THE UNDERTOW OF HATE

  THE UNDERTOW OF HATE

    Disagreements and controversy will always be a trouble in life. As long as there are different opinions, perspectives, tastes, understanding, and varying information, there will always be conflicts. What makes it more difficult is the reality of 'right and wrong' which leads to the non-negotiable issues of good and evil, wherein, if we care, we can get passionate. At this point, there are almost no minor disagreements, wherein even friends can become enemies. In fact, with regard to the issues of good and evil, any opponent is typically an enemy. What is extremely dangerous is that the undertow of HATE will inevitably work its way in. 

 But what does the Bible say about all of this? 

  "You have heard that it has been said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I (Jesus) 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." Matthew 5:43-44

 "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors...For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:12,14-15.

BUT WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT HOW WE REGARD EVIL?

 "The fear of the Lord is to HATE EVIL." Proverbs 8:13, and yes, the Bible admonishes us to fear the Lord.

  Speaking of Jesus, the Scripture says, "You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity (sinful/evil behavior); therefore God, even You God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows." Hebrews 1:9

 So "Yes", we are to hate evil, especially our own evil. If we hate the evil outside of us, we most certainly should hate that which is in us.

DO WE THEN HAVE ENEMIES?

 YES! "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against SPIRITUAL wickedness in high places...Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:12,11

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE CALL EVIL?

BREAKING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND ANYTHING CONTRARY TO THE CHARACTER AND NATURE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF GOD. This includes all forms of murder, cruelty, and the abuse of others, sexual sin, dishonesty, greed, lust, and so on.

HOW THEN DO WE FIGHT EVIL, OR DO WE?

"Be not overcome of evil, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD." Romans 12:21

WHAT ELSE DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HATE?

 "He that says that he is in the light, but hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and knows not where he goes, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."  1 John 2:9-11 This means that his judgments are inaccurate and that he is subject to serious error and deception.

 "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous...WHOSOEVER HATES HIS BROTHER IS A MURDERER; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." 1 John 3:

  Indeed, there are people who may be our enemies, but we are not to hate them, but love them, pray for them, and do them good as we are able. Jesus came to save all of us!