WHAT DO WE HATE?

        In my childhood home my parents, especially my mother, discouraged us from hating. It was good advice, since hatred must be rightfully and carefully doled out and always in small amounts. Today, however, some people and even whole cultures seem to revel in hatred and even feed off it. Others have over-used the word until it has little or no meaning left.
        To hate means to have an extreme feeling of dislike towards something or someone. It is an intense feeling of revulsion, usually derived from fear or the possibility of injury. Modern usage, however, has expanded use of the word beyond this accepted definition.
        A “hate crime” is done against someone based on their race, religion or other beliefs. “Hate speech” is expressing hateful attitude toward a person or group with whom a person disagrees. “Hate mail” can come from those who disagree with an organization’s policies. To hate a person’s views, or to hate a vicious act, and even to hate ice cream all seem to carry the same value. Such uses dilute the meaning of hatred and equates all hatred as being equal in contempt.
        Such over-use of a more rightful feeling of hatred towards those who embody evil, such as the wicked tyrant, the violent murderer or the abuser of the innocent, no longer has meaning for which the word was intended.
        The Muslim extremist hates others with whom he disagrees enough to blow up themselves (or others they force to carry bombs) and the people around them, whether in the market, police station or religious ceremony. Those who have felt this violence can well come to hate the extremist.
        Hatred should be reserved for the heinous act, but not the perpetrator. Jesus urges us, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44). By this He meant for us to care for people, but not the evil acts they may do. God hates sin, especially that which is carried out against the weak and vulnerable. Yet He also cares for His people, and He will have mercy on the contrite person who seeks mercy. Such grace may, however, still cost the perpetrator rightful consequences.
        “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” our Lord said from the cross (Luke 23:34). Those words apply as much to the heinous criminal as to the arrogant, the self-righteous, the selfish, or the foolish sinner. We all need His forgiveness. But we also need an intense revulsion towards those acts that destroy humanity and fracture our relationship with God.

Father, forgive us when we hate sinner, rather than just the sin.

Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com