In preparing for a Bible study lesson on hatred, I began to think about the hatred that has infested this world we live in. Hatred comes in many different forms, wearing whatever mask we feel fits the situation. There is the hatred that one feels for another human being, be it because of a wrong that person has done to us or to someone else; be it because we don't approve of their lifestyle or we envy what they have. We hate because they don't share the same beliefs or the same religion. Some hate just because they don't like the way a person looks. But hatred in any form towards another person is wrong.
As I searched scripture for verses that referred to hate, hatred, hating, or even abhor, there was one common thread in all scripture I found, Love. Funny huh? Scripture associated with hate all had the common thread of love. Repeatedly, the Word tells us to Hate what is evil, but Love what is righteous. Does this mean that we are only to love those who are perfect and do no wrong and hate anyone who does something we feel is evil or against our beliefs? No, of course not! If that were the case, given that there are no perfect people, this would be a world without love. How sad would that be?
Jesus made it clear in Matthew 5:45 "You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
Jesus tells us to Love not hate. As the old saying goes, "love the sinner hate the sin". We are not to ignore the "sin" of another or even excuse it, no, we are to hate the sin, but we are to Love the person and pray for their sin. That's not always easy, especially when the sin is against us, but we are called to love like Jesus, and irregardless of our sins against Him, He still loves us. No one can claim to love God and hate another person.
1 John 4:20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar.
All hate however is not bad. We can hate injustice; we can hate evil acts; we can hate famine; we can hate war and unnecessary blood shed but we can't hate the perpetrators. I like to refer to that as "righteous hate".
Proverbs 13:5 The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
Amos 5:15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.
Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
To choose love over hate isn't always easy because it means rising above ourselves and our feelings for the sake of another, but the act of loving is so much more rewarding than hating. The burden of carrying hate in your heart is heavy and will effect every aspect of your life, negatively. Choosing to love, is liberating and freeing, making life in general better and our reward in heaven greater.
I, for one, am grateful that I have a God who chooses to love instead of hate and because of that love chose to send His Son as a sacrifice to afford me forgiveness for the very things He abhors. If my God can love all men unconditionally, so then, as a believer in the One Most High, I must choose to love. Imagine what a world full of love for mankind and hate for sin would be like. I think they call that Heaven.
Until next time, I'm choosing to love instead of hate.
God Bless,
Cat
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