Is It Okay To Hate?

A while back a friend of mine asked me this question, “is it okay to hate?” I thought about it, and gave the “Christianized” answer, “no”. But something inside me didn’t like that answer. Later that day it hit me, the Holy Spirit revealed to me the real answer. Yes, we are to hate. We are to hate what God hates; sin, Satan, and worldly ways (selfishness). We are to oppose it and fight it by exposing it with truth. Why? Because it deceives, hurts people, and destroys their lives. But most importantly sin, Satan, and selfishness, steer us away from God. He is the only Thing that truly matters, so if others are suffering from the fallout of sin, keeping them away from the only solution to their pain, why wouldn’t we hate that? We are to hate what God hates, but also, we are to love what God loves. Perfect love drives out fear, and ultimately conquers evil. Never confuse the two. In order to perfectly love, we have to hate what holds love from conquering it. So “yes” there is a place for hate in the Christian life, but only through guidance of the Holy Spirit are we able to use it in the right manner as motivation to bind the power of sin.

21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate You? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose You? 22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for Your enemies are my enemies. Psalms 139:21-22

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. Jude 1:22-23a