Am I Allowed to Hate?

>> Happy Sunday. We're coming to an end of our look at selected verses from Proverbs. Today we're in chapter 29. This some say is the last last chapter written by Solomon.

More about that next week. Chapter 30 is attributed to Agur and chapter 31 attributed to King Lemuel. Lemuel. We'll look at those in the next couple of weeks.

The last verse in chapter 29, verse 27 is a bit odd. The New Revised Standard Version of scripture puts it like this. The unjust are an abomination to the righteous, but the upright are an abomination to the wicked. The New Living Translation says, "The righteous despise the unjust.

The wicked despise the godly." Much of the book of Proverbs contrast good and evil. In here the author shows the fundamental conflict between those who pursue evil and those who pursue God. This verse seems to point out a mutual repulsion.

Taking the second part of this verse is is easy. The upright are an abomination to the wicked. It's easy to see that the wicked hate the godly. Christians are portrayed as narrow-minded bigots and our values are constantly under attack.

Jesus warned his followers that we would be hated by this world. You remember this from John 15:18 and 19. There Jesus said, "If this world hates you, remember it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you're no longer part of the world."

Jesus goes on to say, "I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you." In my lifetime the ungodly have sought to take prayer out of schools? Of all things, Bibles are not welcome in many places. Copies of the Ten Commandments have been removed from many buildings.

Christmas is under attack. The wicked despise the godly is evident. Now, the first part of this verse is a bit problematic for me. The unjust are an abomination to the righteous or the other translation, the righteous despise the unjust.

Am I to to despise the unjust? Do I have license to hate? Am I allowed to hate the ungodly? Now, that would be an easy thing to do if I chose to.

However, today it's important to see the entirety of God's word. I think these words that you have likely heard before apply here. Hate the sin, love the sinner. Scripture is clear that sin is the wrong choice.

Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, separation from God. Second Corinthians 6:14 warns us, "Do not team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?"

Scripture is also clear that we are to be people of love. Jesus taught this in Matthew 5:43 and 44 where he said, "You've heard the that law that says, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'" But Jesus said, "I say, 'Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you.'" Back to Solomon's last recorded words, if that's them in Proverbs 29:27, "The unjust are an abomination to the righteous, but the upright are an abomination to the wicked." Be very careful in looking at others around you as abominable or wicked.

We must recall that once, if you're a believer, we were without Christ. Romans 5:8 tells us, "But God his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Jesus came to this world to save sinners like me, like you. He never gave up, nor should we.

Years ago I learned a phrase for the lost that I think as perfect. The phrase is pre-Christian. Isn't that a great way to look at others? Not as lost, not as wicked, but as pre-Christian.

It motivates us. When we see the world like that, our love should shine brightly. Pray with me. Lord, help us to be people of love.

Help us to never love the sin. Never be envious of the wicked. Never to desire the things that we should not do, but help us to desire to love everybody. And leave the weeding out to you.

Father, protect the godly. Protect those that are constantly under attack. Give us strength from your Holy Spirit beyond our own. And Father, this day and every day, let us be people of love and let people know the reason why.

And it's because of Jesus. In your powerful name I pray. Amen. God bless.

Have the best week.