God's Hatred.

Friday, November 05, 2010
God’s Hatred. I’m sure today’s blog title caught your attention somewhat. And I’ll have to admit, I was sort of going for that. For the past several days, I’ve had this idea on my mind for some reason. Everyone quotes Scriptures they like, right? Everyone loves John 3:16, as do I. Everyone loves Romans 3:23, as do it. We love speaking those words like, “God is love.” And He is. But He also hates, did you know that?
God does hate. Proverbs gives us a short list of things the Lord hates, but I believe based upon Scripture His hated is broader than that. And as strange as this may sound to you, and as contrary to everything we normally preach and teach as this may sound, I think the most poignant picture of God’s hatred is seen on the cross. That’s right, the cross. Let me explain.
God does hate. But He doesn’t hate us. As a matter of fact, to the degree that He loves us, He hates our sin. That’s right – He hates sin. And as we look at the cross and see all that Jesus is enduring we see the parallel picture. God loves humanity in such an immense way, yet His hatred for sin is just as immense. He despises it. He abhors it. It sickens Him. Sin is literally called “abomination” in His Book, which literally means it turns His stomach.
Yet today, so many use the “God is love” words to justify their living in a life that is defined by sinful choices. They’re doing their own thing, following the lusts of their flesh, and talking away the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the concern of the believers that love them by simply saying, “God loves me. His grace covers all this.” There’s only one problem: God hates sin. Fervently. And there’s a tremendously compelling reason that He hates sin – He knows what it does to us.
I’m about to make a statement that is pretty bold. I’m not one to make such statements lightly, so please understand these words have been rolling around in my head for a few days before I actually uttered them to anyone. And you, my blog audience, are the first to hear (or read) them. “If God can just wink at our sin as no big deal, then one of two things must be true: either He doesn’t love us as He says, or He’s not all knowing as He says. It’s just that simple.” There you have it – straight talking truth for you this morning.
Seriously, think about it. If He really does LOVE us as He says He does, and if He really does KNOW all things, including the past, present, and future, then He can’t just discount sin as no big deal in our lives. He knows what it will do to us. It’s out of His great love that He chastens us – He disciplines us – when we stray from the lifestyle that He desires for us. He wants to correct us, and to show us that His plan, His will, His righteous choices, are what’s best. Why? Because He knows that sin doesn’t hurt us – it DESTROYS us. It doesn’t break our heart – it SHATTERS it. It doesn’t just affect our lives – it will RUIN our lives. What kind of God – what kind of Father – what kind of Best friend – would He be if He simply allowed that to happen?
So yes, God does hate, and to the same degree that He loves. As a matter of fact, I guess you could say that He hates BECAUSE He loves. He loves you. He hates sin. And today, He wants you to realize both, just as He’s been saying to me the past few days. “Oh how He loves you and me! Oh how He loves you and me! He gave His life, what more could He give? Oh how He loves you! Oh how He loves me! Oh how He loves you and me!” And today, well, that’s the best news in the universe.


That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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