Turn on the daily news and you can’t help but notice how hate-filled the country is. One individual against another, one faith group hating another, one political group spouting hateful statements about another. You could easily get the impression that some people actually enjoy hating someone else. The more aware we are of this, the more normal it seems.
The Bible has one basic word regarding hatred of people: don’t. Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love covers all offenses, according to Proverbs 10:12
What happens when we feel this powerful emotion towards a group of people or an individual? What does it mean to be “in hate” rather than be in love? God does not call us to act or speak in hate, worry, murmur, and complaint. We simply ought to call upon Him for help. No amount of hate speech and cursing on social media can make God to have mercy on us, it is only when we are praying that God is listening.
If someone says, “I love God,” but hates another Christian, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we have not seen? And God himself has commanded that we must love not only him but our Christian brothers and sisters, too. 1 John 4:20-21
In spite of the delusions of our media and policy elites, the reality is that there will always be things happening in various places that are not to our liking or in our interest. As a believer, think about how can you be part of the solution and open your heart to love.
In order to sustain a healthy self-governing nation, you actually do need a citizenry that stands up and takes responsibility for themselves as much as they can, and who then take as much responsibility as they can – but this has to be done in harmony and love.
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15
We’ve often gotten the idea that if we just turn rowdy and aggressive, they’ve got it all covered! Truth is that no matter how self-destructive our chosen ways might be, we can’t go on like this for much longer without dire consequences.
I’m more fearful of what this will do to us unless there is a massive change in hearts and minds and lifestyles.
By J. Stephen Lang, Dr. Linda Mintle
