Hatred in the name of God

Five years ago today, 19 men full of hatred for 'the Great Satan' - America - hijacked 4 airliners and turned them into flying bombs. By Noon that day, 3000 people had died, billions of dollars in property damage was done, and America was changed. Those young men acted in the name of Allah, their hatred and rage fueled by religious fervor, born in fear. I am no expert on Islam, but I am told that theirs is a twisted interpretation of that religion and I certainly hope that is true. It is not just fringe adherents to Islam that practice hatred in the name of God! Christianity has a radical fringe of haters, as well.

Where does religious hatred come from?
It grows in a very fertile soil called -fear: fear of a changing world, fear of those who are 'different,' fear that what we value is being destroyed. When people perceive that their way of life is threatened, they grow fearful. Questions arise about the very meaning of life, the kind of world our children will live in, about the most precious things to us being torn away. The natural human reaction to that kind of threat is to become protective and belligerent. I have heard and/or read sermons delivered by Christian preachers who are filled with fear about the world. They focus their fear on dozens of different targets - homosexuals, doctors who perform abortions, 'liberals,' evolutionists, people of color, Jews, Hollywood, rock music - and the list could go on and on. I've heard some of those same preachers move beyond condemning their targets and moving into outright hatred! For example, in the name of God some advocate bombing clinics where abortions are done or shooting doctors that perform those abortions. Often the hatred is contained in discriminatory words that stops short of advocating outright violence. I have even sat through prayer gatherings where sincere Believers caught up in their fears have prayed prayers that are packed with hateful venom poured out in the most holy moments.

Jesus speaks directly to those who follow Him and He forbids hatred! He says, "Judge not!" “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own." (Matthew 7:1-3, The Message) We read His words about the the two Great Commandments - "Love God with your whole being, and love others as you love yourselves!" There is no room for hating in those commands, is there? Only God can judge and condemn, for only He has the full knowledge of the motives and ways of those who do evil.

So you might ask, "Jerry, when we see the reality of sin and evil, we must respond to it, right?" Yes, absolutely. We would be fools to pretend that we are living in a world that welcomes the ways of Jesus Christ. Sin abounds around us. It is true that there is a real Enemy of God who actively resists all that is good. The Evil One is sowing his seeds of destruction. But we cannot overcome him by using the tactics of hatred and violence. Our response must be different. (I speak to each of us personally. This TFTD is not about national politics. The debate about 'just war' is for another time.)

What did Jesus command of us?
Ponder these words, so often forgotten or laid aside in moments of fear.
“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.’ But I say, don’t resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. ...
You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too." (Matthew 5:38-45, NLT)

So, how can we act in such an unnatural way?
By being secure in the Love of God for us. We believe the promises of God that He will never leave, nor forsake us.
We hold to His declaration that His Kingdom cannot fall, and we then live confidently. As Martin Luther wrote,
And though this world with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us
We will not fear for God hath willed,
His truth to triumph through us! (A Mighty Fortress)

Apart from being deeply loved by God, and living in His promises, there is no other way we can be kept from fear, especially in our time of rapid change and perceived threat to all that we hold dear. We cannot win over evil by becoming evil. We cannot defeat those who hate us because of Christ, by hating them in return. We overcome evil with Good, hatred with love. Let God love you! When you begin to fear, reach out to Jesus and ask Him to grant you peace. When the future looks dark, pray for eyes to see the Glory that is promised to those who are in Christ. Then, go live in love.
________________
Lord I come to You
Let my heart be changed, renewed;
Flowing from the grace
That I’ve found in You!

And Lord I’ve come to know
The weaknesses I see in me
Will be stripped away,
By the power of Your love!

Hold me close,
Let Your love surround me.
Bring me near,
Draw me to Your side.
And as I wait
I’ll rise up like the eagle;
And I will soar with You,
Your Spirit leads me on,
In the power of Your love!

Lord unveil my eyes,
Let me see You face to face,
The knowledge of Your love
As You live in me.
And Lord renew my mind
As Your will unfolds in my life,
In living every day
By the power of Your love!

-- The Power of Your Love- by Geoff Bullocks