Respectfully, I think you need to have some humility and not call someone a shitbird asshole because you are uncomfortable with the implication of failing to meet a standard.
God commands us to love our enemies…is He a “shitbird asshole?”
I think you also need to be more charitable to Saint Silouan. I don’t think he is trying to threaten people, only stress the importance of this teaching from Christ.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return;[a] and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
This is the standard set by the Lord and what is commanded.
I think it’s edifying for your soul to love in this way and harmful to it to close your heart to others, and if you want to fully live out God’s love and be an instrument of his mercy it is something you have to cultivate.
Is it next to impossible? Yes.
But I think it is impossible to be truly good and holy without some help from God.
I don’t think people are going to be eternally dammed for not loving Hitler enough for as Silouan himself said:
“Understand two thoughts, and fear them. One says, “You are a saint,” and the other, “You won’t be saved.” Both of these thoughts are from the enemy, and there is no truth in them. But think this way: I am a great sinner, but the Lord is merciful. He loves people very much, and He will forgive my sins.”
Like I said, it’s something I fail at myself, but I don’t think the answer is to react defensively and hostilely, but to be humbled by how much of a sinner you are before God.
Respectfully, I think you need to have some humility and not call someone a shitbird asshole because you are uncomfortable with the implication of failing to meet a standard.
God commands us to love our enemies…is He a “shitbird asshole?”
I think you also need to be more charitable to Saint Silouan. I don’t think he is trying to threaten people, only stress the importance of this teaching from Christ.
This is the standard set by the Lord and what is commanded.
I think it’s edifying for your soul to love in this way and harmful to it to close your heart to others, and if you want to fully live out God’s love and be an instrument of his mercy it is something you have to cultivate.
Is it next to impossible? Yes.
But I think it is impossible to be truly good and holy without some help from God.
I don’t think people are going to be eternally dammed for not loving Hitler enough for as Silouan himself said:
“Understand two thoughts, and fear them. One says, “You are a saint,” and the other, “You won’t be saved.” Both of these thoughts are from the enemy, and there is no truth in them. But think this way: I am a great sinner, but the Lord is merciful. He loves people very much, and He will forgive my sins.”
Like I said, it’s something I fail at myself, but I don’t think the answer is to react defensively and hostilely, but to be humbled by how much of a sinner you are before God.
That’s how I see it at least.