by Zina Leone

Created on: October 20, 2009

As Christians, it's natural to oppose lies or any other kind of ungodly acts, but does this mean it's okay to hate? The Holy Spirit, itself, opposes lies and ungodly acts so when we're walking in the spirit, it's natural to feel turmoil when we're around anyone or anything that defies God. This is really hard when that person just happens to be someone we're close to, like a family member. It can cause unbearable strife, which is exactly what Satan wants.

Satan would love for us to hate the person who is bringing us such strife. He would be accomplishing a lot if he could get us to hate, so he uses one of his best tricks by quoting scripture. He reminds us of the verse, "Jacob I loved and Esau I hated," hinting to us that if it was okay for God to hate, it's okay for us to hate.

When we read that verse we should remind ourselves that God knows things we're not capable of knowing. He not only knew Esau before he was ever born, but knew him during his life and after his life. The amazing thing is, He knew all this at the same time. He knew all along exactly how Esau was going to turn out.

We, on the other hand, may have known a person in the past and thought he was an okay person, but now in the present he has become unbearable. This is where we need to stop and consider that we have no idea how he is going to be in the future. We have no idea if God may be working in him right at that very moment or if he might even end up being one of God's best followers. This is why it's not okay to hate anyone. We are full of faults and sin ourselves and when we hate someone it's like requiring them to be perfect and that's not very fair. Only God is perfect and only He can truly judge a person.

It is, however, okay to hate or be *opposed of the things a person is doing, and sometimes we actually need to distance ourselves from that person because they are interfering with our own walk with God. Being around people who defy God definitely clashes with the peace we should have in our souls. When we feel ourselves losing this peace it's a sign our faith is in danger so we should have nothing to do with anyone who threatens it. This does not mean you hate the person.

Don't let Satan fool you into believing that it's okay to hate people because they're "evil" or convince you that by distancing yourself it's because you hate them. You can continue to love them and pray for them without having to be around them. Don't buy into Satan's lies!

It is written, "If a man says I love God and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" 1 John 4:20

*Hate - "to oppose yourself against." (Strongs # 7852)

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