Title
Knowing What to Hate and Who to Love
Scripture
A time to love and a time to hate; a time of war and a time a peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:8)
Devotional
Our lawmakers and especially our politicians are up in arms about “Hate crimes.” To the best of my understanding hate crime is an assault against another person based on hatred of that person’s difference. It is inevitable that there will be biases and prejudices. The problem arises when they are attached to people instead of acts. It is one thing for example to hate homosexuality, it is quiet another to hate homosexuals. The same applies to abortion, euthanasia, fornications and the like. We are to hate the things that God hates, and we are to love the people that God loves. The Bible is very clear on which we are to hate and which we are to love. “These … things the Lord hates…A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” Likewise, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”