What is hate?.........It sounds like such a harsh word and most of us never consider ourselves hating, much less would want someone to think we hate. One definition I found was "intense dislike"....ohhhh, that sounds so much more christian, doesn't it, we tend to love those softer words.
Henry Ward Beecher wrote:
There is no faculty of the human soul so persistent as that of hatred. There are hatreds of race, sect and social and personal hatreds. If thoughts of hatred were thunder and lightning, there would be a storm over the whole earth all the year round. What is strife? Surely, no christian would stir strife......yeah right, in a perfect world. I've seen church after church torn apart by hatred and strife, I've seen pastors leave their calling due to hatred and strife, I've seen relationship after relationship fall apart due to hatred and strife.......these weren't worldly relationships.....christian ones.
Strife is define1 a: bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension <political strife> b: an act of contention : fight , struggle2: exertion or contention for superiority
Wow! Bitter.........contention for superiority?????? Yes, and I've seen that more in christianity than in the world! Again, back to a previous blog........the ground at the foot of the cross is level. Wouldn't you think that a fight/struggle/ contention for superiority would bring forth an intense dislike??????
Love. Well, if you've read my other blogs on love I don't need to explain this one, if you haven't feel free to do so. I'd just like to leave a few quotes for you to ponder on love :)
John Stott~
A person's life is his most precious possession. Consequently, to rob him of it is the greatest sin we can commit against him, while to give one's own life on his behalf is the greatest possible expression of love for him (1 Jn. 3:16). This, then, is the ultimate contrast: Cain's hatred issued in murder, Christ's love (issued) in self-sacrifice.
Richard D Phillips and Sharon Phillips~
If God is my portion, if God is the true source of my joy, and if it is God who will fulfill me, then I am free to be a companion instead of a consumer. That is, because of what I receive from God I can give to another person instead of always taking; I can minister rather than manipulate because of the fulfillment I get from God.
Jonathan Edwards~
There are people who love those who agree with them and admire them, but have no time for those who oppose and dislike them. A Christian’s love must be universal!
Joseph Stowell~
We have unfortunately come to believe that a watching world will know that we are Christians by the worldly things we avoid or the churchy things we do. Christ has a different perspective. Our identity with Him is marked by the oneness that comes from our mutual love for each other.
10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
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