As a Christ-follower, I don’t have the right to hate anyone.
In this age of rage, we need to guard our hearts against people that would seek to manipulate us for their own advantage. There are many special interest groups that have entire machines designed to keep us angry.
I understand they want to keep their base fired up. In a day where the average person is bombarded by advertising slogans and other messages all day long, these marketing, media, and PR machines have to fight for our attention and our action.
A quick and easy way to do that is to appeal to basic fears.
Instead of emphasizing the positive aspects of their cause or candidate, they attack the person, policies, or practices of the opponent. Essentially the underlying message is, “I understand you may not want me but there’s NO WAY we want to let that other person or group win. So, even if you hate me, I KNOW you hate them even more!
Some time ago, I remember seeing the President of the United States approach the podium to give a speech or address the press. And I remember feeling absolute disdain for this person. I dug deep inside and realized I felt no respect whatsoever for the office of the presidency because I was blinded by what some in the media had me focusing on about the person who occupied that office at that time.
I remember being struck immediately with this thought that I reminded myself, “I’m a Christian. I don’t have the right to feel like that about anyone — least of all the president of my country.”
I realized immediately that I had to limit the amount of time exposed myself to political commentators of a certain type.
I like to stay informed as much as time will allow me to do. However, there seems to be a clear line in the sand between those who reported the news and those who are willing to use disrespectful or inflammatory language to entertain and maintain their audience while disrespecting and demeaning public figures at any level.
As a Christian, the command God gives us is to love our neighbor. We’re even commanded to love our enemies. I don’t have the right to hate anyone for any reason.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus talks about being the Good Shepherd to show how He cares for the sheep (us). In that context, he warns that there is an enemy whose sole goal is to steal, kill or destroy but that He comes that they/we might have life — and have it to the full! Essentially Jesus is talking about a quality of life. He is working to build up His sheep. The enemy is at work to tear down, destroy, and kill that very quality of life.
Jesus gives joy.
Righteous indignation is appropriate at the right times. But man’s anger stirred up by special interest groups is different. As James wrote:
19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19–20
The Apostle Paul reminds us to
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Ephesians 4:236
