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“Hatred is different from anger.”

A thought by John Townsend from his book, Loving People (p.36). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

So, what is the deal with hatred?

John says, “While anger is an emotion, and emotions are transitory and can change quickly, hatred is a stance. It has no real time limit to it. Hatred indicates that you wish someone ill or desire revenge or pain for them. It is more of a value and attitude than an emotion. Hatred can destroy love and relationship. That is, if you dislike someone so intensely that you find yourself wishing the person harm, or that he will fail in life, it is anti-love, the opposite of seeking and accomplishing the person’s best.”

He goes on, “Often, hatred that will not go away has other causes that keep it alive. For example, a lack of forgiveness, a relationship in which we feel helpless and controlled, our resistance to the freedoms of others, and our envy of the success of others are common roots of hatred. We need to be aware of, and take responsibility for, our wishes to take revenge on and hurt those with whom we are in conflict. We need to identify these feelings and then let them go.

“There is a necessary hatred in love, however. This sort of hatred can, in fact, be a very good thing, as it is meant to help us guard things that would destroy love forever. While wishing a loved one harm will do you no good, at the same time, there are things that you, as a loving person, should really hate! We do well to hate things that stand in the way of love. In fact, if we do not hate the right things, it can compromise our ability to truly love. That is the way God is inside his heart. He cannot stand things that hurt the good he wants to see in the world. In that way, hatred and anger are similar. If they are for protecting love and goodness, they are helpful. If they are for selfishness or hurting others, they are destructive.

“Just as God has things he loves, he also has a ‘hate list.’ Here are just a few of the things the Bible tells us God hates:

·      Proverbs 16:19 says, “There are six things the LORD hates—no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.”

·      Isaiah 61:8, “For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing.”

·      Zechariah 8:17, “Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the LORD.”

·      Romans 12: 9, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.”

John then says, “. . . God hates anything that hurts love, goodness, and innocence. His hatred protects and guards love from harm. So learn to become a loving person who hates what God hates. It will help clarify and define you in order for you to love what he loves also. As I said earlier, ‘Love the sinner and hate the sin.’ And realize that we need the same grace that we are to give to others.

We do, don’t we?

Yes, yes!
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