IS THERE HATRED IN MY HEART? (Looking honestly in the mirror and at my keyboard!)

1 JOHN 2:7-11: “Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the word you have heard.  Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.  The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now.  The one who loves his brother or sister remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.  But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” CSB

OBSERVATION:  Will someone please turn the temperature down?!  Why is there so much hatred in our world today?  Why are family members pitted against one another?  Why are people digging foxholes where they can lob insults and vitriolic conclusions about each other’s hearts and motives?

Why is there so much hate in the world?

The recent tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk has shed light on the emotional temperature of our culture.  Regardless of your political or religious persuasion, there is nothing to celebrate and no cause to rally around when someone is senselessly killed in the prime of their life.  Yet, when a tragedy like this happens, the very best and worst come out of the hearts of men and women.

We see both love and hate on the world stage (and in our social media feeds)!

To make matters worse, our culture is being poisoned by the 2-minute video clip.  In a recent episode of Dancing with the Stars, the show featured a TikTok night.  This was a night filled with praise for the wonders of TikTok.  Yet it is TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and the like that are being used as kindling to fan the flames of hatred.

The 2-minute, highly edited video clip has become the Bible of our culture!

We are no longer willing to take the time to listen to each other.  We don’t have the patience to ascertain the motive behind one’s statement.  We don’t take the time to understand why someone else would have a different opinion from ours.  Rather, we reinforce our position through highly edited 2-minute video clips that neither give us the truth nor help us understand the issue.

All these video clips do is fuel the flames of hatred!

Hatred and Christianity are non-congruent.  John makes it very clear in his epistle, “The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now.” And, before we try to wiggle out of this, we must remember Jesus’ answer and illustration when the Jewish leaders asked Him, “And who is my neighbor (brother)?”

“But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back, I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”Luke 10:33-37 CSB

One who claims to be a Christian, who names the name of Jesus, who desires to please God, must walk in love.  This love is not selective.  This is the same love that Jesus exemplified as He hung on the cross and prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” 

This call to love is not a call to tolerance.  Tolerance calls us to lay down any standard and accept everything as truth.  Jesus did not do this. Jesus was crucified for the truth.  Rather, our call to love is a call to respect, pray for, and serve – even our enemy!  It is to be ike the Good Samaritan, reaching out to those in need regardless of their persuasion.  It recognizes that we are all sinners in need of a Savior.  We all come to God without one plea and are saved fully and solely by the Grace of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross!

How can I hate you when Jesus loved you enough to die for you?  How can I claim to walk in the light when my eyes are covered by the anger and hatred I carry for my neighbor?  How can I lead anyone to Jesus Christ if my words are a reflection of this world’s vitriolic speech?  Something needs to change!

I need to change!I need to take a long look in the mirror at my heart!

“The one who loves his brother or sister remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.  But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

I need to walk in the light.  I need to live for the light.  I need to be transformed by the light.  I exemplify the reality of my faith in Jesus Christ through the power of His love working in my life.  When I feed on 2-minute video clips rather than the Word of God, I am throwing the kindling of hatred into my heart.  When I meditate on God’s Word, and when I seek the truth with a humble heart, I am positioning my heart to be washed, cleansed, and filled with the love of God – even for those who accuse me and hate me!

“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same?  Be perfect(ed) (in love), therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 CSB

I want to be like my Father!  I want to be like Jesus!  I want to love freely and fully, even when someone accuses me of the vilest intentions.  I pray that the love with which I respond will be the beginning of their journey to meet Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord!

Heavenly Father, wash me, cleanse me, fill my heart with Your love.  Give me the grace to forgive and to love others as You have loved me – until all will see Your Great Love!

In Jesus’ Name!