Pastor's Corner: Hate doesn't belong here!

Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen (1 John 4:20 NRSV).

Why do people hate each other? God is love, that is what scripture tells us (1 John 4:8). This world that God created, He created it out of love. God then made man and He also did this out of love. God created this large universe and all of His creation out of love. Yet, there is one question that has been on my mind lately - why is hate so prevalent. Why do we hate each other so much? Hate fills the hearts of so many people in our world today. Hatred has a way of blinding people from both reality and the plight of others.

Psychology Today published an article a few years ago on the Psychology of Hate. In it, the author quotes Psychologist Bernard Golden who said: "Acts of hate are attempts to distract oneself from feelings such as helplessness, powerlessness, injustice, inadequacy and shame. Hate is grounded in some sense of perceived threat. It is an attitude that can give rise to hostility and aggression toward individuals or groups. Like much of anger, it is a reaction to and distraction from some form of inner pain. The individual consumed by hate may believe that the only way to regain some sense of power over his or her pain is to preemptively strike out at others. In this context, each moment of hate is a temporary reprieve from inner suffering."

Sin is always waiting for you to open up the door and let it inside. Who has power over the door? The nature of sin is not something that is physical but it is something that is spiritual. Therefore, the nature of hate comes from the inner person - comes from the inside. We then manifest hate through our actions which is somewhat similar to what we say about love. We would say that love is an action. Hate, in other words, corrupts and pollutes our soul.

Hate is not natural to us. By this I mean that hate is something that we are either taught or it is something that we learn. No child is born hating anybody! Our children will play with anybody regardless of race or gender. We can choose the type of person that we want to be. I would hope that all of us choose to not be a person that is full of hatred.

What does the Bible say about hatred? Biblically speaking, there are positive and negative aspects to hatred. It is acceptable to hate those things that God hates; indeed, this is very much a proof of a right standing with God. "Let those who love the Lord hate evil" (Psalm 97:10a). Indeed, the closer our walk with the Lord and the more we fellowship with Him, the more conscious we will be of sin, both within and without. Do we not grieve and burn with anger when God's name is maligned, when we see spiritual hypocrisy, when we see blatant unbelief and godless behavior? The more we understand God's attributes and love His character, the more we will be like Him and the more we will hate those things that are contrary to His Word and nature.

However, the hatred that is negative surely has to be that which is directed against others. The Lord mentions hatred in the Sermon on the Mount: "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment" (Matthew 5:22). The Lord commands that not only should we be reconciled with our brother before we go before the Lord, but also that we do it quickly (Matthew 5:23-26). The act of murder itself was certainly condemned, but hatred is a "heart" sin, and any hateful thought or act is an act of murder in God's eyes for which justice will be demanded, possibly not in this life but at the judgment. So heinous is the position of hate before God that a man who hates is said to be walking in darkness, as opposed to the light (1 John 2:9, 11).

The worst situation is that of a person who continues professing religion but remains at enmity with his/her brother or sister. The Scriptures declare that such a person is a liar (1 John 4:20), and he/she may fool people, but not God. How many believers live for years pretending that all is well, putting on a front, only to be found finally wanting because they have harbored enmity (hatred) against a fellow believer, or those of a different religion, race or ethnic background?

Hatred is a poison that destroys us from within, producing bitterness that eats away at our hearts and minds. This is why the Scriptures tell us not to let a "root of bitterness" spring up in our hearts (Hebrews 12:15). Hatred also destroys the personal witness of a Christian because it removes him/her from fellowship with the Lord and other believers. Let us be careful to do as the Lord advised and keep short accounts with everyone about everything, no matter how small, and the Lord will be faithful to forgive, as He has promised (1 John 1:9; 2:1).

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Pastor Michael O'Hearn

Hi-Line Lutheran Churches