Hi, I think it takes careful thought to respond to something like this, because we don't want to endorse animosity or anything like that, but sometimes I feel like we are expected to actually like people in our lives who cause nothing but negativity and obstacles to our faith. I've been eyeing the book of Jeremiah lately (I hate to sound horrible but I have never read it from start to finish) and there is supposedly a part in that book that explains his love for his persecutors and we are supposed to love them in action but I struggle with feeling like we're expected to LIKE them. I can't seem to LIKE people who are negative and trying (or even unwittingly posing as an obstacle) to get in the way of my faith. When I say Like, I simply mean the same way you Like a friend or best friend. I know love is not about feelings - but as I said and keep saying - I harbor intense dislike and I feel like as a Christian, if I have to stop disliking someone, it feels like I have to stop being a normal human being with normal feelings.
