All you don't need is hate...

As I was thinking about the All you need is love... post, I had thought about a post on the hate--often portrayed as the opposite of love.  Some would say, the opposite of love is indifference, but I digress.

I thought my blog post should be on the hurt and the consequences of hate.  By that I mean personal animosity.  What lead to this post ideas was when I read and saw a story the other day about a senseless assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey.  To me it was another shocking reminder of the darkness in this world that is hate.  Unfortunately, I'm not immune to the poison which is hate.  When confronted such senseless and hate-filled acts of violence, if I allow it, my reaction is one of hatred and wishing horrible things toward the person who committed such a destructive act.  But, I digress...

So, what are the potential consequences of hate (not necessarily in order of importance):

• Separation from our Higher Power (God).  Like it or not, God created man in His own image.  We are God's creation.  Therefore, when we our focusing on hate towards another of God's creation, we are in effect hating what He made.  We are in effect judging Him.  The old line of thought is well if He were such a loving God why do such horrible things happen in this world.  God is no more at fault for us choosing to reject Him initially and throughout time.  He is not at fault for our fallen nature (and the consequences thereof) anymore than parents that raise their kids the right way, but there kid decides to make poor choices.  Getting back to point, when we hate others, we are effectively telling God he made a mistake and holding it against Him.  Instead we should be looking in the mirror at ourselves and our nature and see what we can contribute towards betterment in the world. 
• Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. (1 John 2:9)
• “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24)

• Poison in our soul.  Those who have been in a twelve step or recovery type program (and many who haven't) have heard an old saying attributed to numerous people: Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.  While our resentment or hatred might inflict damage on the other person, often times most of the damage ends up being inflicted on ourselves.  If someone at school, at work or elsewhere does (or doesn't) do something that causes us to hate them, ultimately who is hurt more if we are lying awake in bed at night hating them?  Who is hurt more if we can't focus on the things that benefit us due to our hatred?  Who is hurt more when the poison of hatred causes us stress?
• See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews 12:15)

• Sets a bad example.  How can teach our children to be kind, loving and considerate when we hatred emanates from our being?  We may say the right things about such matters, but our underlying tone or actions undermines the positive lessons we are trying to teach.  If we are publicly showing hatred, how can we expect others to take us seriously when we call for peace?  Appeals to the better nature of others will not tend to be fruitful if they are strangled out by hatred.
• See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews 12:15)

• Hate begets hate and leads to destruction within families, communities, societies and the world.  As I indicated to my daughter, I feel  that 9/11 was an extreme result of hatred festering in the heart of many.  A single act of hatred towards Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28th, 1914 set in motion a chain of events that led to the two most destructive wars in world history.  An anarchist's bullets led to ultimatums, reprisals and declarations of war starting in 1914, kicking off what we now know as WWI.  Though, open hostilities ceased on Nov. 11th, 1918 (now Veteran's Day), the resentment and hatred reared its ugly head in the 1930s again, culminating with the invasion of Poland on Sept. 1, 1939 to kick off what we now know as WWII.  A single act of hatred led to the death of countless millions.  Now, every expression of hatred will not lead to such an extreme result.  Let's just say hatred rarely starts out big and left unchecked will like a cancer grow.
• Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12)

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Before I finish this topic matter, I want to address a few things.  

• As with most things in this world, hate is not always a bad thing.  While the bible doesn't explicitly say to "hate the sin, love the sinner", I believe it is clear that is what we are to do.  God clearly loves his creation: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)  The Bible has numerous verses which express his dislike or hatred of sin: but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:2).  So, if He loves us enough to give his Son for us, but hates when we sin.  Shouldn't we show the same love?  That is, hate the behavior, but love the sinner.  That doesn't mean let poor behavior go without punishment aka justice being done, but instead not to focus your energies on the one who is making the bad choices. 
• Righteous anger is not the same thing as hatred.  In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, (Ephesians 4:26)  Clearly, God understands that there is a time and place for anger, especially if we are harmed by the sins of another.  However, he does not want us to dwell in the anger and let it become hatred. From what I see righteous anger that is left to fest can turn into hatred and animosity which is sinful in its very nature.

Ever since I was a kid, I have valued life, peace and have hated seeing people fight.  It hurts when I see my fellow man injuring or hurting another, especially when it is a kid.  However, I know in my heart that this is a fallen world and it is inevitable.  That being said, while we can't control how others behave or react, we can control how we think and act and can set a good example for our kids and our fellow man by not repaying hatred.  Once again, that doesn't mean continuously taking abuse or not defending yourself, but what it does mean is not amplifying hatred by repaying it.

- Rich

* I have said a joke for years that "I am violently opposed to violence".  However, this election year has shown me that there are people "hateful in their pursuit of opposing what they see as hatred".  To me this is the antithesis of repaying hate with love.

For an alternative take on hate where it is okay?, go to: Hated it! Is it so wrong to hate sometimes?