This past week, there has been so much I’ve wanted to write about that my brain has gone on some kind of a sensory overload, and I haven’t been quite able to write about any of it. Oh I’ve tried, I lost count of how many drafts I’ve deleted about the Charlottesville business, and then Barcelona came to the fore. I’ve tried to write about Mr. Trump and then my head explodes…
Maybe it’s because I’m trying to get settled into a new house. Maybe it’s because I’ve been ill. Maybe I’m just losing my mind, or I’m out of practice; I don’t know, but I haven’t gotten anything written that I’ve wanted to write about.
I can tell you that after I gave the flooring guy a deadline for completion of our floor, he got his act together and finished on time a week ago Wednesday. We moved last Saturday, but not before I had a rip-roaring case of bronchitis; oh what fun. Unfortunately for me, I haven’t been able to shake it yet; even more fun.
None of that is very important however.
What I would like to share that is important is a few thoughts about hatred.
It seems that whenever you turn on the news, hatred is evident, and it has been for quite some time. Of course there is the hatred shown to Mr. Trump by so many of his opponents. Then there is the overt hatred shown by certain news outlets for Mr. Trump, not to mention the contempt shown by Mr. Trump to his opponents and the news outlets in his public statements and tweets. It makes me wonder where all of the adults have gone!
Yet as irritating as all of that is becoming, there is a more urgent form of hatred out there that seems to be growing each and every day, not just in the US, but all over the world. We’ve seen it in the UK, in the US and most recently in Spain. It is sometimes shown by Islamic extremists as in Spain, and sometimes by other extremists, as in Charlottesville; it is overt, obvious, violent and frankly, disgusting. It is a type of hatred that simply cannot be tolerated or excused for it is an expression of pure evil.
But you don’t need me to tell you that.
What concerns me most these days is how we respond to this kind of hate.
Jesus was faced with hatred from certain elements within the Jewish leadership of His day; how did He respond to the Pharisees and the chief priests and teachers of the law when they set about to murder Him for speaking the truth?
It would be easy for us to say that He condemned them, and it would be a true statement. It would also be easy for us to say that He responded in love, for that would also be true. The hard part for us, is putting the two together in our responses to the pure hatred all around us.
Over this past week, I’ve heard quite a few commentators on the news speaking out against hate groups; they’ve done a good job in expressing condemnation, but they’ve by and large oozed their own hatred. I’ve even seen some of that right here on WordPress.
Maybe you’re wondering why I bring this up now…
Scripture teaches us that our enemies are not flesh and blood, but rather they are the spiritual forces of Evil at work in this world, i.e. Satan and friends. Evil is a tricky thing, a snare really, for we fall into its trap when we allow ourselves to hate others because of their hatred for us, and that applies both to Islamic terrorists, or white supremacist terrorists… or anyone else for that matter: Hatred in response to hatred is in itself evil and in opposition to our Faith in Jesus Christ.
That is easy to say, but difficult to practice, don’t you agree?
Maybe that is why I deleted so many drafts in recent days, because I was crossing the very line I’m talking about.
Jesus taught us to pray for our enemies: OK fine, I’m praying for my enemies, for the very ones who have hurt and maimed innocents to make some kind of statement for their evil causes… but I’m doing it through clenched teeth. Somehow I don’t think that’s what He had in mind.
Oh Lord, show us how to pray…please!
Gee, I guess He’s answered that one, hasn’t He?
Life Project Blog 
Nothing that happens is ever a surprise to God. He has a plan for his children to respond to it all, but sometimes they are too caught up in emotion (anger, resentment, bitterness, rage) to hear him.
Exactly
Forwarded by someone who was there… http://mailchi.mp/7c99366fd1e6/what-really-happened-at-emancipation-park?e=1cdd1e64bd
Quite amazing Beete; I hope others will check it, and thank you!
Excellent points. I wonder how the story of the Good Samaritan would have played out if Jesus told it in 2018 USA? After all, the Jews and the Samaritans hated each other. Who would the Samaritan be in a 2018 American version of the story?
I find it worth thinking about which groups I am least comfortable with–or even most likely to dislike–and remember that Jesus says, “That’s your neighbor; now go love your neighbor as yourself.”
A great comparison Michael! We are to love our neighbor: Even the ones who aren’t always lovable.
Well put Don however some comments. We live in a different world to the one that was in existence say even 50 years ago. Enemies were by and large tangible. Today the enemy seems to be intangible that is the killers of today’s people are not targeting someone with a name and identity but targeting anyone who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. If we have someone at our workplace who hates us it is easy to pray for them. How do we pray for enemies who are not really our personal enemies?
As for Trump I saw a post maybe a year ago from someone who gave a prophecy that Satan will overstep the mark and we will be shown who the enemies of America are and I think that is true. I would think it is better to pray for the President then pray for his enemies. Personally I think Mr. Trump has shown great restraint in contempt for those that are against him. He is under pressure far greater than you and I could understand and again something to pray for him for.
I think it is better for us to stay away from potential flash points, let the world fight each other then if we are able help pick up the pieces by loving those that have been hurt especially by giving Jesus and the cross as the solution to all these problems.
What do you reckon?
You have some interesting thoughts as always Steve. As for praying for an enemy that is seemingly intangible, I’m not sure we really need to know the names; God knows them. As for us staying out of it; I would agree with you that we probably should, except for in prayer… and I used to be in that business. Speaking for myself, I think the best I can do is to do my part to build up His Kingdom by pointing people (and myself) to Jesus Christ. As for Mr. Trump, you are certainly correct that he is under tremendous pressure from all sides and I agree with you that people need to cut him a break; so much of the noise that comes his way is just silly stuff. However in all fairness he asks for a lot of it. Here’s an example: After the events in Charlottesville, he made a statement before all of the facts were clear that ended up creating an uproar. Then ywo days later he makes another statement in which he said the kinds of things he should have said on the first, then the next day, he goes off message at an infrastructure announcement . The announcement itself was brilliant, but nobody really knows about that because he got into an argument with a reporter and made remarks that any junior staffer could have told him would not only undo everything he had been trying to accomplish in the event, but that gave his critics ammunition they will use for months, if not years. For anyone, that would have amounted to political suicide… but Mr. Trump may be different; we’ll have to see about that.
It’s ever more complicated by some groups labelling as “hate groups” those who are trying to show the World the love of Christ, or are trying to protect those who are being legally punished (and often being called “haters” themselves) for personally holding to godly principles. Isaiah 5:20 (NIV)
Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
Indeed!
I also deleted a few drafts, and what I finally settled on was pretty long. My heart breaks for all the victims of rampant evil – those who are damaged by it as victims as well as those who are victims of the infernal cancer of hatred in their spirits.
We live in rough times.
Overnight I had another thought. When Jesus talked about the Galileans who were killed by the Romans, He didn’t mention praying for anyone but to repent. Luke 13:1-3
Indeed
Reblogged this on Citizen Tom and commented:
It is easier to see our own faults in others. Hence, when the Prophet Nathan rebuked King David, he began with a story that provided David an illustration of his own sin. That allowed David to see both his sin and the appropriate punishment. That understanding brought David to repentance (see 2 Samuel 12:1-15 => https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+12%3A1-15&version=NASB).
Because it is easier to see our own faults in others, I sometimes suppose that that is why God gave us a whole world to observe. So it is that it occurred to me that I should reblog Don Merritt’s post. It contains good advice for all of us.
As Christians we should not allow ourselves to be angered by our political opponents. We should pray for them. We should consider our own conduct, and we should consider the possibility that our opponents will probably find a soft, reasonable answer more difficult to stomach.
Instead of being angry, we should look for a reasonable compromise. If our opponents are in the wrong, they know it. A calm display of honest, true and loyal love may not immediately change their minds, but it will shame them.
As Christians we have the most cause to appreciate the weight of the burden we left at the foot of the cross. It is because we have left it at the cross that we understand the immense weight of that burden.
Therefore, we should know that the best thing we can do for angry people is to remain calm and allow them to feel the weight of their burden of sin. When we can, we should wait until they become desperate to be rid of it, desperate enough to repent and turn to Jesus as we once did, and still do.
It is God who saves, not an angry argument.
A,em!
Came here via Citizen Tom. I like this post a lot as it touches on a form of hidden hate that I believe is more dangerous than the obvious types at the center of things like terrorism and violence. It’s the hate that tempts and often overpowers us to lash out at our fellow citizens, not just because we want to point out where they err, but we want to punish them for it. Trumps opponents obviously take this to a new level but a fair amount of his supporters dish it right back and are blind to their own flaws. People tearing down Joel Olsteen because he didn’t open his church up for hurricane evacuees while knowing nothing about the situation and many Christians joining the bandwagon (rather viciously from what I saw) because they just don’t like him. The list goes on and on.
The issues we fight over are real and it’s good to stick up for what you believe in but losing your humanity in the process plays right in to Satan’s hands. Your suggestions of humble self awareness of one’s own faults and to pray for others are great.
Thank you Tricia. Needless to say, i agree with every point; thank you so much for your remarks. Who knows, maybe if enough of us express these things lovingly, things will begin to change.
🙂
Don, this is an excellent reflection. I have also found myself in a place where I make heavy use of the DRAFT feature when I write on current events of late. We should allow ourselves the space to be thoughtful and prayerful about what we as writer birth into the blogosphere. I see a lot of partially developed thoughts entering this space and people taking such offense to one another. In the top ten tenants of the Christian faith is the commandment to love one another. Isn’t it funny that pretty much every faith-based religion has that general concept embedded in its teaching? Do we really know what it means to LOVE one another? Because if we can figure that out, imagine what this world would look like.
Great point! I doubt we would recognize the place if we could get that one straight. Thank you for your observations Marta.