Who is our Enemy? (Full Version)

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galadriel2 -> Who is our Enemy? (7/22/2008 8:48:04 PM)

Who do other Christians think that our enemy is? Some think it is only the devil and not men because of the verse in Ephesians chapter 6 where it says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities...etc... I think that every non-Christian is the Christian's enemy because every non-Christian's life revolves around destroying Christ and His work - whether they realize this or not. This is taught in Romans chapter 8. Christ says if you aren't for me you're against me. Christ told the disciples in John 15 that the world would hate them because they are not part of the world - not one of its own and the world loves it own, but not the Christian. Someone who hates me is my enemy, I would say. I was thinking about their hypocrisy and malice just in the whole abortion thing - how Al Gore will call it a woman's right to choose. Murdering your own child? - a woman's right to choose? I mean the sin in it all, the malice towards man and Christ expressed in that. The utter hypocrisy. Its sad on the one hand that that is what part of America is. It also is profoundly evil.

God bless...pray for me if you think of it,
Galadriel2



HisFish -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/22/2008 9:31:10 PM)

Speaking for me, i would have to say that i am my own worst enemy.



galadriel2 -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/22/2008 9:41:19 PM)

Thanks for the response, HisFish. That is an excellent answer and very true - better than my answers. I guess you could say that we have a lot of enemies.

God bless,
Galadriel2



Bluethread -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/23/2008 3:48:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: galadriel2

Who do other Christians think that our enemy is? Some think it is only the devil and not men because of the verse in Ephesians chapter 6 where it says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities...etc... I think that every non-Christian is the Christian's enemy because every non-Christian's life revolves around destroying Christ and His work - whether they realize this or not. This is taught in Romans chapter 8. Christ says if you aren't for me you're against me. Christ told the disciples in John 15 that the world would hate them because they are not part of the world - not one of its own and the world loves it own, but not the Christian. Someone who hates me is my enemy, I would say. I was thinking about their hypocrisy and malice just in the whole abortion thing - how Al Gore will call it a woman's right to choose. Murdering your own child? - a woman's right to choose? I mean the sin in it all, the malice towards man and Christ expressed in that. The utter hypocrisy. Its sad on the one hand that that is what part of America is. It also is profoundly evil.

God bless...pray for me if you think of it,
Galadriel2


Mt 12:30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters . . .'

Mk 9:39 "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us."

These appear to contradict one another, so there must be something deeper here. It appears to me that Yeshua(Jesus) is saying that those who are not actively involved in doing mitzvot(good things) are not helpful to the cause and those who do mitzvot(good things) are helpful even if they do not agree with us.



mvic -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/23/2008 7:57:54 PM)

Who is the enemy of Christianity?

Someone who doesn't believe Christ is the Son of God; or a Christian who does not practice Christianity?

"Not everyone who calls me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do what my Father in Heaven wants them to do." Matthew 7:21



TheCatholicCrusader -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/23/2008 8:10:38 PM)

quote:

Who is our Enemy?


God is TRUTH.
Therefore, the enemy is UNTRUTH.

quote:

Who is the enemy of Christianity?
Someone who doesn't believe Christ is the Son of God.....


There are many who don't believe through no fault of their own. They are not the enemy.
.
.



MrFribbles -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/23/2008 8:15:35 PM)

quote:

God is TRUTH.
Therefore, the enemy is UNTRUTH.


God is also love and light. Is the enemy also hate and darkness?



TheCatholicCrusader -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/23/2008 8:29:10 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MrFribbles

quote:

God is TRUTH.
Therefore, the enemy is UNTRUTH.


God is also love and light. Is the enemy also hate and darkness?

Makes sense to me. They all tie together, no?

.
.



Doghouse -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/24/2008 6:55:25 AM)

quote:

God is also love and light. Is the enemy also hate and darkness?
The opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is apathy.



TheCatholicCrusader -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/24/2008 7:51:52 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Doghouse

quote:

God is also love and light. Is the enemy also hate and darkness?
The opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is apathy.

Sometimes "love" is renderred as "charity" in some Bibles. I guess I would agree that "apathy" is the opposite of "charity". But I would also say that "hate" can be the opposite of the deeper "love" love.



drmark -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/24/2008 11:53:10 AM)

quote:

The opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is apathy.
Sorry Doghouse, I see nothing apathetic about Satan's hatred in 1 Peter 5:8 - "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."



LCannon -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/24/2008 12:47:23 PM)

quote:

Who do other Christians think that our enemy is?


There's only one? Not according Paul, Romans 7:22 I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Can anyone set me free to obey righteousness? 25 Yes! Thanks be to God through Christ Jesus our Lord! So then, on the one hand my mind is serving the law of God but on the other with my flesh, the law of sin...8:18 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy [to be compared] with the coming of His glory. The anxious creature looks for the revelation of the sons of God: for he has been made subject to this world yet has been redeemed from corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. We know the whole creation cries out in pain together yet we have been saved in hope; but if what we see isn’t apparent our hope is sure in patience. In like manner, the Spirit joins its help to our weakness; for our deepest feelings cannot be expressed[in words] but the Spirit itself pleas for us in its yearnings which cannot be uttered. But he who searches the hearts knows what [is] the mind of the Spirit because he intercedes for the saints abiding with God. We do know that all things knit together in His purpose to those who obey God; to those who are called according to His comfort. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other power, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which [is] in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen."



drmark -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/24/2008 12:58:53 PM)

Interesting response, LCannon. If none of the things listed in Romans 8 can separate us from God's Love, how can they be our enemies? Perhaps I am my only enemy, if I allow my sinful nature to rule me!



solarflare -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/24/2008 1:33:07 PM)

quote:

I think that every non-Christian is the Christian's enemy because every non-Christian's life revolves around destroying Christ and His work - whether they realize this or not. This is taught in Romans chapter 8.


I really cannot agree with what you have written here - you have reached a conclusion out of context with this chapter and with the book as a whole. Every non-Christian's life does not revolve around destroying Christ and His work. This is taught in Romans chapter 8? I think not.


Every unbeliever is at one time in his/her life, an 'enemy' - to be a part of the world, is to be at enmity with Christ - Christ's 'work' is redemption - you cannot destroy redemption - you cannot destroy God's plans or His will - either you have worded what you intend to say incorrectly, or, you have misunderstood. I'm not sure which. Further, the Bible teaches that humans are drawn away and enticed to sin by their own/our own, lusts

When Jesus is speaking of the world, he is referring to the 'world system(s) and not individuals per se - of which individuals each play their part, to be sure. However, Jesus died for mankind - remember, "For God so loved the WORLD that he gave His only Son....."

quote:

Someone who hates me is my enemy, I would say.


Well, Jesus would have you pray for your enemies. And love them.



bob97 -> RE: Who is our Enemy? (7/24/2008 2:56:12 PM)

Beyond myself and my sinful flesh, as Fish has stated, the enemies of christianly is secular liberalism. This is the identity that will attempt to destroy the Church and anything that reeks of a Christian God. They are quite willing to allow other worship and gods because deep down they understand that these are meaningless religions.

Bob



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