Prismatic567 wrote:Serendipper wrote:Loving enemies is actually an expression of a desire to punish enemies.
Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
"heap coals of fire on his head" is definitely metaphorical or allegorical.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/comment ... 12-20.htmlIf you google "Romans 12:20 meaning" you will note the explanations by various Christians which I agree is not literal.
There are many cases of 'enemies' of Christians who were overwhelmed [coals of fire in the head] by the kindness of Christians towards them and they subsequently converted to Christianity.
That's why they burned people at the stake, according to Alan Watts, in order to do them the favor of giving them one last chance to repent before being condemned to hell.
What's wrong with being morally superior with the ability to 'love your enemies'.
Because it's full of conceit. Christianity is a dichotomy of, on one hand, being sure of your salvation and, on the other, always being in humble questioning.
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
But the prevailing theme, if there is one, is that of humility:
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

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Because you're trying to save your own ass.
Matthew 16:25
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Feelings of moral superiority is morally inferior
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
While "heap coals of fire on his head" is metaphorical, 'love your enemies' is literal, but not like 'falling in love' with the opposite sex nor mother-son love but 'love' in general.
I know what you mean. There are 4 types of love in the bible: godly love (agape), brotherly love (phileo), sexual (eros), and parental (storge)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_words_for_loveIn another sense, a Christian is not expected to 'love your enemies' stupidly and blindly.
From the overall perspective 'love your enemies' is a moral absolute and an ideal which cannot be applied as an absolute in the practical perspectives due to the varying contexts.
"Love your enemies" is a moral absolute [like Kant's Categorical Imperative/Maxim] within the Christianity' Ethical System.
'Love your enemies" as an absolute is thus merely a guide for personal ethics.
Ethics: What Does Jesus Mean by 'Love Your Enemies'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHpOODbaMOQ
First of all, it's impossible to love anyone but yourself, so the only reason to "love" someone else is to benefit yourself, which is fine if you recognize that, I think. But to love someone in order to be morally superior I think is a petty and childish method to be one-up on the universe: "I'm better than my enemy because I love them."
But christianity is really very simian, petty, and childish which I think is evidence of who created it (hint: ancient dumb desert people). But there are some smart bits, mainly those shoehorned in later, such as the story of the woman caught in adultery where Jesus asks the one without sin to cast the first stone at her.
I believe the Abrahamic religions [incl Christianity] are inferior to the Eastern Religions. I also believe ALL religions must be weaned off eventually.
Yep, I agree.
Christianity has its negative elements but it is the most effective and optimal religion for the masses since 2000+ years ago and even to the present but its shelf life is expiring soon. Thus Christianity need to be replaced by fool proofs spiritual approach to deal with the inherent and unavoidable existential crisis.
What's wrong with Tat Tvam Asi? You are who I would be if I were you, so I can't condemn you. The thing making me function is the same thing that's making you function, so there is no "if I were you, I would do this differently" because if I were you, I would do what you're doing. So "do unto others as you'd have them do unto you" is perfectly applicable one we realize that we are in fact the same.
Read This;
What is Judgment Day?Judgment Day. Also known as the Final Judgment. It is the very last thing that happens before God destroys the old heaven and the old earth, which are corrupt on account of sin
Sin is anything that goes against God’s will and His laws. To commit sin is to transgress or disobey these laws. The lust to sin dwells in human nature. In other words, it is contaminated and motivated by the sinful tendencies that dwell in all people as a result of the fall into sin and disobedience in the garden of Eden. This... More
. Before He creates His new heaven and new earth, He has to do away with anything that could bring sin into the new creation.
The devil has just been cast into the lake of fire, where the beast and the false prophet (Antichrist) have already been since they were defeated when Jesus returned before the beginning of the millennium. This is to be the eternal retribution for their sin and rebellion against God. Now the time has come for God to judge who is to join them in the lake of fire, and who is worthy of a place on the new earth.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10.
https://activechristianity.org/what-doe ... dgment-day
Btw, I spent 3 years full time research and analyzing Islam and the Quran, but I have also done quite extensive research [not as much as Islam] into Christianity.
There are lots of ways to posit the end time scenario. Some believe in a rapture where people will disappear from the moving cars leaving cars crashing into each other. Then there will be a 7 year tribulation period, then a 1000 year reign, then the judgement. But Peter says:
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
God cannot come, leave, then come back again. As soon as he shows his face, it's over. No evil can exist in his presence. Those covered in the blood will be shielded.
The 2 Corinthians 5:10 you quoted is judgement while still alive:
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
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17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
How can a new creature be judged for the old creature's actions?
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
There is no mention of any particular punishments to be meted out to the saved anywhere in the bible that I know about. They are simply joined with the lord and that's the end. All sins are forgiven, so there is nothing to judge.