A couple of years ago, during some particularly tough times of racial strife, it was popular to post a sign
in your yard that read “hate has no home here”. That is a wonderful sentiment, isn’t it? I would hope
that, even if there was no sign in your yard, hate doesn’t live at your house. But hate is just one of
several emotions that, when used wrongly, not only causes grief and trouble, but also displeases God.
Note that is said “when used wrongly”.
It’s ok to hate…if you hate only what God hates. “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are
detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises
wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person
who stirs up conflict in the community.” (Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV)
That, of course, is not a complete list of sins. Rather, it is a general description of things that are at the
root of almost every sin. And in the poetical form of the writing of Proverbs God does use
personification of body parts up to, and including, the whole person. But remember it is the act that He
hates, not the eye, tongue, feet, or person committing the offense.
I would hope that you hate all sin, no matter the scope or size. We should realize, as we read those
verses, how destructive those things are to personal relationships, community fellowship, and societal
harmony. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful world if all those sins were absent? Can you imagine living where
there is no lying, no murder, no strife, no conflict, evil, or distrust?
The Bible says there will absolutely be a time such as that when the Lord returns and rules Earth as He
does Heaven. But until then, we are to do our best, through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us,
to love the sinner even as we hate the sin. That begins with Christians loving those who are blind to the
truth; who call us names and disparage our Savior. If we can’t bring ourselves to love them, what kind
of Jesus are we showing?
Say good things about your Savior and about His church.
Bro. Tony
in your yard that read “hate has no home here”. That is a wonderful sentiment, isn’t it? I would hope
that, even if there was no sign in your yard, hate doesn’t live at your house. But hate is just one of
several emotions that, when used wrongly, not only causes grief and trouble, but also displeases God.
Note that is said “when used wrongly”.
It’s ok to hate…if you hate only what God hates. “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are
detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises
wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person
who stirs up conflict in the community.” (Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV)
That, of course, is not a complete list of sins. Rather, it is a general description of things that are at the
root of almost every sin. And in the poetical form of the writing of Proverbs God does use
personification of body parts up to, and including, the whole person. But remember it is the act that He
hates, not the eye, tongue, feet, or person committing the offense.
I would hope that you hate all sin, no matter the scope or size. We should realize, as we read those
verses, how destructive those things are to personal relationships, community fellowship, and societal
harmony. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful world if all those sins were absent? Can you imagine living where
there is no lying, no murder, no strife, no conflict, evil, or distrust?
The Bible says there will absolutely be a time such as that when the Lord returns and rules Earth as He
does Heaven. But until then, we are to do our best, through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us,
to love the sinner even as we hate the sin. That begins with Christians loving those who are blind to the
truth; who call us names and disparage our Savior. If we can’t bring ourselves to love them, what kind
of Jesus are we showing?
Say good things about your Savior and about His church.
Bro. Tony