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| Earl Gillespie |
To Hate or Not To Hate
When Hate is Not Hate
Hate is one of those emotions that many, especially Christians pretend that it is held in suppression or don't exist. Yet, it is in the arena of Christian endeavors that hate is able to manifest itself most profusely and grow into its purest form. That hate that emulates from the pulpit of churches and congregations can be felt through the community and from these roots it is able to travel throughout the land. Ask any Christian about hate and they will tell you hate has no place in the heart of the righteous. Yet, hate is present in most all forms of human endeavors, even the testimony of the saints.
Hate is defensive, try speaking out about the sins of humanity and you are quickly labelled a hater. It is not because you hate a group of people, it is because you are attacking the very fruits of hate and hate responds with hate. To appear to be more politically correct the church's messages must dumb-down hate and amplified love. Hate is allowed to exist on the same level as the devil, we must pretend we can control it to the point that it no longer exist. It has been said that the greatest trick that the devil preformed was to convince the world that he didn't exist.
Reflecting upon memories of interactions with church members and families and comparing it to the interactions of those whom the church refer to as those of the world, there is a distinctive difference in the intensity of hate that emulate from the household of faith. Is it because those that to whom this hatred is directed is caught off guard? How many families and churches have been torn apart by the self righteous attitude of others?
To sit idly by and pretend that there is no weeds growing in the vineyard allows the weeds to grow unimpeded. We may not be able to remove the weeds, but we do not have to feed the weeds. Jesus said, let the wheat and Taft grow together, until the day of harvest. This does not mean we are to embrace evil or hate, we must be prepared like the true worker of the vineyard to root up and destroy everything that is vile, the only restraints should be those imposed upon us by Jesus. According to the teaching of Jesus there is a plot of ground in the vineyard that should be free from hate, it is called the church. It is impossible for humanity to destroy evil or sin, we must live in a sin curse world until the day of harvest when it will be destroyed. A little understanding will open the door to a deeper understanding of God's Word. Some will get it and some won't.
The prevailing theory is regardless of what evil we are confronted with we must find a way to express our love. The expression of this love has progressed to the point that we must express our love for all of God creation. How do we do that? We separate the person from the deeds and use a Bible verse to establish the groundwork. Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. In this verse Jesus is truly saying he hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans. It also seems that hate is a strange attribute of God, as described in Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
It is not appropriate in todays society to present a message of the things God hate, we must focus on his love Somewhere in all of this a strange dichotomy is emerging, if we love the insects but hate their ways, what happen to the insects. The wages of sin is death, not to sin, but to the sinner. Now somewhere in this discussion, we must conclude that God hates sin, but he judges the person (sinner). 1 Peter 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Once the person is contaminated by sin, he is judged as a sinner, regardless of the degree of separation.
Christian artist Natalie Grant, was nominated for two gospel Grammy Awards this year, but she became the center of a media storm when she left before the awards were presented. Tweeting that her thoughts about the show were better left unsaid. Because of her Tweets a media frenzy erupted, the mainstream (liberal) media jumped on her Tweets and ended up accusing Grant of everything from being a poor sport to intolerance, to the hating gays. Now, as a Christian, you are not suppose to be guilty of any of those things. Is being a Christian means you are suppose to love everything that is thrown at you?
How many Christian artists would have relished the opportunity to appear on the Grammy stage somewhere between Saint Beyonce and the church-like mockery of a wedding ceremony that was overseen by Reverend Latifah. I didn't watch the show because I don't like award shows, nor do I like reality shows. There are many things in this world that I hate, but according to my spiritual mentor, I suppose, to dumb-down my feelings and never express them as hate. There was a time in America it was your prerogative to hate. Because of my dislike for things that I find distasteful, there are those who are ready to pounce on me and call me all sorts of names, as if they hold a monopoly on what is correct and proper. Is this not an expression of hate also? I believe It is my prerogative to like and dislike whatever I please. The formation of this country was because of a dislike or hate for the laws or rule of the British Empire.
Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. This verse could be used to justify Christian artist Natalie Grant's actions at the award show, but there are two words in this biblical quote that is 'unacceptable' in today's liberal and modernist society. The speaker resorted to name calling. Jesus preached a message of love, but when he saw the desecration that was taking place in his father's house, he reacted strongly. John 2:14-16 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
The enlighten and political correct will spend many great moments explaining how we are to separate the act from the person so that we can focus on our love for the person. Yet David asked the question in Psalms 139:21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? And he provided the answer in Psalms 139:22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. In Ecclesiastes 3:8, Solomon added, "A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."
In John's day there was a word that was used to describe the vile, the corrupt and the evil masses, in Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Jesus put things in the proper perspective when he spoke in Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? It would be unthinkable to use these types of words today, because we would be described as haters.
To balance the scale on the other side let us search for a scripture that says thou shall not hate. Matthew 5:43-44 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; This is a clear indication of how we should treat those who hate us. Now I pose the question if God is capable of love and hate is a man also capable of the same attribute? We must remember we are dealing with the biblical definition of hate. What did Jesus mean in Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Jesus went on to say in Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Maybe as Christians we should love God and hate evil, and not be concern about the world hating us. Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. This verse could be used to justify Christian artist Natalie Grant's actions at the award show, but there are two words in this biblical quote that is 'unacceptable' in today's liberal and modernist society. The speaker resorted to name calling. Jesus preached a message of love, but when he saw the desecration that was taking place in his father's house, he reacted strongly. John 2:14-16 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
The enlighten and political correct will spend many great moments explaining how we are to separate the act from the person so that we can focus on our love for the person. Yet David asked the question in Psalms 139:21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? And he provided the answer in Psalms 139:22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. In Ecclesiastes 3:8, Solomon added, "A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."
In John's day there was a word that was used to describe the vile, the corrupt and the evil masses, in Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Jesus put things in the proper perspective when he spoke in Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? It would be unthinkable to use these types of words today, because we would be described as haters.
To balance the scale on the other side let us search for a scripture that says thou shall not hate. Matthew 5:43-44 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; This is a clear indication of how we should treat those who hate us. Now I pose the question if God is capable of love and hate is a man also capable of the same attribute? We must remember we are dealing with the biblical definition of hate. What did Jesus mean in Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Jesus went on to say in Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Maybe as Christians we should love God and hate evil, and not be concern about the world hating us. Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
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