Nowadays I hear a lot about how we should all have tolerance and just love everybody. Hate is a bad thing; reserved for radicals. I agree, to a point. The other day, however, I read an article by an evangelist I admire that something somewhat contrary to today's popular teaching. It was intriguing, and I have to admit that I agree with him.
He indicated that to truly love, one must also hate. Before you panic, here are some examples he gave: 1) An athlete must hate penalties and bad moves so that he/she will eliminate those by practice and not commit them in games; 2) A musician must hate bad/sour notes and therefore eliminate them by practice so that they are not played in concert; 3) A person professing to love righteousness must hate evil, and therefore avoid it, as God hates evil.
Let me repeat that last point. God hates evil. He wants people to accept His son as their personal savior, but He despises the works of Satan. Therefore, we as Christians should be faithful witnesses, being a shining light in an increasingly dark world, but we should avoid evil and stay away from it. Always. At all times. Never take part in it. We shouldn't watch it, read it, laugh at it, write it or invite it into our homes in any form.
Hate evil and do good. In my writing, I hate not doing my best. A lot of fellow authors tell me they hate marketing and research and editing. Those are part of the process of becoming a better writer. I don't mind those things, though they can and do become tedious. I hate mediocrity. So, I'm constantly striving to do better. We'll never achieve perfection, but that should be the goal. Run, walk, crawl to something better. Turn your back on things that lead you astray and keep you from being the best you can be.
He indicated that to truly love, one must also hate. Before you panic, here are some examples he gave: 1) An athlete must hate penalties and bad moves so that he/she will eliminate those by practice and not commit them in games; 2) A musician must hate bad/sour notes and therefore eliminate them by practice so that they are not played in concert; 3) A person professing to love righteousness must hate evil, and therefore avoid it, as God hates evil.
Let me repeat that last point. God hates evil. He wants people to accept His son as their personal savior, but He despises the works of Satan. Therefore, we as Christians should be faithful witnesses, being a shining light in an increasingly dark world, but we should avoid evil and stay away from it. Always. At all times. Never take part in it. We shouldn't watch it, read it, laugh at it, write it or invite it into our homes in any form.
Hate evil and do good. In my writing, I hate not doing my best. A lot of fellow authors tell me they hate marketing and research and editing. Those are part of the process of becoming a better writer. I don't mind those things, though they can and do become tedious. I hate mediocrity. So, I'm constantly striving to do better. We'll never achieve perfection, but that should be the goal. Run, walk, crawl to something better. Turn your back on things that lead you astray and keep you from being the best you can be.
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