The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at New Georgia

Tim Johnson, editor

January 29, 2006

 
In This Issue:
A Time to Hate
by Steve Klein

On A Daily Basis
by Bill Hall

 

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"A Time to Hate"

   Love is "the greatest" thing in the life of a Christian (1 Corinthians 13:13).  It enables us to know God and obtain salvation.  Love motivated God to send His Son to die so that we might have eternal life (John 3:16).  "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God in Him" (1 John 3:16)

  But as great as love is, it should not be viewed as the exclusive motivating force in our lives.  In Ecclesiastes 3:8, Solomon observes that there is "A time to love, and a time to hate."  Yes, there is a time to hate.  The Bible teaches that hate plays an important role in the life of a child of God.  In fact, we don't really love the Lord as we should unless we also hate the things that we should.  Psalm 97:10 states, "You who love the LORD, hate evil!" Our love for God motivates us to hate evil, and hating evil motivates us to avoid it and to help others avoid it too.

What to Hate
  God's word identifies evil for us, enabling us to hate it.  As the Psalmist says,   "Through Your precepts I get understanding;  therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:104).  In Psalm 119:128 he says, "Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way."  So every false way, every form of evil, is to be hated, and God's precepts help us understand that.  Some of the specific evils that we are to hate include:

  1. Lying.  "I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law" ( Psalm 119:163).

  2. Apostasy. "I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me." (Psalm 101:3).

  3. Pride and arrogance. "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate." (Proverbs 8:13).

  4. The deeds and doctrines of false teachers. In the Book of Revelation Jesus commended a church that hated the deeds of certain false teaches, and He states that He himself hated their doctrine.  He says, "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate" (2:6).  And, "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate." (2:15).

Who to Hate
  We've often heard that "we're not supposed to hate anybody," or that we are to "hate the sin, but love the sinner."  There is certainly a sense in which at least the latter statement is true.  Jude 23 teaches that our love and compassion for sinners is to be so great that we will save them out of the destructive flames of sin, "pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh." Notice though that while we love sinners enough to pull them out of the fire, we also "hate" their garment - everything that they've surrounded themselves with and that covers them. 

  Having said that, it is plain from Scripture that while God loves "the world" (John 3:16) He simultaneously hates "all the workers of iniquity" (Psalm 5:5, cf. 11:5).  His children are to do the same. These passages speak for themselves.

  • Psalm 119:113 - "I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law."

  • Psalm 139:21-22 - "Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?  And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies."

  • Psalm 31:6  -- "I have hated those who regard useless idols; But I trust in the LORD."

Why hate?
  Why do the Scriptures encourage us to hate certain actions, and in some sense to hate even people themselves?  What possible good can come from hate?  As we said earlier, learning to hate evil motivates us to avoid it.  This appears to be the point in Psalm 26:5 which says, "I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked."  When our attitude toward wickedness and those who practice it is one of hatred, we will avoid both it and them.

  Yes, hate is a dangerous and powerful emotion.  But it is something that we must have in correct proportion toward evil things if we are to serve God acceptably. 

-- Steve Klein

 

 

 

 On A Daily Basis

   A man, asked recently to describe memories of his college days twenty-five years ago, replied, "A few big moments; many goofs, but, overall, pleasant memories."

   Would these words not describe our memories of life generally? As we recall our years, there are always the "big" moments, the emotional "highs," that we love to relish. Then there are the "goofs," the embarrassing occasions that just keep coming back to haunt us. But, through it all, the pleasant memories sufficiently prevail to enable us to feel generally good about life.

   But, in reality, success of failure in life is not determined by the "big moments" or "the goofs." We will not be eternally saved on the basis of a few great spiritual achievements or eternally lost on the basis of a few gross mistakes (assuming they have been repented of). Life consists of everyday actions and decisions, and it is these that bring ultimate success or failure, eternal happiness or eternal damnation. "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23).

   It is one thing to express concern for our children as we talk of their future spirituality and faithfulness. It is quite another to provide on a daily basis a spiritual atmosphere in the home, a good example of godliness and faithfulness, consistent and loving discipline and a love for God and respect for fellowman that are so essential to the training of our children. It's the little impressions that are made day by day that prove to be so decisive.

   It is one thing to dream of some day being appointed an elder in the church. It is quite another thing to put forth the effort on a daily basis to learn the scriptures, to develop leadership ability, to grow spiritually, and to live as to gain the confidence of a discerning congregation. One does not qualify for the eldership in one big leap. It comes through daily development.

   It is one thing to talk a "good line" on priorities. It is quite another thing to put God first on a daily basis. The devil knows so many ways to test our resolve in these realms. Our intentions are good, but, through his subtlety, he has us selling our souls for a mess of pottage or thirty pieces of silver.

   It is one thing to think that we would die for the Lord if our faith were so tested. It is quite another thing truly to live for Him on a daily basis. Egos may be fed on the "big moments," but true spirituality develops through daily prayer, study and meditation.

   Our lesson is this. Set your goals for the future, and set them high. But recognize that it's the little, day-by-day moments, the often forgotten moments, accumulated through the years, that truly shape our destiny. Tomorrow's success depends upon the choices and decisions that are made today. Make them with care.

-- Bill Hall