Does The Church Hate What God Hates?
"These six things the Lord Hates, Yes seven are an abomination to Him: A Proud look, A lying tongue, Hand that shed innocent blood, A Heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discard among brethren." (Proverbs 6:16-19.
These words that Solomon writes really strike home with what is going on in our world today. These seven things that the Lord hates are seen not only in our world, our nation, our homes, but in our churches. The images that we have seen in the war between Israel and the Palestinian people have been horrific, and hard to wrap our minds around.
It is hard to understand the deep hatred that has motivated the violence and the killing that has taken place just recently.
So when we look at the church and “we see the conflict over selfish petty things, that divides us as a Christian community, it makes us wonder just where we are in our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to one another in the body of Christ.
We are to have the mind of Christ, but instead we have the mind of the world. The apostle Paul says to us in Philippians 2:1-4 “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
A girl asked her boyfriend:
Girl: “Do you love me?”
Boy: “Yes, Dear.”
Girl: “Would you die for me?”
Boy: “No. Mine is an undying love.”
The question that we as Christians must ask ourselves: Just how far are we willing to go to show our love and concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ? Jesus went all the way to a cross to die for our sins. Jesus said:”A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
To love the world, and to love one another, is not an option, but a command. So in the backdrop of such deep seeded hatred in our world today, let's show a deep constant love that establishes a steadfast unity, and a lasting peace through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The world needs to see this today! GP
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