SHOULD CHRISTIANS HATE?
2 Chronicles 19:2; Psalms 139:21-22; Ecclesiastes 3:8
I am sure there are many who would say that the title of this article is not warranted. It is obvious that we must love everyone. Isn’t that what the Bible says? Before I proceed with the above question there is one issue that needs to be commented upon and that is the word “Christian”.
There are many today who call themselves “Christian”. There are many reasons for this, namely: I go to church, I am kind to people, I am not a member of any other faith so therefore I must be a Christian. There are many more reasons. People who call themselves “Christian” can range from those who believe in same sex marriages to those who support a one world religion where one god is expressed in all religions. As the result of pagan infusion into what is called “Christianity” there are literally countless categories.
Much of this confusion goes back to Simon who is mentioned in Acts 8.When you consider what Christ said in the Bible there is no comparison to the views held by many who call themselves “Christian”. One has to make a distinction between those who are “followers of the way“ and those who constitute what is called “Christianity”.
It is my opinion that most of today’s shepherds of the flock have side-stepped their responsibility by not being direct enough in encouraging righteous anger about issues that the prophets of the Old Testament were outspoken about. When you consider the words of Jesus and the Disciples the same message of separation from evil was equally dealt with as those of the prophets. The issue of tolerance seems to be the message of the shepherds. I can assure you that the Reformation leaders would not have tolerated the confusion arising over the line between evil and good (Isaiah 5:20).
There is no doubt that the word “hate” is a strong word. It is therefore necessary to provide a few synonyms for this word. Such words are loath, detest, strong dislike or to feel strongly disagreeable. I feel such words place the word “hate” into its proper context as expressed in so many places of the Bible.
With so much talk about “love in the world”, one would assume where is the room for hate? But something has gone horribly wrong. It is not a question of love but rather lust for not only immorality but for godless materialism resulting in a hedonistic society. So much has been compromised and as a result we have lost our way in a world of human reason. All this talk about love has one ingredient that has not been considered and that is the Law of God. The “perfect law” that Israel was given has been annulled by the
churches except those laws that pertain to the tithe and even this issue is confused by the shepherds of the flock. Psalm 119:97 and John 15:10 say:
“O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day” and “If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love”.
In a world that is debt ridden what better love could you express than the cancellation of all debts at the end of every 6th year or where there are no mortgages, which means “death grip” or no interest charged on bank loans. Also to live in a world where money has no commodity value, there would be a greater chance for true love to flourish in our
community.
In 2 Chronicles 19:2 we read that Jehoshophat was asked a question by Jehu :
“Why did you help the wicked? And love the haters of Jehovah? For that, the wrath of the Lord is on you “ (Ferrar Fenton).
There is no mistaking the answer to the above questions. No matter what is taught by what is called “Christianity” today, the answer is that we-are not to help the wicked or are we to love those who hate Jehovah. If we do , then the wrath of God will be upon us. A number of other versions including the King James show that Ferrar Fenton was correct in his wording of 2 Chronicles 19:2. Verse 22 of Psalm 139 says:
“I hate them ( that is those who hate the Lord) with perfect hatred; I count them mine enemies”.
There is no escaping the harsh response by David towards those who hate God.
Some might say that David in this Psalm was searching his own heart and if he found such hatred he would ask the Lord to forgive him. In my opinion this is definitely not the case. What most people do not realise is that the words of Christ in the New Testament and those of God in the Old Testament do not tolerate the evil plans of man. In fact the whole purpose of separation from the world is to make sure that the “follower of the way” is not contaminated. See 2 Corinthians 6:17 for confirmation of this theme thus resulting in a special relationship with the Father.
The issue here is to hate those who hate the Lord, not to hate our neighbour, who even though not a “follower of the way” still does not hate the Lord. In Matthew 5:43 we are told to love our neighbours which is a quote from Leviticus 19:18. This requirement to “love” as stated in Leviticus is to be read within the context of the surrounding Sundry Laws. In my search for a cross reference to hating your enemy I could find no reference. According to the Matthew Pool’s Commentary this was an example of what the Pharisees had added to the Law. So when Christ referred to hating your enemy He was quoting the oral traditions and commandments of men (Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:8). Nevertheless even your enemy may not hate the Lord.
It is my opinion that the Hate Crime Laws as used in the courts are primarily not there to protect individuals from Racial or Religious vilification but rather to protect those in the community who have a hatred towards the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They are not there to protect the “follower of the way” but rather to equalize society to the point that all religions or beliefs are to be seen as an expression of a communal god or supreme being. The result is the dethroning of the God of Holy Scripture and deifying of man. This whole process is working towards a society where free speech and debate will be stifled, thus preparing the groundwork for a Brave New World. It is fortunate for the elect’s sake that those days shall be shortened or docked (Matthew 24:22).
In concluding this article it might be said in the minds of some that we are to still love those who hate the Lord. Even though that is your right to believe so, there is no doubt in my mind that many “Christians” have become so tolerant that they have compromised their relationship with God. They in effect have come precariously close to those issues that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob hates therefore be disceming in your choice of wisdom: that of the world or of God.
