Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash
By Mike Chaffin
Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. Proverbs 10:18
Hatred is a most destructive vice. It is poisonous to anyone it touches, and an especially bad look on a Christian. The Bible has much to say about hatred and we should take heed to its instructions. However, there is a flipside to hatred that is acceptable. The Bible tells of seven things God hates.
These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19
Given we are to emulate God we too should hate sin. But when we can’t separate our feelings for sin and the sinner then hate becomes a vice.
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 1 John 4:20
Jesus reiterates this teaching when He says we are to love our enemies. In the parable of the good Samaritan Jesus showed the Jewish people that their blatant hatred of Samaritans as a people was wrong.
I’m reminded of a time when I was in a Bible study on Romans 1. The Apostle Paul walks us through the downward spiral of perversion and the sin it leads to. God finally gives up on trying to reach them and penned these words,
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32
Then Paul, keeping hate for these people at bay, wrote,
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. Romans 2:1
Our class read Romans 1- 2:1 and then took a bathroom break. During break I prayed about what we had just read, and it appalled me that I was instructed not to judge. I asked the Lord, “Why can’t I judge these people?” God answered by reminding me of John 3:17,
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
It isn’t wrong to judge what is a sin, but when we condemn someone for their sin, without acknowledging we too were once sinners in need of a Savior, we can border very close to the sin of hatred. If our bias won’t allow us to tell a sinner they need a Savior, if we are too cowardly to share the gospel with the lost, that is a form of hatred. Our love for the lost should compel us, as Peter said, to share the gospel with the world courteously and with respect. Our light and our love should shine when we are telling someone they are living in sin and going to hell. However, when our judgment of sinners includes condemnation before they are given a chance to repent, we aren’t sowing love, and we could be accused of being hateful.
A topic for another discussion, but those who know they are wrong and teach others to do the same are false teachers and Jesus has strong words of condemnation for them, as did all the Apostles. They are not to be tolerated or even listened to. We first try to correct them, and if they won’t accept correction, we wash our hands of them and send them down the road. It is not done with hate, but to keep the church on the right path.
So many times when we read Romans 1 we get caught up in the sinful lifestyles of those who oppose God, repulsed, and angered, and forget the key verse of the whole chapter.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16
The gospel message is one of salvation. We must share it with the world even when they don’t want to hear it. Yes, it takes courage to speak up when those around you want to tear you down. But remember in the devotional on cowardice. The cowardly do not inherit eternal life. They will be in hell with the God haters.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to love everyone, and to share the gospel with those around me regardless of who they are or where they are. Help me to do it with love and respect, and with the Holy Spirit leading. In Jesus name, amen.
