Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Thursday, July 17, 2008 2:54:40 PM
‘I hate every false way’. –King David
When is hatred acceptable for the Christian? Such a question repulses many. If we do a word search of “hate” in the Bible, the following quotes are found…
‘How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way’
[Psalm 119:103-104].
‘For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.
Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies’
[Psalm 139:20-22].
Now many in today’s churches would accuse King David of intolerance and hatefulness. We do not presume to be more spiritual than David. It is written by his son that there is a time to hate [Ecclesiastes 3:8]. We point out that according to the Psalms such a time is when the integrity of God is being disparaged; that is a system that attributes to God what is false according to His word and those who defame His name.
We hate the false way because it leads men away from the truth that we love. We hate those who disparage God’s name because His names are holy and reveal who He is. Do we presume to know and love the truth? We claim the great promise of Jesus Christ that those who abide in His word will know the truth, and the truth will make them free. [John 8:31-32]