Just down the road this week, the Republican Party is holding their big convention in Tampa. On the surface it’s about getting a candidate for President, but the reality is it’s a gathering to encourage people to hate. Hate President Obama, hate welfare, hate the tree huggers, and hate anyone who disagrees with you. Anything else is un-American
Next week, the Democratic Party will gather in Charlotte for their big convention. They already have a candidate for President, but the message will be similar to the Republican one. Hate Governor Romney, hate the rich, hate Rep. Ryan’s budget plan, hate Fox News, and hate anyone who disagrees with you. Anything else is un-American.The funny part is, both sides claim to be upstanding Christians who attend church every week. Even more surprising, most of the people speaking and posting hateful things all over the place are also in church every week because they are good followers of Jesus.
But what I can’t seem to figure out is when Jesus told us we should hate each other. I’ve looked all over the Bible and I just can’t seem to find the verse where Jesus tells us we should hate our brother because he disagrees with us, or we should hate our leaders because we disagree with them.
Here’s what I do find Jesus saying a lot of, though. “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (Jn. 13:34-25)
That’s all well and good, I suppose, but what is Jesus saying? He is telling us to think clearly and exercise self-control. To look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when he is revealed to the world. So we must live as God’s obedient children. We can’t slip back into our old ways of living to satisfy our own desires. We didn’t know any better before we became Christians. But now we must be holy in everything we do, just as God who chose us is holy. For the Bible says, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. (I Peter 1:13-19)
Paul explains how we should live when he tells us to love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. We should never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. We should rejoice in our confident hope and be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (Rom. 12:10-18)
It seems like Jesus is telling us to get along with each other, care about each other, and LIFT EACH OTHER UP. What it does not seem to say is that we should hate those with a different view point. And it’s not just our “church buddies” that we’re supposed to be kind too. If we are REALLY followers of Christ and understand God’s way, we must prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere (Jas. 3:13-17).
So if you say “I know God,” but don’t obey God’s commandments, you are a liar and are not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
The old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.
If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness. (I Jn. 2:4-11)
Get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech! (I Pt. 2:1) Just because you’re bombarded by the rhetoric on TV, Facebook, and everywhere you turn doesn’t mean you should join in. Take a moment and remember who’s child you are. You are God’s child, and you are part of His family! Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.(I Jn. 3:9)
Encounter: Who do you represent by your Facebook posts, your speech, and your actions?
No comments:
Post a Comment