There has been much reporting of ‘hate’ crimes of late. It is rather strange that while the IRA were murdering hundreds of Protestants in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, there were very few references or headlines about ‘HATE’.
These last few days have rarely seen one go past without some news outlet using the word ‘HATE’ in a headline.
Invariably, the term is used of a crime committed against a non-native, black or Asian individual, whose person or property has come under attack from those who claim to be protesting against the disproportionately generous treatment of the immigrants who arrive in the UK illegally.
As is ever the case in such circumstances, many innocent, hard-working and legal immigrants become targets by those acting is a most loutish fashion.
I. THE BIBLE TEACHES US WHOM WE SHOULD LOVE.
From the beginning of time, God has expected His people to treat strangers with kindness. “Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt,” Exodus 22:21.
The Christian must ever act in the light of their estrangement from God. “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ,” Ephesians 2:11-13.
The true believe cannot but have an affinity with strangers.
We are not required to ignore sin or criminal activity amongst strangers but we are forbidden to oppose them simply because they are not ‘native born’.
I find it amusing at times when people urge the stranger to go back to they came from. Were that advice taken by ALL INHABITANTS, then the British Isles would be a very empty place indeed, since all being descendants of Adam, we would have to crowd back and try to squeeze into a spot for ourselves in the middle east!!!
We should remember that after the flood of Noah’s day, mankind consisted of eight people.
“And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee,” Genesis 8:13-16.
“God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water,” 1 Peter 3:20.
We are all descended from that small group, which was, in turn, descended from Adam and Eve. So, in truth, mankind is a family, closely related, though estranged over many centuries and their ties forgotten!
We would do well to bear in mind Paul’s words in Acts 17:24-26.
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.”
II. THE BIBLE TEACHES US WHOM WE SHOULD AVOID.
It is man’s sinful nature that blinds him to this truth and makes him a hater of his ‘brother’. That all started away back in the days of Cain. He was, of course, duped and deceived by the devil into murdering his brother. “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous,” 1 John 3:12.
That spirit of hatred is seen still amongst the nations and not a day goes by without blood being shed in rage and hatred! In the home, in the street, on the battlefields — the earth is defiled with blood!
We must avoid that which would lead to division and strife.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen,” Romans 16:17-20.
Dividing from Dividers!
There are divisions that are good. That is suggested by the word ‘avoid’. There are those within the ranks of the people of God whom we must avoid for they cause division. They are identified for us in 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15.
“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
They are ‘brethren’ who would have us forsake the ‘old paths’ and follow their embracing of ‘modern notions’, the thinking of the world!
I think we are aware that such are at work today throughout the world, that have gathered around them flocks of gullible and ignorant professing Christians who, embracing their notions, would then import them to their church.
The tactic is very old.
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ,” Jude 1:3-4.
There are still such ‘creepers’ around and I believe that some may be found within our own Free Presbyterian Church, introducing the idea of ‘modernising’ that which has been accepted practice and replacing it with that which is given the endorsement of the worldly-minded.
Against such people we are ‘ordered’ by the Lord to ‘contend’.
This is a day for the believer to ‘avoid’ unscriptural innovation. It is a day of apostasy and requires us to note God’s warnings and obey His command.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY (shun, avoid),” 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Failure to do that will result in the ‘clasping of a viper to the breast’!
III. THE BIBLE TEACHES US WHOM WE SHOULD HATE.
There is a ‘hatred’ at work in this world which is of God. “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel,” Genesis 3:15. Here is that hatred that God has made to exist between the devil’s crowd and the Saviour’s redeemed ones.
That ‘hatred’ is frequently mentioned in Scripture.
“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me,” Psalm 101:3.
“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way,” Psalm 119:104.
“SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love,” Psalm 119:113.
“I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love,” Psalm 119:162-163.
“Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting,” Psalm 139:21-24.
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate,” Proverbs 8:13.
For good measure, please note the words of the Lord regarding those who replace His ways with man’s.
“Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate,” Jeremiah 44:4.
These are the things that a love for God and righteousness will compel us to hate!
Protection
The animosity of the devil’s flock toward the people of God is natural on their part. But God, as a means of securing His people, has instigated a spirit of war between the redeemed and the unredeemed. Eve had been beguiled by the devil and the Lord would seek to hinder that happening again by placing this enmity between them. As snakes and serpents are universally disliked and invariably avoided, so the believer has had placed within them just such an aversion toward the devil and his ways. That aversion should ever be manifested in the Christian.
Jehoshaphat
There is a false and evil love that is to be avoided. In its place there should be a holy hatred.
“And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD,” 2 Chronicles 19:2.
The ‘love’ that is here rebuked was not a desire for the conversion and salvation of the sinful king Ahab. No, it was a love of earthly honour and advancement which caused foolish Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, to enter into a political and military liaison with Ahab, the evil king of Israel!
Press bias
The repeated use of the word ‘HATE’ today, I believe, betrays the bias there is in the ranks of the press, radio and television. Society in general has moved away from conservative and traditional moral values and standards. Leading and urging such a drift has been the news media. Its ranks are cluttered with advocates of every form of deviance!
There will never be a point where it will be said by such, ‘We have gone far enough!’
No, there is a ceaseless restlessness amongst such that stems from their ancient ‘ancestor’ the devil. Of him it is said in the book of Job that when asked by the Lord, “Whence comest thou?” the devil answered: “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it,” Job 1:7.
The devil is a restless creature and instills such a spirit in all those whom he deceives and dupes.
Gospel calm
On the other hand there is that calmness and rest the believer enjoys in the Lord Jesus Christ. That wonderful call issued by the Lord to a wayward Judah in the days of Jeremiah illustrates what I say.
“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein,” Jeremiah 6:16.
The refusal of the rest offered by the Lord is a mark of an apostate generation. Sadly, their rejection of rest but multiplies their sorrows and griefs.
“Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits,” Lamentations 1:3.
Calvary
The whole purpose of Calvary was for the Lord Jesus to obtain ‘rest and peace’ for His elect. The words of the Saviour in Matthew 11:28-30 illustrate that.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Costly
The ‘peace’ that the Saviour purchased, that “peace of God, which passeth all understanding” and which keeps our “hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”, cost a great deal!
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him,” Romans 5:8-9.
“Saved from wrath” — that is all important. Man with his campaign about earthly things, his campaigning, lobbying, protesting and rioting, utterly fails to see that which is altogether vital, our soul’s salvation.
Tell me, “What think ye of Christ?” Heed the reasoning of John Newton as expressed in his wonderful hymn.
1 What think ye of Christ? is the test
To try both your state and your scheme;
You cannot be right in the rest,
Unless you think rightly of him;
As Jesus appears in your view,
As he is beloved or not,
So God is disposed to you,
And mercy, or wrath are your lot.
2 Some take him a creature to be,
A man, or an angel at most:
Sure these have not feelings like me,
Nor know themselves wretched, and lost;
So guilty, so helpless, am I,
I durst not confide in his blood;
Nor on his protection rely,
Unless I were sure he is God.
3 Some call him a Saviour in word,
But mix their own works with their plan;
And hope he his help will afford,
When they have done all that they can;
If sayings prove rather too light,
(A little they own they may fail)
They purpose to make up full weight,
By casting his name in the scale.
4 Some style him the pearl of great price,
And say he’s the fountain of joys,
Yet feed upon folly and vice,
And cleave to the world and its toys;
Like Judas, the Saviour they kiss,
And while they salute him, betray;
Ah! what will professions like this
Avail in his terrible day.
5 If ask’d what of Jesus I think,
Although my best thoughts are but poor;
I say he’s my meat and my drink,
My life, and my strength, and my store,
My shepherd, my husband, my friend,
My Saviour from sin, and from thrall,
My hope from beginning to end,
My portion, my Lord, and my all.
John Newton, 1725-1807.
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
Wednesday, August 14th, 2024