The media and our daily experience inform us hatred is on the rise and becoming the prevalent emotion in society today. Never in my lifetime has there been such division across every line: political, cultural, racial, sexual, you name it. The informed and uninformed alike dig into the trenches of their viewpoints and refuse to accept or even listen to alternative viewpoints and ideas.
Instead of polite discourse, every conversation today seems to devolve into shouting and interruption. Whoever shouts the loudest and longest is the victor. As Christ-followers, we are called to rise above the hatred and not respond in kind (Romans 12:17-21). If we act like and look like the world, the world will never see Jesus in our lives (John 13:34-35).
This is not an admonition to be passive wallflowers and to surrender our convictions in the name of keeping the peace, but a reminder that all those opposing God’s Word with such unrestrained hatred are desperate for the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 9:36-38). We can hate their misguided ideas, but always remember Jesus loves the person who is so deceived and longs for them to come to Him (2 Peter 3:9). Unless we rise above the hatred, we will never expose them to the truth.
Peter writes we are to put away all malice, which is another word for hatred (1 Peter 2:1). We can and should maintain righteous indignation for anything that opposes the laws and commandments of God (Ephesians 4:26-27; John 2:13-17). At the same time, we must focus our energy on the source of that opposition: Satan. It is not a stretch to call the immorality and evil in our world demonic. We either surrender our hearts to the Lord Jesus or to the father of lies, the devil himself (John 8:44). If our hearts don’t belong to Jesus, there’s only one other option.
Agreeing with Peter, the Apostle Paul instructs us to put away all malice, but expands further on that instruction by telling us to get rid of all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander (Ephesians 4:31). While Paul is addressing the Church in his writing, it’s easy to see how this should extend this to the way we live in the world. Each of the emotions Paul lists will eat you alive, and combined, they will destroy your witness for Christ.
Hate the sin surrounding you, but rise above the hatred when dealing with those committing the sins. We too were once sinners, and it’s only by the grace of God we are saved today (Ephesians 2:1-5). Our mission on earth is not to win arguments, but to continue the work of Christ in taking the gospel to every tribe and nation (Matthew 28:19-20). Don’t waste your time with endless debates that never change the mind of the other side. Instead, invest your time in holy living, illuminating the darkness to bring glory to Jesus and to make Him known. In every interaction, remember you are Christ’s slave (Romans 6:22) and your life is not your own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The debates and philosophies of this world will pass away (1 Corinthians 3:19-20), but God’s truth endures forever. Share it with someone today.