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Do I Not Hate Those Who Hate You?


           O that You would slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. 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 139:19-22)

          A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:8)

          We’ve been walking a lovely garden path, but today’s passage turns a corner to find vandals digging up the rose bushes and lavender. It’s shocking. It’s also normal. We cannot see good without being made more aware of evil. The more we love - love properly - the less we are willing to tolerate evil.
          Think about it. If you’re walking with someone you love, and come upon a scene that endangers or displeases that person, aren’t you likely to speak up, to defend the beloved? I don’t know what has set David off each time, but it’s a natural and normal response. We might even question the love of someone who doesn’t respond in this way.
          This is one of the reasons I feel justified in responding strongly negatively to those who speak against God or the principles set forth in Scripture. As the second passage says, there is a time for hate. I’m not talking about frothing at the mouth. I’m not even discussing doing someone harm. But there are times when we must stand against evil, and why we must not apologize to those who are angry because we’re agreeing with God instead of bowing to their godhood.
          I read something recently about the deceitfulness of the world. It screams that we must speak gently and with great respect. It demands that we be tolerant while it is not. It fights for its rights by denying those same rights to others. It protests to have its opinions considered by taking away the voices of those who differ.
          “But, we must be kind and gentle with people.” Yes, kind to people, but not to their ideas when their ideas reject what God has taught.  And we need not speak in honeyed tones while they scream. I'm not suggesting that we live by their example and match our behavior to theirs. Hatred need not be violent or abusive, but it needs to be a strongly held rejection of evil. Jesus grew angry when the need arose, and He wept. We are called to be like Him.

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