Hatred

[Waiting for the Verdict]

Do you beleive hatred is Biblical? I am often depressed by the level of hatred there is in the world. Atheists hate Christians. Christians hate Atheists. Fundamentalists hate gays (sometimes). Gays hate fundamentalists (sometimes). I know these are broad generalizations, but it seems like hatred is an inborn trait in all of us, whether religous or non-religous. What seems to be reprehensible is that that hatred extends to every group (Christian, Marxist, Muslim, feminist, Buddhist, etc.) regardless of what the group professes about love. It makes me want to go Amish and live apart from the rest of the world.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

Do you beleive hatred is Biblical? I am often depressed by the level of hatred there is in the world. Atheists hate Christians. Christians hate Atheists. Fundamentalists hate gays (sometimes). Gays hate fundamentalists (sometimes). I know these are broad generalizations, but it seems like hatred is an inborn trait in all of us, whether religous or non-religous. What seems to be reprehensible is that that hatred extends to every group (Christian, Marxist, Muslim, feminist, Buddhist, etc.) regardless of what the group professes about love. It makes me want to go Amish and live apart from the rest of the world.

Revelation 2:6
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Romans 12:9
[ Love ] Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Luke 16:13
“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Malachi 2:16
"I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself [ Or his wife ] with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.

Amos 5:21
"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.

...sampling, the rest:
http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=hate&searchtype=any&displayas=long&sort=bookorder&version=31;&startnumber=51

you can change translations and do a like search. One can also use different words, detest, dislike, reject, etc.

Note: Distinguish the difference between the actions and the person - including when generalizing about others and their exhibiting hate (albeit, by your judgment).

Shalom

 

[Waiting for the Verdict]

Revelation 2:6
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Romans 12:9
[ Love ] Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Luke 16:13
“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Malachi 2:16
"I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself [ Or his wife ] with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.

Amos 5:21
"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.

...sampling, the rest:
http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=hate&searchtype=any&displayas=long&sort=bookorder&version=31;&startnumber=51

you can change translations and do a like search. One can also use different words, detest, dislike, reject, etc.

Note: Distinguish the difference between the actions and the person - including when generalizing about others and their exhibiting hate (albeit, by your judgment).

Shalom

I agree that there is a difference between hating an action, which is definitely biblically justifiable, and hating a person, which I beleive is not (and certainly isn't morally justifiable). By the way, when I was generalizing about fundamentalists, I put the phrase sometimes in. I don't beleive that a fundamentalist hates a gay person just because he disagrees with their lifestyle. That's fine. Even campaigning against homosexuality is fine. What's wrong is turning that campaigning into hatred. In other words, I think there is a difference between a James Dobson, who campaigns against homosexuality but seems to generally care for gay people, and Jerry Falwell-types, who seem so centered on the homosexuality issue that they seem to almost hate gays.

Thanks for your post.

 

[Zaac]

Do you beleive hatred is Biblical? I am often depressed by the level of hatred there is in the world. Atheists hate Christians. Christians hate Atheists. Fundamentalists hate gays (sometimes). Gays hate fundamentalists (sometimes). I know these are broad generalizations, but it seems like hatred is an inborn trait in all of us, whether religous or non-religous. What seems to be reprehensible is that that hatred extends to every group (Christian, Marxist, Muslim, feminist, Buddhist, etc.) regardless of what the group professes about love. It makes me want to go Amish and live apart from the rest of the world.

I don't know about the other Christians, but I don't hate atheists.

If love is Biblical, wouldn't the absence of love also be Biblically based?

 

[ChristianCenturion]

I agree that there is a difference between hating an action, which is definitely biblically justifiable, and hating a person, which I beleive is not (and certainly isn't morally justifiable). By the way, when I was generalizing about fundamentalists, I put the phrase sometimes in. I don't beleive that a fundamentalist hates a gay person just because he disagrees with their lifestyle. That's fine. Even campaigning against homosexuality is fine. What's wrong is turning that campaigning into hatred. In other words, I think there is a difference between a James Dobson, who campaigns against homosexuality but seems to generally care for gay people, and Jerry Falwell-types, who seem so centered on the homosexuality issue that they seem to almost hate gays.

Thanks for your post.

No problems, I like the thread. The subject is valid and it is just as easy for someone to slide into ungodly hate as it would be for any other sin... maybe more so in some cases. This subject shouldn't be ignored, go for it.

I saw the qualifier on the fundamentalists - I wasn't implying anything on your behalf, my comment was simply cautionary for caution's sake.

As far Jerry Falwell, I really couldn't say. I don't think that I have listened or watched him yet and I would hesitate to add an opinion on it if I did... God chooses what our purpose is and whether or not we are specialists in a given area.

Dobson I enjoy, but he has been dealing with the defense on this issue along with others (feminist, child abusers, anti-Christians, etc.) for some time and has been a victim of much vitriol because of it. Sometimes I can hear the toll it has taken on him in his language or expression, he and his family are in my prayers.

Peace.

 

[Waiting for the Verdict]

No problems, I like the thread. The subject is valid and it is just as easy for someone to slide into ungodly hate as it would be for any other sin... maybe more so in some cases. This subject shouldn't be ignored, go for it.

I saw the qualifier on the fundamentalists - I wasn't implying anything on your behalf, my comment was simply cautionary for caution's sake.

As far Jerry Falwell, I really couldn't say. I don't think that I have listened or watched him yet and I would hesitate to add an opinion on it if I did... God chooses what our purpose is and whether or not we are specialists in a given area.

Dobson I enjoy, but he has been dealing with the defense on this issue along with others (feminist, child abusers, anti-Christians, etc.) for some time and has been a victim of much vitriol because of it. Sometimes I can hear the toll it has taken on him in his language or expression, he and his family are in my prayers.

Peace.

I agree. Though I am miles apart from Dobson theologically and politically, I can't stand it when people say the guy is a hatemonger. I've listened to his show many times and he seems to honestly care about the groups he criticizes. Christianity needs more men like him, not less.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

I agree. Though I am miles apart from Dobson theologically and politically, I can't stand it when people say the guy is a hatemonger. I've listened to his show many times and he seems to honestly care about the groups he criticizes. Christianity needs more men like him, not less.

There are many that fit that bill - the late Reggie White, Chuck Colson, Chuck Swindoll, Greg Laurie, etc. My devotions have a lot of radio ministry in it... need some input when sitting behind a monitor for so many hours.
And yes, one could spend 95% of ministry on non-debatable issues, but spend that 5% on something that motivated people want to do without the repercussions and bingo, you get a label and venom.