As A Christian, is it OK to Hate?

We live in a world that loves to hate. Yes, you read that right…loves to hate. Just spend 3 minutes on social media and you’ll see it! This political group hates the other one. This age group hates the other one (“okay, Boomer”). This fan base hates the other one…etcetera, etcetera, ad nauseam.

Now, you might think that as a Pastor I would say we shouldn’t hate, but that’s not true! I actually do want you to hate. BUT, I want you to hate the things God hates. “God hates things?!” you ask? Yes, He does! And there’s a good chance He doesn’t hate what you hate.

If we go to Proverbs 6:16-19, we see the 7 things God hates.

“These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
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,
And one who sows discord
among the brethren.”

Whew! That’s quite a list. Now here’s my next challenge: Don’t read the list focusing on the ‘others’ in your life. Read the list focusing on yourself.

“Where am I struggling with pride?”
“When am I prone to lying?”
“What ways have I promoted ‘discord among the brethren?’”

Let’s spend a few uncomfortable minutes looking inward to how we have strayed from the ways of Jesus and allowed sin to creep into our lives. It’s so easy to judge the behavior of others to the point of being blinded to our own shortcomings.

And I really believe this is a tool of the enemy. He LOVES when we are so focused on everyone else’s issues that we stop seeing our own. Satan LOVES when we get on social media and blast all the ‘others’ so that the witness of the church is diminished more and more with every passing day.

Let’s stop giving the enemy a foothold, and let’s get back to being honest with God and with ourselves. Romans 3:23 says we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The last time I checked, “all” means ALL. Yes, the people on social media that don’t vote like you or think like you have fallen short of God’s glory. But “all” means you and I have, too. And I can’t control the ‘others’…. I’m not called to even try. I can only control me, the man in the mirror.

So I’m going to stop and look in the mirror today (spiritually speaking). Would you join me? I’m going to sit in silence and let the Lord speak to me about the things in my life that he hates. I didn’t say it would be fun or easy, but it is necessary in order to grow. And even though it may be painful to sort through what needs to be rooted out of my own heart, I know that I’ll do it with the loving arms of Jesus around me. He loves me, He loves you, and He loves all the ‘others’ too.