Kill Them With Kindness

@bingskee (5234)
Philippines
September 10, 2011 9:43pm CST
Sometimes you wish that your obvious and silent enemies just disappear. It is a normal feeling to feel hatred towards these people who are indifferent to you because of some obvious reasons like envy , or insecurity. Some reasons probably are personal which you might have no knowledge of. Some reasons are just too shallow. Someone said that hate is such a strong word. One can be angry but he need not sin. Wise words, huh? But there are verses in the Bible that suggest to kill them with kindness. How on earth would that be possible? What does the Bible want to impart? Here is an excerpt from a site that appears to be a simple but profound explanation: [i][b]In returning good for evil and so being kind to your enemy, you may cause him to repent or change. [NIV SB] Kindness shown to an enemy will bring shame to him and blessing to the benefactor. Burning coals will kindle shame in the enemy and perhaps lead him to repentance. In an Egyptian ritual a guilty person carried a pan of burning coals on his head to indicate his repentance. [Ryrie SB][/i] [/b] A blessed day to all of you.
3 people like this
8 responses
@Mickie30 (2626)
12 Sep 11
When a person sees someone being kind to them they may learn what love is like and see the love that Jesus showed. Someone said that we may be the only Gospel that someone sees. However, it is difficult to always act in kindness especially when someone hurts you and you feel bad about that. As Christian's we have to try and act like Jesus did, but that's not always easy. Jesus was perfect in every way and we are human. However, when we accept Jesus into our lives then we have Christ in us and it becomes easier to do as Christ did. He loved His enemies even though they betrayed Him.
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
12 Sep 11
hi, mickie! it is truly difficult. but it is a learning process. i believe we cannot do it on our own. there has to be divine intervention. to seek God's help in times where one is tempted to lambast an enemy, God will be there, i believe.
@zerd87 (301)
• Philippines
11 Sep 11
Well, I guess it is true. But the bible will not teach us to kill somebody. It might emphasize on repentance and change of heart. That is the good way to love your enemy. Doing kindness to them helps them realize that you are not bad person to become the enemy.
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
11 Sep 11
hello, zerd. as i responded to another response with the same understanding, this is an idiomatic expression. it does not actually mean 'killing' per se.
@cream97 (29086)
• United States
11 Sep 11
Hi, bingskee. I needed to hear this quote. I really have a mouth full that I want to say to a friend of mines on myLot, but I will keep it to myself. I have gotten so tired of trying to make someone understand and see things the way that I see it. I can't change a person, I can only change myself from trying to change them. I believe that silence is the best medicine when dealing with enemies. I am very good with this.
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
11 Sep 11
am glad you choose to be silent. relationships online are not the same as in personal relationships.
11 Sep 11
hi:) I think it's the right thing to do because it's in the bible, but it's easier said than done, I don't fight my enemy, but I'm certainly is not kind to them too,I usually ignore them, even if I saw them face to face I don't smile and talk any single word, just like they aren't there. I'm giving them a cold shoulder, that's my thing for enemies.
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
11 Sep 11
i know it is difficult but i believe it is doable. all of us surely experienced difficulty dealing with our enemies but this reminder, i believe, will be beneficial for everybody.
@Triple0 (1904)
• Australia
11 Sep 11
Yeah! That's a nicer way to bite back at people who are ignorant and bitter towards you. Always love your enemies, easier said than done. In a way, it's like rubbing it in, making your enemies realize all their bad deeds they've done and make them feel ashamed of themselves. It does work but there are some people who do not acknowledge that they're even wrong. I know some people like that. But you got to kill with kindness. Because if you don't and you turn to bitter ways, you are no different to your enemies.
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
11 Sep 11
easier said than done, very true, triple. it is a challenge actually. and you are very right in saying that one is no different from his enemies if he does the same.
@emjay86 (640)
• Philippines
11 Sep 11
That is easy to easy and very difficult to do. I agree with that but I don't practice it. Forgive me. I am just not used to it. Giving my enemy a Cold shoulder is more like my thing.
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
11 Sep 11
it is understandable to give a cold shoulder. to be receiving something bad from another is not easy. one's first reaction is to get back. but eventually, if it becomes a habit by an enemy, you can try doing this.
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
11 Sep 11
It's funny how the title of this discussion closely resembles the last discussion I posted. I think kindness begets kindness. If you show kindness towards your enemy, it would lead to the same shown towards you. It may not be right away, but surely down the road, it will.
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
11 Sep 11
coincidence, bounce? i think you are right. eventually, some of them could not even afford to show their bad attitudes. but i have to say there are still left who needs to learn to acknowledge kindness, or be affected by guilt.
• United States
11 Sep 11
Hi Bingskee! I have a different take on killing someone with kindness. See I always aim to be respectful and polite, so if someone does a bad deed and or their intent is to hurt me. I am the type that does not stoop to their level. In fact I act as I would normally would to anyone who is respectful polite as my aim is to "kill them with kindness". By this I mean that my intention is that the person will see how nice and opposite I am of them, therefore, if they have a conscious at all they will feel bad for hurting me. Whether or not this makes them repent, my goal is to have them think twice about how they treated me and or what they did to me. Even if they have not conscious it will certainly get them to think about the situation and perhaps eat at them.
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
11 Sep 11
sometimes doing things with reverse psychology could help but there are people who are difficult and have hard hearts, and probably no conscience. admittedly, this is not easy for me to do. as i am a very straightforward person, it is hard for me at time to control my mouth. but now, i am learning, and i am observing the effects of kindness even to my enemies.