The Need to Hate

The Need to Hate

Matthew 3:38-48

            “Hatred is the most accessible and comprehensive of all the unifying agents.  Mass movements can rise and spread without belief in a God, but never without belief in a devil.”

            Eric Hoffer understood human nature all too well.  While I’m sure he would have agreed that love is a more powerful emotion than hate (indeed, nothing can overcome hatred but love), of the two, hatred is far more easily and frequently aroused. 

Why is this so?  Why are we so much more ready to hate than to love?  I would argue that it has to do with fear.  We fear “the other.”  If someone looks different, behaves differently, believes differently from us, eats different foods or prays using different names for God, we fear him.  What if his way is right?  What if he belongs to the chosen group?  What if the celestial powers (by whatever name we choose to call them) prefer him to us?  Where does that leave us?

            As we look around we see many examples of movements that are built on hate—that have a devil at the center.  Isis, the Taliban and all their tentacles believe that the western, Christian world is the devil.  We must be eliminated so the world can become a place where their beliefs are at the pinnacle rather than ours.  The white supremacy movement believes that any other color debases and demeans their country and must be eliminated one way or another.  One of our political parties is fanning the flames of hate against the candidate of the other—in fact, before this current campaign is over each side will demonize the other to the point where the vast majority of people will be wary of turning on their TV’s.  Wherever we turn, we see campaigns fueled by hate, inviting us to join, to hate along with them, to fight their devil.

            What do we do?  How do we respond?  Which side do we take?  Are any of these groups correct?  Should we pledge allegiance to one of them?  Must we choose to hate someone?

            Jesus says, “No!” to all these questions. Time and again he told his followers to love.  Eventually they got it, and began a movement of love that continues—though in distorted fashion—today.  Even the gospel message has been corrupted by hate.  “If you love Jesus, then you have to hate_____!” (Fill in the blank with the name of any person, group, movement, idea, or philosophy you wish.  Someone has most likely already used it to complete the sentence.)

            Jesus still says, “No!” 

                        Does your neighbor hit you?  Turn the other cheek.

                        Does your neighbor take your coat?  Give him your shirt as well.

                        Does your neighbor force you to do something demeaning?  Do twice as much.

            What about hating my enemies?  Surely I’m entitled to detest those who are against me!

            Again, Jesus says, “No!”  Love your enemies.  Pray for them.  Care for them.  Because—and here is the truth we don’t like to face—we are all God’s children, and God loves all of us equally.  God doesn’t have a favorite child.  This isn’t like Tommy Smothers, who used to say to his brother Dickie, “Mom always liked you best.”  There’s none of that with God.

            But Jesus didn’t just say “Love your enemies,” he did it.  On the cross, he didn’t say, “Father, forgive this group, but not that one.”  He asked his father to forgive the great, all-inclusive “them”—to which each of us belongs.

            Does this mean we have to agree with those who are against us?  No!  Does this mean we don’t hold hating people and groups accountable for the acts their hatred engenders?  No!  But whatever we do, we must do it out of love. 

That’s what God says.