“You who love the Lord, hate evil!” Psalm 97:10
In 1858 Charles Spurgeon said, “The Christian Religion is a golden chain with which the hands of men are fettered from all hatred.” Truly the spirit of Christ is love, John wrote, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8). Now, since God is love, reason requires wherever His Spirit is love must rule. Connect the dots: Every Christian has the Spirit within from their baptism to guide them in all truth, and truth is all Christians must be ruled by the love of God. Fact is fact, truth, truth, and the Spirit says that no Christian is allowed to hate anyone. Clearly, Jesus said, “43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 [a]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…” (Matthew 5:43-45a).
Christians have no right to practice, or to tolerate the works of the flesh, which includes “hatred” (Gal. 5:19-2). But, is hate always wrong? Solomon teaches us there are seven things that God does hate (Proverbs 6:16-19) which is not a comprehensive list. God does hate sin, not people, but sin which they commit. God hates unrighteousness, which is (1 John 5:17; 1 John 3:4). The old axiom, “Love the man hate the sin” most certainly is true. Psalm 97:10 “You who love the Lord, hate evil!…”, Amos 5:15 “Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate..”, Zechariah 8:17 “Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ Says the Lord.”
So, where does that leave us? All God’s people are to hate all evil, all unrighteousness, and all sin—not some, all. There are some, who will condemn others for “a sin”, and never look at themselves while they commit other sins. Consider the following:
Let every soul in Christ hate any unrighteousness, from the least to the greatest, in our own minds. We must strive to excite within our hearts such hatred for every form of unrighteousness and we give birth to a “sin-antibody” that will destroy it in its infancy. Consider the power of unrighteousness to destroy your soul, and the souls of your loved ones. It will blind your eyes to the glory of the Savior, put a plug into your ears to keep you from hearing the sweet invitation of Jesus and your feet will be turned into the way of evil, and your hands will handle filthiness. When David mourned Abner he sang, “Your hands were not bound nor your feet put into fetters; As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell…” (2 Sam. 3:34). Just think, if we don’t hate unrighteousness within the church, ourselves, we will be mourning the souls of others, and possibly our own. If we pour poison into the well that serves all our members, all will be tainted. Brethren we must all hate for it is your murderer, it is the knife that carves righteousness out of your heart.
“18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who [a]suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is [b]manifest [c]in them, for God has shown it to them.” Romans 1:18-19
Hating evil means that we not only restrain it, but we diligently seek to eliminate it by the instruction of the Holy Spirit. You lock you doors to keep evil out, therefore, lock up your hearts by praying always, and by this you will give God the key. He will let nothing in but a sweet fragrance of righteousness and the perfume of love, peace and holiness. It is by the Spirit that you will preserve yourself from sin. Thus, make practice and pray to God that your sin may be taken away and dried up like the stream of the Euphrates before the presence of the Lord your God (Rev. 16:12).
Before us should be understanding of the poor sinners of the world and the terrible, eternal effects that sin brings down upon them. Hate is for the poor sinner’s sake. Think of the countless numbers of sinners who are driven away from salvation by the false teachers, by the religion of the inconsistency of religious leaders. The world loves sin, loves evil, and one cannot help but notice how the world always delights in such. It pains me to know and admit that there are Christians in our day who are an utter shame to the name of Christianity seen in the things that are done, and by the things that are not done, all in the name of Jesus. Peter wrote, “2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction [a]does not slumber” (2 Peter 2:1-3). The world is watching, and because of the actions of a few, the world has reason to complain of the church. The world enjoys sin, and understands it, thus, has a no trouble seeing our sinfulness. We must live according to righteousness and truth. Don’t let slander have a window, nor sin have ground to work upon, rather, “Always be clothed in white…” (Eccl. 9:8). It helps to daily pray Lord, let me walk in fear of You, and “Hold me up, and I shall be safe, And I shall observe Your statutes continually” (Psa. 119:117).
Put your sins to death. Remember, “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt. 3:10). For us the axe is the Law of Christ, and that law will ride us of our sins if we keep His commandments. Jesus said, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:10). If we do not keep His commandments, the axe, will cut us off. I cannot think of any greater cure for sin in a Christian than to do what the apostle Paul commanded, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Phil. 4:8). Dwell as much as is possible with Him and it is impossible for you to dwell much with sin. The result will be as Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20), or “14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14-15).
Avoid all preachers, teacher and brethren who seek in any way to extenuate sin. Learn the word of God that you may avoid all experiences and books of experience that open doors to unrighteousness. Commit to your mind that sin of God’s people is a vile thing. I know some who talk of their sins as if they were proud of them, and their backslidings, and transgressions, as if they were wonderful events.
As Christians in the glorious church of Christ, without hate for evil, we are like a garden that without water dies. But if we “….love the Lord, hate evil!”, we be watered by the word and will grow lovely, and fruitful.
“Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of [a]Christ depart from iniquity.’” (2 Timothy 2:19)
In Love
Dave Scarpino