Saturday, 12 December 2009
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How to Love Everyone
By Justin at Be DeviantThis is more of a question than an answer, but I want to ask you:
What does it mean to “love everyone”? Further, how do you do it?
Theories abound as to what love is, but this discussion isn’t so much philosophical as it is practical. Practically speaking, how do you love all?
This is preparation for my message next week at Immersion. Plus, our readers are some of the brightest and best. So I come to you asking, how do you love everyone?
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About the Author
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- From: bedeviant
- Name: Justin
- About Me: A religious deviant who enjoys coffee, reading theology, graphic design, and spending time with his wife while creatively exploring the riches of the Spirit of Christ.
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Comments (19)
Sometimes people need to have their ears boxed. It's called tough love.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
-1 Cor. 13:4-7
It's hard to love all... but it's a great discipline.
i've always found the Golden Rule to work wonders. and Oscar Wilde's quote on selfishness has always rung true with me: Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.
To love everyone is to give kindness, compassion, and trust to those who need it, and a nice "talking to" to those who need it. It doesn't mean forcing your opinion on everyone.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - Hahah!
@too_pretty_to_die@xanga - Agreed.
I think it's more of a respect thing. By respecting everyone, you're ultimately showing them love. Do not force opinions. Do not make rude comments. Be patient. Be kind. (love is patient, love is kind...etc. I'm sure you know the verse!)
Showing compassion to everyone, no matter how much you can't stand them.
I think of everyone as a brother/sister/grandfather/grandmother. If that were my sister, would I want her to just sit and cry and have no one talk to her? If that were my grandfather, would I want him to struggle with opening the door without anyone helping him? It's a simple mindset to adopt, but it really helps me to love everyone I see.
Love comes easy for those we like, but not so much for those we dislike, or even truthfully despise. Love takes all different forms, and each situation requires discernment as to which form love should take. I believe that sometimes, bluntness is better than tact, but other times that graceful tact is more effective.
Oftentimes the person in question is also a factor. We cannot hold Christians and non-Christians to the same standards. You can't expect a non-Christian to necessarily adhere to all the same things you believe in yourself. Hell, you can't even expect a Christian to! But I feel that, as Christians are held to a higher standard, that you can be more firm in your approach.
And always, much prayer and thought is required to obtain guidance in discernment.
By treating them to way you want them to treat you. By doing good things for them.
I really wish I knew. It's definitely easier said than done.
Sometimes, I practice in my head being nice to people I don't like. That way, when the time comes, I am well rehearsed on being kind to those I despise. But at the same time, I feel like that's a dishonest, two-faced thing to do. :/
Perhaps the best way to love EVERYONE is to forgive everyone, and somehow release all of the anger and hatred you harbor for certain people. That way, when the time comes to interact with people who you don't necessarily like or agree with, you can act with love in a genuine way. Just because you treat someone well and forgive them for their wrongs doesn't mean that you condone their behavior or agree with their opinions. I think that's important to remember, too, and also very hard to accept.
I think in order to love everyone, it is important to first see the value that lies within everyone. We must realize that every person we encounter was worth enough to God for Christ to suffer and die for.Everyone has been made in God's image.
When you value people, loving them will naturally follow.
"If you can't see God in all, you can't see God at all." ~Harbhajan Singh Yogi
This goes along with what @subSacred@xanga is saying... since everyone is in God's image, seeing that thing that is God's image in each human being you meet is a definite start. Since God is love, if you can't see God in all, then you can't see God at all, therefore you can't love at all.... So see God in all.
Something to think about :) I like this post.
Loving everyone is rarely easy, but it is rewarding. Showing kindness and compassion when you'd just love to box someone's ears, is love. treating someone with grace and compassion when you'd rather chew them out is love. Tough love is reserved for our own family, I think. Not for those outside of it.
here's a favorite quote from romans 12 which i think is full of good advice:
"love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. be alert servants of the master, cheerfully expectant. don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. help needy christians; be inventive in hospitality. bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody. don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. if you've got it in you, get along with everybody. don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. 'i'll do the judging,' says god. 'i'll take care of it.' our scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. your generosity will surprise him with goodness. don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good."
@TrumvilleOrbison@xanga - what a wonderful post/comment...I will be "trying" these suggestions, going forward in my Christian Life....you, "made my day" and I feel happier than I did, before reading this...thank you
It's not an easy thing to do, especially if it's someone you don't like very much... but it's a beautiful thing. How I think about it, is that every life is precious... Everyone has feelings and they hurt and cry and laugh and love just like I do. How would I feel if someone did something to hurt me. So would I want anyone else to go through pain if I know how it feels...
It just feels like the right thing to do for me... and it has gotten way easier than before...
Set them free to make their own choices....good or bad, (Godly, or un-Godly). Once you let go of the need to get people to do what you think is right, I think it will be easier to extend grace and compassion to people both inside and outside God's Kingdom. God gave us the freedom to choose Him (or to not choose Him) because He loves us. :)
This is a good question and it is a challenge for those of us who aren't "there" yet. Not being able to love everyone is a heads-up that we still need to do some work on ourselves. When we can't love everyone we still have personal work to do. That's my 2 cents. Thanks for reminding me.