Re: We're the Temple
 

A few points, if I may:

1. I have found that the Bible often uses terms differently than the way common society does. Love and hate are such terms. People use love, for example, to mean essentially an emotional complacency or pleasure or attraction. While that is certainly one level of meaning, the Bible uses love in a much higher sense, involving choices, favor, actions, support, etc. The same is true of hate, and a host of other terms.

2. David said he hated the Lord's enemies, who hated God, who blasphemed God, etc. We are told to love our enemies. Our enemies seems to refer more to our personal enemies, our neighbors or coworkers etc who happen to not like us or have some personal problem with us. The Lord's enemies are something a bit different, more like organized antiGod syndicates of evil.

One can love one's personal enemies without giving aid and comfort to ISIS, for example, which would technically be treason. One can love one's enemies without voting for gay rights or pro abortion candidates, and while opposing those movements and the people within them.

3. Taking the Bible as a whole, I think a good summary of a proper Christian approach to all this is to oppose and refuse to show favor to those whom the Bible says not to (the sons of Belial, the workers of iniquity, etc) while showing favor to and supporting those whom the Bible says to do so (the brethren, parents, neighbors, etc). We should seek to do good to all men in the sense of not being partial to our friends while ignoring and despising the people in our life who have some kind of personal beef against us or who are just hard-to-like types of personalities. But at the same time we should oppose those who seek to promote evil, thieves, murderers, blasphemers, etc.

It has been said that love really is a conscious decision to favor someone or something, and hate is a conscious decision not to favor someone or something. So then it comes down to who and what we will favor and support, or disfavor and oppose.

Re: We're the Temple
 

Furthermore, it does appear, to me at least, there is some variableness involved, or relativity. Hating family in order to be a Christian disciple is not on the same level as hating the Lord's enemies, unless they become the Lord's enemies.

And hating the Lord's enemies doesn't mean no mercy and grace is possible if they repent.

But it does mean I refuse to give my money to a pro abortion group, and I fully support thr abolition and outlawing of abortion and those who perform them, but I am not allowed to refuse to help someone change a flat tire on their car even if they "hate" me because I don't mow my yard often enough for their liking, or even if they have an Obama sticker on their bumper.

Re: We're the Temple
 

Great...Ill just make a list to run down with random strangers.


"Hello. My name is Jediwill83 and I am here to show the love of God...but first...Are you a son of Beliel? Does your feet run to cause mischief? Are you...."


"Sir that'll be one two for 4 sausage mcmuffin with eggs...a large caramel frappe and two hashbrowns...does that complete your order?"


"Depends on whether or not you shed innocent blood Patrice! Answer the questions or Im going to Wendys!"

Re: We're the Temple
 

McDonald's is pure evil.

Wendy's is always the better choice.

in not saying this is the case every time hate is used.
again I was not referring to every instance of the word hate.
You never answered my point. If Jesus died for sinners, due to love for them, and you claim God hates some, then he did not die for all sinners, just some.

Re: We're the Temple
 

Actually, I did answer that point. God hates all workers of iniquity, the Bible says so. Yet He He loves us and offers us pardon and salvation and a new life. The Bible says that, also.

So both statements are true. Does it appear paradoxical? Well, if we read the Bible using our modern conceptions, then yes it is paradoxical, even a contradiction.

But the facts remain: God hates all workers of iniquity, yet He loved us and saves us in spite of ourselves.

Re: We're the Temple
 

Getting back to the original post...

This is good. We just need to understand what it means to "let the love of God flow through us to reach those around us" because the world has a very inaccurate concept of love, and many believers have the same erroneous view. We need a Biblical presentation of what this looks like in action.

Hint, hint... :)

I can accept that. I didn't catch that from you before.

What I was concerned with is the thought that God has no love for sinners.

What do you think, Hometown Guy?