Love Enough to Hate

Under the idea of inclusion and equality, the world has done a good job of conditioning our society that there should be no “hate”. While I readily admit that some forms of “hate” are appalling and unrighteous, the Bible does not teach that everything should be accepted just because it is widely embraced.

It might shock some individuals, but the Bible does teach that at times, “hate” is the right response to certain things. Take for instance, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Prov. 6:16-19). Those verses plainly teach that even God hates certain things. As a child of God/Christian I should love those things that God loves and hate those things that God hates. That is part of striving to be more godly.

Also, the Psalmist wrote, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Psm. 119:103-104). Further, he stated, “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psm. 119:128). Can we say that we echo the sentiments of the Psalmist? Do we “love” God’s truth and therefore “hate” error? Have we allowed the standards of the world to be more important to us than God and His Word?

The prophet Amos tried to get the Israelites of old to understand that “hate” is always the right reaction to evil. “Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of

Joseph” (Amos 5:14-15). Because they “loved” that which was evil, the Israelites were told that their worship was not accepted and that they were to be punished. “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts” (Amos 5:21-27). Obviously, the acceptance and glorification of sin is “hated” by God, and therefore it should be “hated” by us.

In the book of Proverbs, much is written about wisdom, knowledge, and fear. In one particular verse we find, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” (Prov. 8:13). One cannot rightfully claim to be a God-fearing Christian and adopt and endorse that which is evil.

Much has been written in this article about “hate”. Let me conclude this article by mentioning something about “love”. We are taught that above all else we are to “…love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matt. 22:37-38). No person or ideology can take precedence in my heart over God and His will. I cannot allow any person or ideology to sway me from this position. I truly must love God so much that I am willing to “hate” that which is contrary to Him and His Word.
~ Corey Barnette