Hatred - if you must.

Today I am astounded by hatred.  I am amazed at what it is and what it is not.  I do not believe that an immoral life is a wise or right choice.  But I don’t hate those who are deceived by immoral choices. 

There is a great sorrow when I see young people I have learned to care for using consistently vulgar language sometimes even within the concept of faith.  You may say it is just how people talk today and it means nothing bad.  But it saddens me that respect for life, love, belief, family, marriage and more has been casually laid aside in an attempt to respect modern reality.

I was distressed yesterday by a post that equated ‘relationship’ with fidelity.  I could have laughed for it was meant to be funny, but it made me sad for I know that the person is a struggling Christian; I don’t hate her at all.  I don’t even feel that I am better than she is because I see things differently.  My first reaction was “Oh sweetie, . . . “

I don’t hate people who have abortions.  I feel sorry and ashamed that in our culture the creation of a living being has become such a casual, selfish, irresponsible thing.  I am sorry and ashamed to realize that the destruction of life is such a thoughtless, convenience based business.  Hate language?  No it’s not.

I believe that homosexuality is wrong, but I do not hate homosexuals.  I believe that all scripture is given by God for doctrine, for instruction, for correction- even the ones about same sex sex.  It grieves me that their hearts are so distressed.

To this date, I have the right to stand for what I believe.  That does not include trying to destroy other people or their lives.  I don’t even think that is a Godly approach.  But these things still sadden me greatly.  It also saddens me that I may not always have the right to stand publicly and say “This I believe. . . . . “ without being convicted and punished for hate crimes.

So after the extreme hatred I have seen in the past few days in regards to the various sides of the recent political events, I ask myself is there an appropriate hatred.  Is there anything I truly and justly hate?  So I have gone to the scripture this morning.  Here are some things I have found.

  Leviticus 19:16-18

Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.

  2 Chronicles 19:1-3

Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.

  Psalm 139:20-23

Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you?  I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

  Proverbs 8:12-14

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

  Amos 5:14-16

Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy . . . . .

  Zechariah 8:16-18

do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the LORD.

  John 7:6-8

The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.     John 15:17-19   If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

  Romans 12:8-10

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

  Titus 3:2-4

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

I will say in conclusion –if you read this far-  that there are things worth hating.  There are things God hates.  But there are very few people we should hate.  After a great amount of thought, I’ve decided I must admit to hatred.  Those I truly hate are those who intentionally destroy the lives of others for personal gain.  There are those who entrap people knowing what they are doing.  These do not care what the outcome is to the enslaved as long as they personally profit.  Their cold hearts feel no shame.

You may say “But they are enslaved themselves, they are deceived as well.”

And I will concede that grace and mercy are their gift as much as mine.  But in this state, I do feel hatred rise in me.  “I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.”  And I do pray for the destruction of their works and empires while I pray for the salvation of their souls.

So if you must, call me a ‘hater.’  If you must, reciprocate.  But take time to consider what it is you are hating in return.

Blessings.