I Hate the Hate

I Hate the Hate

With everything that has just happened, I’ve seen a flood of hate on the internet. People saying horrible things about one another. Some even rushed to condemn entire political parties before anyone knew the full story.

But I have to ask—where in Scripture does it ever tell us to hate one another? Where does it say to cast judgment on entire political, religious, social, or racial groups based on the actions of a few?

Anyone who knows me knows I am a conservative person. But being conservative doesn’t mean I refuse to have conversations with those who see things differently. It doesn’t mean I condemn whole groups of people because of the sins of some. And it certainly doesn’t mean I hate them. Do I condemn sinful actions? Yes. But hate them? No.

Hate is easy. Love is harder. Yet love is what Christ calls us to.

Peter reminds us of Jesus’ example:

“He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
—1 Peter 2:22–23

And Jesus himself said:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
—Matthew 5:43–45

When hate enters the world, we don’t overcome it with more hate. We overcome it with love.

Sadly, I have seen many Christians allow hate to consume them—lashing out even at their brothers and sisters in Christ because they belong to a different political party. When does it stop? When will we let the words of Jesus tame our tongues so that we only speak the truth in love?

Jesus warns us:

“Everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
—Matthew 5:22

And Paul writes:

“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”
—Galatians 5:14–15

Yes, we should feel anger when evil is done. Anger at injustice is right. But anger must not be allowed to fester into hate—that path will consume us.

In the immortal words of Yoda (and even he got this one right):
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

Let us never forget:

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
—Colossians 1:13–14

Brothers and sisters, let’s not be consumed by hate. Let’s be consumed by Christ.