This may seem like a peculiar statement from a gospel preacher. It is true. Not only is it true, but if I am faithful to Christ I must hate.
I know love is the greatest thing in the world (1 Corinthians 13:13). I know that love is great, that it passes knowledge (Ephesians 3:19). I know that Jesus said the love of God surpasses everything else: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment" (Matthew 22:37,38). Yet to serve God faithfully I must hate with a passion.
Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:16). Any other 'way' is a false way. Now listen to this: "Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:104). "You who love the LORD, hate evil!" (Psalm 97:10). "Hate evil, love good" (Amos 5:15).
David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, goes even farther and says: "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 a perfect hatred; I count them my enemies" (Psalm 139:21,22).
God hates corrupt religion. He warned Israel not to adopt heathen forms of worship: "You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 12:31,32).
God hates evil men: "The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity" (Psalm 5:5).
David, the man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), wrote: "I have hated the congregation of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked" (Psalm 26:5); "I have hated those who regard vain idols; but I trust in the LORD" (Psalm 31:6).
In the world around us there are many things which God hates.
"These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 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" (Proverbs 6:16-19). "The LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce" (Malachi 2:16).
They who love God must hate the things which God hates.
When wisdom speaks in Proverbs she says: "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).
"A righteous man hates lying" (Proverbs 13:5). "A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness will prolong his days" (Proverbs 28:16).
Through the prophet Isaiah, God said to Israel: "Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them" (Isaiah 1:14). These were the very things that God commanded, but He says He hates them. Why? "Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow" (Isaiah 1:15b-17).
If our heart is not pure then our worship is not acceptable before God. Jesus said: "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:8,9).
Before the end of the first century there had arisen a sect called the Nicolaitans. Christ commended the church at Ephesus because they hated this perversion of the faith: "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate" (Revelation 2:6).
The church at Pergamos was reprimanded because of Nicolaitans in their midst: "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth" (Revelation 2:15).
Jesus hated false doctrine; so did Paul. "If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:9). "If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed" (1 Corinthians 16:22).
The writer to the Hebrews says of Christ: "You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions" (Hebrews 1:9).
"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9).
J. C. Bailey The Scripture quotations in this article
are from The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.