paul...

Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV)
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are FEW who find it.

Love the sinner and hate the sin...

(Secrets loves Rocklobsters thread idea)

That's not in the Bible, but I suppose if we are to love our neighbors as ourselves then we are to love everyone in every way.

On saying this the Scripture records God hated Esau

Mal 1:3 but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals."

And when Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself, I wonder if it's a good thing that some of us don't.

Just some thoughts...

Oh, how I have struggled over the past 4 years with this! I have a sibling that has "fallen off the wagon" and ripped my very close-knit, God fearing family apart with her wicked ways. I pray for peace and joy for her, which only comes from God. I also pray for guidance for dealing with her...how can I love her without accepting her sinful ways? I don't think it's humanly possible, only possible through Him.

Family salvation is GUARANTEED, for those who believe.

Acts 16:31 (NKJV)
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

quote:

Originally posted by Duckybill:
Family salvation is GUARANTEED, for those who believe.

Acts 16:31 (NKJV)
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

So...you're sayin just because one person in the house believes, ALL will be saved??????????????????

quote:

Originally posted by Tuffnuut2crak:

quote:

Originally posted by Duckybill:
Family salvation is GUARANTEED, for those who believe.

Acts 16:31 (NKJV)
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

So...you're sayin just because one person in the house believes, ALL will be saved??????????????????

It's promised many times in the Bible.

quote:

Originally posted by Duckybill:

quote:

Originally posted by Tuffnuut2crak:

quote:

Originally posted by Duckybill:
Family salvation is GUARANTEED, for those who believe.

Acts 16:31 (NKJV)
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

So...you're sayin just because one person in the house believes, ALL will be saved??????????????????

It's promised many times in the Bible.

Sweet! IM SAVED!!!

quote:

Originally posted by MSUDog34:

quote:

Originally posted by Duckybill:

quote:

Originally posted by Tuffnuut2crak:

quote:

Originally posted by Duckybill:
Family salvation is GUARANTEED, for those who believe.

Acts 16:31 (NKJV)
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

So...you're sayin just because one person in the house believes, ALL will be saved??????????????????

It's promised many times in the Bible.

Sweet! IM SAVED!!!

It ONLY happens for those who BELIEVE.

Keep your stories straight, Ducky. I asked you previously if someone in the family was saved, then all would be saved....and you said it was promised several times. Now, MSU gives a hooray because he says he's saved, because of someone in his family (we all know MSU himself is an atheist), and you say "It ONLY happens for those who BELIEVE."????????

quote:

Originally posted by Tuffnuut2crak:
Keep your stories straight, Ducky. I asked you previously if someone in the family was saved, then all would be saved....and you said it was promised several times. Now, MSU gives a hooray because he says he's saved, because of someone in his family (we all know MSU himself is an atheist), and you say "It ONLY happens for those who BELIEVE."????????

Most DON'T believe the promises. Won't work.

Acts 16:31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household."

Ducky is this the main verse you are implying?

quote:

Originally posted by Secrets:
Acts 16:31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household."

Ducky is this the main verse you are implying?

And others.

Would you mind posting the others?

Mark 11:24 (NKJV)
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.