The exhortation to love one another is the most basic Christian doctrine there is, and we are to be known for our love for one another. But some see us as haters. In fact, not long ago a woman came up to my husband and me while we were out to dinner, and she called him a hater. At the time I chimed in and contradicted her. He most certainly is not a hater in the way she claimed.
But as I thought about it later, I realized that actually he is a hater. And so am I. And so are you. And so is that woman. We all hate something. She apparently hates haters. But being a hater is not a bad thing in itself. It all depends on what it is we are hating.
God Himself hates lots of things. He hates sin. If He did not hate sin, Christ would not have gone to the cross to redeem us from it. God is the ultimate hater because He hates sin more than any of us do, and we would do well to hate what He hates more than we do. Consider these seven things that God hates:
- A proud look.
- A lying tongue
- Hands that shed innocent blood
- A heart that devises wicked plans
- Feet that are swift in running to evil
- A false witness who speaks lies
- One who sows discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19)
Do you hate these things? Then I guess you are a hater too. And we are all in good company because our Maker loves the world so much, He hates sin so much, that He sent His only begotten Son into this world.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)
If you love the right things, you will necessarily hate those things that threaten it. Do you love your liberty? Then you hate tyranny. Do you love the baby in the womb? Then you hate abortion. Do you love marriage? Then you hate adultery, fornication, and sodomy. Do you love the truth? Then you hate falsehood.
In this momentarily upside-down world, if you hate what God hates, you are called a hater. It reminds me of the man who was simultaneously screaming at my husband and flipping him off with one hand, while holding a large sign with the other that said, “No hate here!”
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)
If you are called a hater, be sure it is for the same things that God hates. Just as we love imperfectly, so we hate imperfectly. But nevertheless, we are called to do both, and all to the glory of God.
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Excellent! I proudly (in a non-sinful way) raise my hand as a hater.
Romans 12:
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Yup! What God said! ; – )
Wow so powerful! I hope the woman you spoke of who called your husband a hater reads that. It would do her good, as it would for anyone who reads and understands your words. Thank you for them and also for all the writing you have done in the past. I have been reading one blog each day under the daily devotional category. They are such a blessing to read. I’m so happy there are so many for me in the archives. I have been doing it all year and will continue. These writings help draw me closer to the Lord. I’ve also been reading the book Future Men. I have two little boys (20 months and 2 months old). I know this book will help my husband and I be better parents. Thank you so much to you and your family for all you do.
Sometimes both the love and hate both have to be exercised in the same situation, too!
It’s important to remember this when someone we love is going through serious struggles with sin. It could be easy to either let my love for the person lead to excusing (or at least not properly hating) the sin, or to end up loving that person less because of the sin.
I’m learning how to love the one God created, and who he’s meant to be, while steadfastly hating the thing that’s threatening to bring him down.
So true!
Your post puts me in mind of this…
A Southern Poverty Law Center volunteer approached me on the street a few years ago, bearing a clipboard and talking points on a crusade against “hate.” (They keep lists of “hate organizations” and work to promote tolerance in keeping with PC values, but not any others.) I asked him if was okay to hate cancer or tornadoes or corruption… and our conversation was over pretty fast.