Love/Hate...is there any middle ground?
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:7-8)
I was reading through 1 John 4 yesterday and just thinking ... is there any middle ground between love and hate? We know that if someone does not love God, then they are a hater of God -- His enemy. His wrath is upon them. So, what about love in reference to people? If we don't love people, do we hate them? I think so. I don't think there's any fence-riding when it comes to God's commands. If we fail to love someone, or a group of people, then I believe we hate them, and thereby sin gravely against God.
If I love God with all my heart, mind, body, and soul, is it possible for long-standing hatred to live in my heart? Is it possible to "practice enmity"? This question is difficult to chew on but an important one to ponder. There are so many Christ-claimers walking among us who feel bitter, hateful feelings toward a person -- or maybe a number of persons. As Christians, we should be constantly testing ourselves to see if we are of the faith. We should evaluate our walk to ensure it is consistent with what we claim to be and believe.
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kindgom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)
In the past, when reading this passage in Galatians, I always focused more on the outward sins, especially the immorality. I sort of skipped over the "enmities". What exactly is enmity anyway?
Enmity - deep-seated hatred, animosity, hostility, antagonism, antipathy, ill will toward someone.
(American Heritage Dictionary)
Okay, there it is! Enmity is the polar opposite of love! If we don't love God, we are at enmity with Him. If we don't love a person, we have enmity toward them. Christian, is this okay? Does this bring pleasure and glory to Christ? Does this show others the Spirit of Christ living within us? Of course not!
"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions." (Proverbs 10:12)
"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:43-44)
It is absolutely not okay for me to harbor ill feelings toward someone, which amounts to hating them. It's one thing if I simply feel them, recognize they are sinful, repent, and walk on. While a grave sin against God, this is not "walking in" or "practicing" hatred toward someone. But, if I walk in the hatred, if I "practice" it, if I continually have hateful thoughts, hateful words, hateful looks and general animosity toward anyone, then the Scriptures say I don't belong to God! Now, that is scary, sister!!! That will make you fall on your face before a Holy God, brother!!!
What if I am thinking to myself, 'They're not saved. God hates the unregenerate, so why can't I?" I need to tell myself, "You're not God, honey! God hates the reprobate because He's holy! He's God! He has the right! He made them! He decided to keep their eyes closed to the truth! He has good purpose for His hatred! You don't! You're not holy! You have no right to hate them because you're just as sinful and wretched as they are! You don't stand above them in any way whatsoever!"
As a Christian, what can I then hate? Well, here are a few things permitted by Scripture...
1. Evil "Hate evil, love good, and establish justice at the gate! Perhaps the Lord God of hosts may be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." (Amos 5:15)
2. False ways "From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way." (Psalm 119:104)
3. Anything in life that steals our affections away from Christ, our ultimate and only treasure! "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal." (John 12:25)
So, friend, who do you hate? Better yet, who do you "not love"? Evaluate your heart and search whether you stand in the grave sin of practicing enmity toward someone, which labels you as one whom the Scriptures say won't inherit the kindgom of God! Beg the Lord for forgiveness. Repent before Him. Go to the one you hate and repent before them. It's likely they know you have animosity toward them and are wondering why your hateful attitude and actions don't jive with your claim to love and serve Christ. Be truthful with yourself, because God already knows! Lying to yourself about the hate in your heart makes you guilty of a double sin! "He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool." (Proverbs 10:18) [Just in case anyone was thinking it, this passage doesn't mean hate openly and behave as horribly toward people as you desire to in your heart. If God hasn't granted me the ability to love certain people from my heart, I am still responsible for my behavior toward them, which should be always God-honoring and Christ-exalting. If we don't have love for people, we should show them the love Christ has shown to us...His love.]
"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." (1 John 4:16)
Christians, may God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, grant us the ability to love all people from the heart, while we have a special brotherly love toward the saints. May He grant us repentance for any hatred we have harbored in our hearts toward anyone. If we stand in the condition of having "practiced" the sin of hatred, may God grant us repentance and faith, saving our wretched souls! May the Lord break down pride, which is the root of our "lack of love" for others-- driven by our sinful minds exalting SELF over another person, which we do for a number of reasons. May God be supremely magnified by our thoughts and actions toward those made in His image, which is all people. May there be unity between our walk and talk. May we Christians live in submission to the Scriptures we claim to treasure so deeply.
"For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another." (Titus 3:3)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love..." (Galations 5:22)
I was reading through 1 John 4 yesterday and just thinking ... is there any middle ground between love and hate? We know that if someone does not love God, then they are a hater of God -- His enemy. His wrath is upon them. So, what about love in reference to people? If we don't love people, do we hate them? I think so. I don't think there's any fence-riding when it comes to God's commands. If we fail to love someone, or a group of people, then I believe we hate them, and thereby sin gravely against God.
If I love God with all my heart, mind, body, and soul, is it possible for long-standing hatred to live in my heart? Is it possible to "practice enmity"? This question is difficult to chew on but an important one to ponder. There are so many Christ-claimers walking among us who feel bitter, hateful feelings toward a person -- or maybe a number of persons. As Christians, we should be constantly testing ourselves to see if we are of the faith. We should evaluate our walk to ensure it is consistent with what we claim to be and believe.
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kindgom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)
In the past, when reading this passage in Galatians, I always focused more on the outward sins, especially the immorality. I sort of skipped over the "enmities". What exactly is enmity anyway?
Enmity - deep-seated hatred, animosity, hostility, antagonism, antipathy, ill will toward someone.
(American Heritage Dictionary)
Okay, there it is! Enmity is the polar opposite of love! If we don't love God, we are at enmity with Him. If we don't love a person, we have enmity toward them. Christian, is this okay? Does this bring pleasure and glory to Christ? Does this show others the Spirit of Christ living within us? Of course not!
"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions." (Proverbs 10:12)
"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:43-44)
It is absolutely not okay for me to harbor ill feelings toward someone, which amounts to hating them. It's one thing if I simply feel them, recognize they are sinful, repent, and walk on. While a grave sin against God, this is not "walking in" or "practicing" hatred toward someone. But, if I walk in the hatred, if I "practice" it, if I continually have hateful thoughts, hateful words, hateful looks and general animosity toward anyone, then the Scriptures say I don't belong to God! Now, that is scary, sister!!! That will make you fall on your face before a Holy God, brother!!!
What if I am thinking to myself, 'They're not saved. God hates the unregenerate, so why can't I?" I need to tell myself, "You're not God, honey! God hates the reprobate because He's holy! He's God! He has the right! He made them! He decided to keep their eyes closed to the truth! He has good purpose for His hatred! You don't! You're not holy! You have no right to hate them because you're just as sinful and wretched as they are! You don't stand above them in any way whatsoever!"
As a Christian, what can I then hate? Well, here are a few things permitted by Scripture...
1. Evil "Hate evil, love good, and establish justice at the gate! Perhaps the Lord God of hosts may be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." (Amos 5:15)
2. False ways "From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way." (Psalm 119:104)
3. Anything in life that steals our affections away from Christ, our ultimate and only treasure! "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal." (John 12:25)
So, friend, who do you hate? Better yet, who do you "not love"? Evaluate your heart and search whether you stand in the grave sin of practicing enmity toward someone, which labels you as one whom the Scriptures say won't inherit the kindgom of God! Beg the Lord for forgiveness. Repent before Him. Go to the one you hate and repent before them. It's likely they know you have animosity toward them and are wondering why your hateful attitude and actions don't jive with your claim to love and serve Christ. Be truthful with yourself, because God already knows! Lying to yourself about the hate in your heart makes you guilty of a double sin! "He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool." (Proverbs 10:18) [Just in case anyone was thinking it, this passage doesn't mean hate openly and behave as horribly toward people as you desire to in your heart. If God hasn't granted me the ability to love certain people from my heart, I am still responsible for my behavior toward them, which should be always God-honoring and Christ-exalting. If we don't have love for people, we should show them the love Christ has shown to us...His love.]
"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." (1 John 4:16)
Christians, may God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, grant us the ability to love all people from the heart, while we have a special brotherly love toward the saints. May He grant us repentance for any hatred we have harbored in our hearts toward anyone. If we stand in the condition of having "practiced" the sin of hatred, may God grant us repentance and faith, saving our wretched souls! May the Lord break down pride, which is the root of our "lack of love" for others-- driven by our sinful minds exalting SELF over another person, which we do for a number of reasons. May God be supremely magnified by our thoughts and actions toward those made in His image, which is all people. May there be unity between our walk and talk. May we Christians live in submission to the Scriptures we claim to treasure so deeply.
"For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another." (Titus 3:3)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love..." (Galations 5:22)
Hmmm, I guess that I had better repent ...
"Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies." - Psalm 139:21-22
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Hello King!
Mmmm, yes...we'd all better repent. Are we not all guilty of this to some measure? Some of us more so than others. Some are guilty toward entire groups of people because they share a certain color skin. Some toward only one person for any number of reasons. None are justified in the eyes of God. May God grant us all hearts that can love eachother.
I like the passage you cited. I think it shows the worldliness of David's thinking at that time. He was angry and there were many times where he begged God to take revenge on people. Vengeance, in thought or deed, belongs to God alone. It seems to me that David was in sin hating God's enemies. He admitted his hatred and immediately asked God to search his heart, try his anxious thoughts, and lead him in the everlasting way. Though David was a man after God's heart, he still sinned terribly in many ways. Jesus's command in Matthew 5 to love our enemies must be right. The two passages cannot contradict, right? If we take David's admittance of hatred coupled with the knowledge that he was a man after God's own heart, and then take that as license to hate someone, then we err greatly. I believe this text is a "descriptive" rather than a "prescriptive" passage. May we follow Jesus' command to love our enemies rather than the footsteps of David, a redeemed, yet still sinful earthly king.
In the love of Christ,
Colleene
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