Today, it seems as though there is just so much hatred in the world. We hate people for:
- Religious reasons
- Racial reasons
- Gender reasons
- Work ethic
- Being poor
- Being rich
- Being different
- Disagreeing
We claim to be a nation that is tolerant of others, but the reality is that we are very intolerant. If I disagree with a person about a topic, then I am considered intolerant, uneducated, stupid and typically called every name under the sun. I find this ironic because you just said how tolerant you were. What you meant is you are tolerant as long as I agree with you. That is not the definition of tolerance.
There use to be a time when we could disagree and do so peacefully and respect the other person. Somewhere along the way, that all changed and I am not sure when or how. It seems to have occurred so subtly, but the effects are being felt strongly today.
God has instructed me through the old and new testament to love everyone.
Leviticus 19:9-18 New International Version (NIV)
9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.
11 “‘Do not steal.
“‘Do not lie.
“‘Do not deceive one another.
12 “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.
13 “‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.
“‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.
14 “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.
15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.
17 “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.
18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Mark 12:30-31 New International Version (NIV)
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Luke 6:27-36 New International Version (NIV)
Love for Enemies
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
This is hard to live up too since people just seem mean. Of course this is not always the case, but the attitudes towards others is definitely not positive. Lets face it, who the heck wants to approach a person who is acting in a nasty way and be nice to them and show them love. I would venture to say that most of us want to respond with equal or greater hatefulness, but I am urging you to rethink.
Matthew 5:43-48 New International Version (NIV)
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
It does not matter how they respond, but instead what matters is that you are following the path that God has set before you. It will be a tough road, but are you willing to take this path and treat others as God expects you to treat them? That means love them no matter what. Here is how God defines love:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 New International Version (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
I know this is a long post, but it was meant as much for me as for you. I know I have a tendency to be hateful when those around me are acting in this manor. I just want to reach out and smack them upside the head with a 2×4 or better yet a sledge hammer. However, that is not really showing them love. I need to change and I am praying that God will help and guide me.