Harboring Hatred is Harmful

Chuckle: "I finally got my head together, and then my body fell apart!"

Ponder This: "Hate at its best will distort you; at its worst it will destroy you, but it will always immobilize you." --Alex Haley, author of "Roots."

"Anyone who hates another Christian is really a murderer at heart" (1 John 3:15 NLT). "Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs" (Proverbs 10:12 NIV).

"Hatred" is defined as a strong dislike for someone. Is there anyone you just can't stand? Is there a burning rage against someone smoldering deep within your heart? If you find yourself answering "yes" to these questions, I don't need to remind you of the misery that such feelings can bring into your life. It takes a lot of energy and effort to harbor hatred because hatred is a terribly destructive force and will eventually consume you. There is no doubt that Christians are to love all people but despise sin. In our 1 John passage, John echoes Jesus' teaching that whoever hates another person is a murderer at heart (Matthew 5:21, 22).

Christianity is a religion of the heart; and outward compliance with a set of standards alone is not enough. It is the condition of the heart that matters to God. "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (I Samuel 16:7 NIV). Bitterness against someone who has wronged you is an evil cancer within you that can render you useless as a Christian.

I think the best test to determine if you are harboring hatred toward someone is to answer this question: Do you find yourself hoping that a person will get what's coming to him or her -- that something bad will happen to him or her? If you consciously wish hardship on anyone, you are exercising your hatred. If someone has committed a sinful offense against you, it is alright to hate their sin, but not the person. Your reaction should be to ask God to help you love the offender by enabling you to pray for that person. Remember how Jesus looked down from the cross at his tormentors and said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34 NIV). Jesus never stopped loving no matter the offense.

Hatred for someone comes from indulging your own selfish desires -- being concerned for yourself at the expense of others. Instead, allow the Holy Spirit to fill and control your life, leaving no room for hatred and bitterness. Anger leads to bitterness and bitterness leads to hatred. Love, mercy, forgiveness, and humility are powerful weapons against hatred. "Get rid of all bitterness. . . . Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another" (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT).

Here comes the clincher. "If anyone says, 'I love God,' but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we have not seen? And God himself has commanded that we must love not only him but our Christian brothers and sisters too" (1 John 4:19b-21 NLT). God's love is the source of human love, and this love is contagious. As you love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength (the Great Commandment, Mark 12:30), God will kindle a fire of love in your heart and you cannot help but love as God (Jesus) has loved you. There will be no room in your heart for hatred.

Love, Jerry & Dotse