Loving your enemy/Cursing and judging others

[estaban]

I have seen multiple times on this forum how members of the church have condemned others to hell or even said that they will enjoy seeing them burn in hell. Also there seem to be a lot of people who pass superficial judgment on others. Please consider these verses:

John 7:24 advises us not to judge others on how they look:
"Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly"

And rather than passing such harsh and condemning judgment, Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak the truth in love.

The Lord also commands us to be kind to our enemies in Proverbs 25. Verses 21,22 say
"If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee."

And finally on the matter of wanting to or being excited to see people burn in hell, I have researched it and there are passages in the Bible that say that God wants everyone to go to heaven (2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3,4), and there are also some verses which prove that God has chosen some for eternal damnation. But even so why would you want to see someone be damned to the fires of hell? Is it not sad that the soul was lost to Satan? Why is it a form of entertainment rather than an occasion to be grieved since one less soul is going to heaven?

[estaban]

Re: Loving your enemy/Cursing and judging others

I apologize for not quoting the KJV in the first verse I quoted. The proper excerpt from John 7:24 says "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

[Rev. Jim Osborne]

Re: Loving your enemy/Cursing and judging others

I have seen multiple times on this forum how members of the church have condemned others to hell or even said that they will enjoy seeing them burn in hell. Also there seem to be a lot of people who pass superficial judgment on others. Please consider these verses:

John 7:24 advises us not to judge others on how they look:
"Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly"

That is not what the verse says. It says this...

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

And what is important to realize is Jesus is telling us to judge! It doesn't say "don't judge at all", rather, to judge righteously. We don't judge according to appearance, we judge righteously as True Christians(tm). I fail to see your point on this.

And rather than passing such harsh and condemning judgment, Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak the truth in love.

15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Yes. The Body of Christ is made of love. However, this does not mean unsaved scum like you are part of the Body of Christ. Your point is...?

The Lord also commands us to be kind to our enemies in Proverbs 25. Verses 21,22 say
"If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee."

More scripture twisting. Look at verse 22!If you dump hot coals of fire unto your enemies head, the Lord shall reward you! That is exactly what we do, metaphorically speaking.

And finally on the matter of wanting to or being excited to see people burn in hell, I have researched it and there are passages in the Bible that say that God wants everyone to go to heaven (2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3,4), and there are also some verses which prove that God has chosen some for eternal damnation. But even so why would you want to see someone be damned to the fires of hell? Is it not sad that the soul was lost to Satan? Why is it a form of entertainment rather than an occasion to be grieved since one less soul is going to heaven?

Let's discuss these versions in question...

2 Peter 3:9
9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Of course God wants everyone to come to repentance! That has been our message all along. But God realizes not everyone does so. In this case, God realizes they should be punished accordingly.

1 Timothy 2:3-4
3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Again, God does want everyone to be Saved(tm). He really does. But the sad fact is not everyone accepts this gift, and turns a blind eye towards Christ.

So what you are saying is in full accordance with Landover Baptist Church, but you fail to see what God does to people when they reject them. God does want people to be Saved(tm) yes, but those that reject Him will get punished. That is a fact.

[Pastor Ezekiel]

Re: Loving your enemy/Cursing and judging others

You might want to take a good look at my sermon on the subject of judging others HERE. I pray that you find it edifying.

[Ezekiel Bathfire]

Re: Loving your enemy/Cursing and judging others

Dear misguided esteban,

Judgment is no more than advice given when we perceive a fault in others. The fault is either a crime against God or a crime against ourselves.

Christians revel in persecution, so a crime against us is to be forgiven. However, a crime against God is to be judged with wrath, vengeance, and hatred. The usual punishment is death followed by eternal damnation. Granted, occasionally it is no more than being struck deaf, dumb, blind or being inflicted with some unspeakable illness. This is how God’s Mercy and Compassion is dealt out in His Perfect Judgment.

I hope you see this distinction: offend me and it is nothing; offend God and it is the end for you. However, I must say that if you offend me in a way that is offensive to God, then that is the same as offending God.

Why would any True Christian™ want to see anyone in Hell? The answer is, “If that is what God willed, then His Will be done, thus providing a further proof of God.”

I hope this helps.