Tag: hate

Charlie Kirk – My Reaction

On By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment

I have read with increasing sadness the reactions on both sides.

Conservatives say Charlie Kirk is a martyr. He spoke the truth and allowed others to voice their disagreements.

Liberals say Charlie Kirk held mock debates spewing hate and misinformation towards many groups of people. He deserved to die.

What does God say about our attitudes towards others?

Do not devise evil in your hearts against one another… for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.” Zechariah 8:17

You shall not murder.  Exodus 20:13

Murder comes from an evil heart. Matthew 15:19

Satan is the father of murderers. John 8:44

A murderer does not have eternal life in him. 1 John 3:16

Hating is murdering. 1 John 3:15

I can understand in some degree the differing reactions of non-Christians. But Christians who support and even celebrate the murder of someone they disagreed with baffle me. Do they not know what the Bible says? Do they not know what the Lord they pledged their lives to commands them to do?

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:43-48

Even getting extremely angry at another person makes you liable for judgment. Matthew 5:20-22

We as Christ-followers are free to disagree with each other – but not free to harm each other. The murder of Charlie Kirk should elicit a unified cry for the life of a brother – not a debate on whether he deserved to die. And we should not be attacking each other over our reactions. Where is the love by which we will be known as belonging to Jesus?

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar: 1 John 4:20a

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 1 John 2:9

They profess to know God, but deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. Titus 1:16

Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Luke 6:46

The Bible has a word for those who claim to be Christ-followers while hating their brothers – hypocrite. And he warns that He will turn His face from them.

You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:7-9

Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after the other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered! – only to go on doing all these abominations?… I will cast you out of my sight… Jeremiah 7:8-10, 15a

But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? Psalm 50:16

When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you, even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Isaiah 1:15

When are we going to get off the fence between God’s ways and man’s ways? When are we going to deny what we want (think) and become obedient to what Christ wants (commands)? When are we going to stop loving as the world does and start loving as Jesus does?

Lord God, I pray for the people of this nation. For all people, but especially for the people who claim You as their God. Forgive us for our hypocrisy. Fill us with Your love for those who disagree with us and open our eyes to see past the darkness that surrounds us to the light of Your truth. Help us to love those we perceive as enemies and to let you handle their judgment. May you be our God and mean it when we call You “Lord”.

Amen

Where is God Not?

On By LindaIn My Thoughts2 Comments

When a person calls another person or group names expressing hatred, condemnation, and derision, God is not there.

When a person threatens another person or group with violence or vengeance, God is not there.

When a person attacks another person verbally or physically over their beliefs or opinions, God is not there.

When a person lies, repeats what they hear without checking the facts, or gossips, God is not there.

(Clarification: I know God is everywhere. So when I say “God is not there,” I don’t mean a place outside His presence. What I mean is a place where He chooses not to be involved or to abide. He says in Isaiah 1:15: “When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.” 1 John 4:12 says “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us.” To me, that implies that if we don’t love one another, He doesn’t abide in us. In other words, He’s not there.)

It doesn’t matter the label:

Republican or Democrat

Conservative, Liberal, or Independent

Black, White, Hispanic, or Asian

Gay, Straight, or Both

Male, Female, or Other

Atheist, Christian, Jew, or Muslim

White, Blue, Pink, or Green Collar

Rich, Poor, or Middle Class

Baby Boomer, Millennium, Generation X, or Z

If there is hatred, bitterness, and intimidation, God is not there.

Watching the news, scrolling through social media, and listening to people as they talk, I can see just how many places God is not in our country today.

Which is understandable with all the non-believers – not excusable, but explanatory.

But it is not understandable or acceptable for those who profess to follow Jesus. 

Jesus said some hard things when He was walking the earth – to people who were living in dangerous times. Like we are today.

Things like…

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”  (Matt. 5:9) 

 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!” will be liable to the hell of fire.” (Matt 5:21-22)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matt 5:38-41)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt 5:43-48)

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt 7:12)

Paul had some more words…

“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another, you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same thing.” (Rom 2:1)

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good and you will receive his approval.” (Rom 1:1-3)

“To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud – even your own brothers.” (1 Cor 6:7-8)

Hard words. Very hard words. In our humanness, we cannot do this. But when we professed Jesus as our Lord and Savior, His Spirit came to live in our hearts enabling us to live by the spirit and not by the flesh. Enabling, nor forcing. We have to choose day by day, sometimes moment by moment, to follow His way.

If we profess to believe and follow Jesus – then we need to follow all of what He said, not just what we like or is easy. If we don’t, then how are we different than non-Christians?

Maybe we aren’t really followers at all.

Something to think about.