A boy got in trouble at school. He said a “bad” word. He said, “hate.” He could have claimed to be a girl. That is accepted if not openly encouraged. He could have used any of the ugliest curse words. That is free speech. But he said that he hated a certain football team, and for using the word “hate” he was punished.
People today, including many who call themselves Christians, seem to believe that it is possible to negotiate a peace settlement with anyone — including Satan himself. Therefore, we should never say hate. That is the modern view.
The Bible does not agree. We are to hate evil (10).
We must hate evil because evil and God are diametrically opposed to one another. The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. 4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.
- The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate (Proverbs 8:13).
- Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph (Amos 5:15).
- Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good (Rom 12:9).
- Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them (Eph 5:11).
Evil is opposed to God, and in being opposed to God it also opposes the image of God. The goal of evil is not to make everyone happy but to efface the image of God in everyone. Large parts of the world are currently slouching their way to Sodom; entertaining themselves to death. We are better fed, more educated, more served, more entertained and less happy than any previous generation. Why? In part because we are trying to compromise where there is no room for compromise. We try to reconcile fire and water. We try to be holy while embracing evil.
Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word (1 Kings 18:21).
We must hate evil because evil hates.
Evil is unwilling to coexist with good. Evil will keep fighting against good as long as there is any life in it. Does anyone ever ask the doctor, “Leave a little of the cancer, please”? Does anyone ever ask the firemen, “Please don’t put the fire all the way out”?
Evil, like cancer, like fire, is not static. It is consuming; it is growing. Keep a little evil around (just for fun, just to show your broadmindedness) and it will try to destroy you.
As the goal of evil is our destruction, so our goal must be its destruction — not its control, not merely to escape from its consequences, but the destruction of evil.
Psalm 97:10 “O you who love the Lord, hate evil!”