How do you differentiate between Christian love and enabling???
201942
Christian love is helpful and supportive.\n\nEnabling causes negative and stiffling effects.
294615
Being a Christian I strive to do just that. It's not easy. I think you become a hypocrite if you are not trying to love everyone on earth. I choose to try to act in a loving way toward all that I come into contact with. I often fall short of that. But I keep on trying.
276605
Allow me to clarify some of the confusing responses.\n\nGod is love, Jesus taught us this over and over again in all of His teachings and sermons and parables.  God is love.  And while God's love for us is a higher love, consider the love between parent and child as well as husband and wife as examples of that love, as there are similarities in both.\n\nIf you are a man, would you defend yourself, knowing that if you do not you will die and leave your wife and children without you?  Would you defend them, if necessary?  Of course you would, if you love them.\n\nSometimes in love, it becomes necessary to be "violent", in other words, defend yourself.  I'm not talking about initiating violence, but sometimes you must defend what you love.  God is okay with this, just read the history of the Jews.\n\nAs a Christian, I must look first to God to see if this is within His will, and the better I know Him, the quicker the answer lol.
34986
A true Christian...knows God's word,that Jesus Christ is our Savior,and tries to live their life according to the bible...but we are all human and all fail at times..thats when we turn to God and ask for forgivness...get back up and follow Christ's path...Also we love one another as Christ has loved us!!!
408088
That's a hard situation to be in but its also a common one.  One thing I beleive that we as Christians  should always do is seperate the person from the person's sin.  And this is especially true for our loved ones.  But truthfully this should be easiest with ones kids.\n\nOne thing I've been trying to do is try to look at things the way God does.  In this case before we submitted unto him and Christ came into our lives we have committed horrible sins (and continue to) yet he loved us and continues to love us.  He certainly does not approve in our action yet his love doesn't change.  Its a little more difficult for us to do this.  But we can always love and pray that they be ok.
540802
Hey, you have my name!  J/K, glad to see another believer has my name at least.  My thoughts and prayers for you are that you truly seek God's face during this time.  Getting married will not solve your fiance's situation.  In fact, it might compound it with the newness of marriage and everything sexual involved with it.  I commend him for his want to overcome his situation, and I truly believe he needs to seek Godly counseling through the pastor or another strong believer with experience in these areas.  You, also, should attend counseling.  Don't let co-dependency conform you to "accepting" his addiction because your love is all powerful.  It can happen and that I believe is not God's will.  We should love God first, and our spouse second.  In this be on your face seeking God's will for your life.  Another thing for your fiance to keep in mind is that he doesn't have to prove anything to God, God knows every hair on our heads, I would think he knows what is in the depths of each of our hearts too.  He really has to live a different life daily and dissociate himself from everything to date that has caused his situation.  Counseling, support and accountability are what he needs big time.  Prayers and love =)
281835
if a christian is judging you two, then in my opinion they're not real christians. christians are told not to judge. i'd just ignore them. they don't deserve the time of day. if you two are happy then just forget them!besides, love should be the thing that really matters, not what religion you two are.
201372
A true Christian aims to follow Christ's example, however, being human and not divine, we mess up, sometimes a lot.  Doesn't mean one isn't Christian though.  It just means the Christian is having a really tough time of something and has yet still more to learn and discipline.  \n\nWe're all human and need God's love.
325909
Being a Christian and being in tune with God's will for my life  is what helped me know.  My parents used to pray for God to send me the right man.  He did.  We've been married 20 years and very happy!  Start praying for God to help you find true love, but be patient...it could take years.  Don't give up!
30789
I would say it's kind of like comparing discipline and child abuse. A loving parent will discipline his/her child out of love. For example if a young child runs out into the street, a mother might discipline the child because she is concerned that the child will get hurt and she wants to teach the child not to run into the street. The intention is for the child's own good. On the other hand, if a parent beats a child for no reason and enjoys doing so, clearly that would be abuse. As a Christian, we should take the same view as the loving parent. For example, to love people and want to share the gospel with them so that they can be saved and avoid hell would be an example of "preaching the truth out of love." But if we enjoy telling people how bad they are and how good we are, then we are judging.
38290
the spiritual weight that besets us is sin.\nPatience is perseverance.  There should be footnotes at the bottom of the pages of your Bible.  They help explain some of the verses.  Ask God for wisdom before you start reading.
447051
If God loves you, he wont let you stop the relationship. God isnt against love, he promotes it! Dont hear a man words, hear God words of love, friendship and sincerity. If your Rev, mother or someone else told you that people of the same religion cant mix, that person dont follow that they say and "belive". God is love and kindness, think in that.
592160
I am an Athiest...There is no real answer to this question but what I have learned of what love is to me is...\n\n(L)isten: and Validate them by hearing and empathizing.\n(O)verlook: their minor character flaws as they will overlook yours.\n(V)alue: who they are and what they mean to you.\n(E)xpress: how you love them not just with words but with actions.
320367
I know exactly what you are talking about!! I am a christian...really trying to be. but there is one thing that i hate...it's not about God anymore. More and more people makes religion fit them...and maybe I am one of them. So I am sticking to this now: God is love, Jesus came to set us free. Love people as you love yourself. Speak to God everyday, because He will let you know what is wrong or right. Trust only in Him. Christianity is not about laws, its not about what is wrong or right. It doesn't judge, not suppose to in any case. Just love God and listen to His voice speaking trough the Bible
385051
You need to reach out to Him! The Lord hears all, and you need Him! Start by SINCERELY and very truly repenting for your sins and the sinful life you have lived. Understand and admit that God is your only saviour and that you realize you need His help, unconditional love, and guidance. He will not let you fall and he calls out to you even when you feel you cant here Him. It is very true that you will feel Him in your heart and he will bring you comfort, healing, and peace, plus so many other wonderful things, but sometimes there is a point where we cant just feel everything. If we know we have made things right with God, then we have to trust His word. Start getting into His word and trusting Him. Whatever that music was, if you think it would not please God or doesnt bring you hope or contribute faith, get rid of it! There have been times when I would not let things go, and though God will work on this with you, it holds back your growing and maturity with God. All negative media does. Leave it alone, and if it is hard, ASK God, he CAN and WILL answer and do what is best to help you. He helps me everyday! What kind of God would ask so much and then not be willing to help you in return? He WILL my friend! Read your bible  for more faith! \nBeing reborn means that you will be born into a completely different life. You might be ignorant, or for a nicer word, unaware of these new things, but God is the master and you also need to know that you cannot fulfill his tasks without Him helping you and directing. The Lord is not willing that any should perish, especially not you. He is calling out YOUR very name, and He becons you to the a life of eternity. I hope that you will run after this call, fight the struggle, and not a battle but a War, and live FRUITFUL, which was the joyess experience I so wonderfully came upon! Dont listen to those who try to push you away from him. Let Him cleanse you and refresh you of this dirtiness and unholyness which has tried to consume all since Adam and Eve. Satans works. Though The devil will fight for you, and those who dont listen to God hear satan much more, and you are no match against him, no christian is, but with God he stands NO chance. There is going to be temptation, but put it ALL in God's hands. He will speak to you and make changes in your life! Last I think, you are not alone. Always talk to God, nothing is too small for Him or too big for Him to handle ever, and talk to other christians, they will welcome you to lean on them, and will be sure to pray for you! Start going to church! And any burden that is too heavy for you to carry, like forgiving, serious situations, give them to God. He loves to handle these things, and is sooo pleased with you when you hand them over to Him!  \nTrust me, the bible (in better words) says the more of the word you let in, the more evil comes out. God is not sitting back, trust me, he has an incredibly special and fulfilling plan for you full of so many things! He is all powerful and will change your life around once you seek it and bring it to Him, like it seems you are going to do now.  He has already started on me, and I am so excited! Let Him in your heart, to break down those walls. Make yourself a living, breathing sacrifice for Him. Dont worry, it's all step by step. He starts out slow! Like David! My pasture was preaching one sunday about David's process. "Before the giant, the bear, the lion and the palace, he was just a sheepherder." lol Which is no shame! You dont have to worry, because God is going to take care of all this, and I will make sure to pray for you as well! \nI hope all this helped, NEVER GIVE UP! God will supply you with everything you need, and sees better than anyone on the internet can! He knew all your going through would happen before you even knew, he was just waiting for you to seek Him. God could have made us like christian robots, but He loved us, and he gave us a choice to love Him back. By the w
411442
i think you are rite, in away, i know consciously i do things for God. before i was a christian i did things because i had to, or someone was going to be mad....now, its a bit different, i do things for others, because God wants me to and because of the new love i have now, for other people....God put that there though.and, yes, i do hope for the blessings of God. and I'm sure at times/and times to come i will want some acknowledgment...but ill take a deep breath and remember why I'm doing what I'm doing...and ask God for forgiveness..... thank you for the good question.  God bless you
270703
faith has a big part to do in helping me love life. I'm not saying I'm a saint and do this everyday, but when I try to notice all the small blessings, it really adds up and helps me be happy.\n\nIf you're wanting to do something new, has there always been something you've been wanting to try or pick up in knowing more about a certain subject/activity you've always were curious about? For my boyfriend, it's motorcycles. Me, ballroom dancing. Another friend, poetry. Etc. Etc.\n\nHope that helps!