How did we get here? As we watch the news, it’s almost like the Civil War, brother against brother. Civil discourse seems to be a thing of the past and kindness, generosity and understanding are forgotten virtues. Brotherly love seems to be obsolete.
There are certainly things worth hating, including racism. But we cannot hate our neighbors. What does the Bible say about hating others? Let’s delve into Scripture to find out.
Ephesians 4:31-32 (NKJV) tells us this: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
This is addressed to Christians. As we exist in this often poisoned political and social climate, Christians should be meeting it head-on with words of wisdom and deeds of kindness that are motivated by God. I say that God should be our motivation because if He is not, we too will ultimately stoop to fighting anger with anger. And that is simply not the Lord’s way.
Henry Ward Beecher (1813–1887) said, “There is no faculty of the human soul so persistent as that of hatred. There are hatreds of race, sect and social and personal hatreds. If thoughts of hatred were thunder and lightning, there would be a storm over the whole earth all the year round.”
There are certainly storms over our nation today. Hatred is seen in so many venues, but most strikingly in the actions of the man who ran over people with his car this week in Charlottesville, Va. How does a man become so filled with hate? I don’t know that answer, but I do know that such hatred is the antithesis of what Jesus Christ offers.
Gary Bauer wrote this week, “The teachings of Jesus Christ are the balm that can heal the wounds and divisions that are growing in America. Broken families, broken lives, broken communities can all be made whole by the Man of Galilee.”
In Luke 6:27-28, Jesus said, “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”
Our nation largely wants to avoid the teachings of Jesus these days, but the only peace man can know is through the Author of peace.
If you know Jesus as Lord and Savior, I urge you to live out your life selflessly reflecting His love and calling others to belief in Him. Our world has gone mad with rage and strife, but Christians must be people of truth, people of compassion and people who stand on the Word of God.
Don’t grow weary in well doing and pray as never before for our nation, dear friends. We need spiritual renewal in America and God’s people must be about the business of living lives that are pleasing to Him as we call our nation — our neighbors and friends — to belief in Jesus Christ.