Daily Jewel

by pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
June 20, 2012

“If you are Going to Hate…Do it Right”
“Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion…” – Proverbs 6:16 (MSG)

In this verse and the verses to follow, we see Solomon going from describing what happens when a person is lazy and unproductive—to the consummate theologian. In a way, he is taking on the role of a preacher and describing God’s attitude toward not a person, but the evil and destructive things that people do. There is a big difference between the two and something we must all keep in perspective as we deal with the same in our lives. To fully understand and appreciate what this verse is saying and how we need to apply it to our lives, we need to compare it to the words we find from the Apostle John. In one of his letters to the Church, he writes:
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” – 1st John 2:15-17 (NIV)

Later, in chapter four we read these words:
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made Complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are Like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” – 4:16-21

Just over a year ago the city of McAlester became a target of the Westboro Baptist Church. This is the group that protests the funerals of military personnel who are killed in the line of duty. They have now expanded their “protests” to include those who have died in accidents and I understand they were also present at the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards, the former wife of Senator and former presidential candidate, John Edwards. From what I can determine, the basis for their protests and their doctrinal statement comes from a passage in the book of Leviticus. The verse describes why God wanted the Israelites to not only enter the land of Canaan, but to also eliminate its inhabitants:,br /> “‘Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.” – Leviticus 20:22-23 (NIV)

When you read the signs these people display, many of them state, “God hates fags.” One of the customs of the nations God told Israel to drive out was that of homosexuality, thus the reason for the banners and signs. However, these nations also practiced human sacrifice, they worshiped idols, they were cruel and ruthless toward slaves or captives along with a number of other issues. ,br /> The reason why I mention these things is what God says first in Leviticus, and then in 1st John. First, God condemned the customs, meaning their actions. He said to “God’s people,” do not live like that. God did not hate the people—it was their customs, practices and lifestyles that injured lives and destroyed families.
When John writes that, “God is love,” it describes His true and unchanging nature. God does not, and cannot hate people, because we are His most precious creation. What He hates are the things and practices that lead them into the path of their own destruction. If you do not think that is the case, take a look at these words from the book of Ezekiel:
“…I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!” – Leviticus 18:32,br />,br /> If we are to “hate,” then hate that which destroys, not the person. Hate is what makes a person evil, destructive, unrighteous.
Pastor J. T. Carnell