[Faith-talk] FW: [thefamilyoffaith] Hatred Is A Poison That Destroys Us From Within

[Eric Calhoun]

I don't disagree with this at all.  We all need to be careful of hatred.


Original Message: 
From: "TONY_at_FloridaHealth" <FloridaHealth21 at verizon.net>
To: <tony1.familyoffaith at yahoo.com>
Subject: [thefamilyoffaith] Hatred Is A Poison That Destroys Us From
Within
Date: 
Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:40:48 -0400

  
Hatred Is A Poison That Destroys Us From Within


Biblically speaking, there are positive and negative aspects to hatred.
It is acceptable to hate those things that God hates; indeed, this is very
much a proof of a right standing with God. "Let those who love the Lord
hate evil" (Psalm 97:10a). Indeed, the closer our walk with the Lord and
the more we fellowship with Him, the more conscious we will be of sin, both
within and without. Do we not grieve and burn with anger when God's name is
maligned, when we see spiritual hypocrisy, when we see blatant unbelief and
godless behaviour? The more we understand attributes and love God's
character, the more we will be like Him and the more we will hate those
things that are contrary to His Word and nature.


However, the hatred that is negative surely has to be that which is
directed against others. The Lord mentions hatred in the Sermon on the
Mount: "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be
subject to judgment" (Matthew 5:22). The Lord commands that not only should
we be reconciled with our brother before we go before the Lord, but also
that we do it quickly (Matthew 5:23-26). The act of murder itself was
certainly condemned, but hatred is a 'heart' sin, and any hateful thought
or act is an act of murder in God's eyes for which justice will be
demanded, possibly not in this life but at the judgment. So heinous is the
position of hate before God that a man who hates is said to be walking in
darkness, as opposed to the light (1 John 2:9, 11). The worst situation is
that of a man who continues professing to be a Christian but remains at
enmity with his brother. The Scriptures declare that such a person is a
liar (1 John 4:20), and he may fool men, but not God. How many believers
live for years pretending that all is well, putting on a front, only to be
found finally wanting because they have harboured enmity (hatred) against a
fellow believer?

Hatred is a poison that destroys us from within, producing bitterness
that eats away at our hearts and minds. This is why the Scriptures tells us
not to let a "root of bitterness" spring up in our hearts (Hebrews 12:15). 

Hatred also destroys the personal witness of a Christian because it
removes him from fellowship with the Lord and other believers. Let us be
careful to do as the Lord advised and keep short accounts with everyone
about everything, no matter how small, and the Lord will be faithful to
forgive, as He has promised (1 John 1:9, 2:1).

Let us hate what God hates, but let us not hate individuals. To do so
will be a sin on our part because if we hate a person, in God's sight we
are guilty of murdering them.

It is not always easy to obey God. We want to hate. We fill justified in
hating. It can even become a life long means of dealing with sinners that
God loves so much that He sent Jesus to redeem all sinners who will accept
Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.

Brother Jerry / brothermiller1 at yahoo.com