Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
One of the recent inventions of this perverse generation is the phrase, “hate speech”. Ostensibly, the people who use that phrase are using it to denounce speech that is prejudiced and malicious, but in reality, it is a tool of manipulation intended to silence good people. It is used, for the most part, to put pressure on good people not to speak out against evil. Good people see sin for what it is, and this perverse generation does not want them to say anything about the sin they see. In short, what is often labeled “hate speech” is a very good thing.
No one on earth has ever spoken “hate speech” as effectively as God has, and He has done it often. God even goes beyond hatred; He abhors certain things and people – and He fearlessly says so! Here are a few examples of God’s “hate speech”:
Psalm 11
5. “The Lord tries the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence.”
Proverbs 6
16. These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18. An heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19. A false witness who speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.
In Amos, God even said He hated the religious acts of His own people because they were living immoral lives:
Amos 5
21. I hate, I despise your feast days, and I take no pleasure in your sacred assemblies.
And in Leviticus, God let it be known that He abhors the perverted lifestyle called homosexuality:
Leviticus 18
22. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination.
Those are just a very few of the multitude of what this wicked generation would call God’s “hate speech”. Do you think He feels the pressure of fools to make Him keep His mouth shut?
It is such an obvious truth that it should not need to be said, but the truth is being lost now, so I will say it: To be “godly”, one must be like God. No one who is godly disagrees with God; on the contrary, every godly person reflects, through his words and actions, the heart of God. Therefore, if God speaks in such a way that men would condemn Him for “hate speech”, then a godly person will be condemned by the same people for giving expression to God’s feelings on earth.
The Bible encourages God’s children to bear with the persecution and reflect God’s character on earth. The Lord spoke through David in Psalm 97:3 and said, “You that love the Lord, hate evil!” Jesus even taught that we are very blessed when we are cruelly slandered and ostracized by others for daring to be like God in this wicked world (Mt. 5:11). Here are just a few verses that show that godly people in the Bible were like God with their “hate speech”:
Psalm 101 (David)
3. “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 119 (David)
104. Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore, I hate every false way.
113. I hate vain thoughts, but thy law do I love.
128. I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way.
163. I hate and abhor lying, but thy law do I love.
Psalm 139 (David)
21. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22. I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them mine enemies.
Proverbs 8 (Solomon)
13. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 13 (Solomon)
5. A righteous man hates lying. . . .
Finally, in Jesus message to the pastor of the congregation in Ephesus, he reproved him for failing in several areas, but then, Jesus gave him a compliment. What was that good thing that the pastor was doing? He was hating something the way Jesus hated it!
Revelation 2
5. Remember, therefore, from where you have fallen, and repent, and do your first works. Otherwise, I will come upon you suddenly and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
6. But you do have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Just from the few examples given from the Bible, above, we can say without any contradiction that if a person wants to be “godly”, then he must express among people on this earth a deep hatred for the following:
(1) wickedness
(2) the love of violence
(3) a proud look
(4) lying
(5) murder
(6) trouble-making
(7) the worship offered to Him by hypocrites
(8) homosexual conduct
(9) any wicked thing
(10) the ways of those who turn away from God
(11) every false religion
(12) vain thoughts
(13) those who hate God
(14) arrogance
(15) a sassy mouth
And that is just a small portion of the many scriptures that tell us of what God hates!
In this culture, at this time in history, we need help from God to “overcome evil with good”. If we do not overcome evil by confessing the good Jesus has given us, then the good that Jesus has given us will certainly be overcome by the evil that is around us. When that happens, we will begin to feel differently about things, and begin to speak of wickedness as if it is not all that bad. We will become “inclusive” (another “buzz word” of this perverse generation), and will no longer be persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
Jesus said that as the world drew near to the time of the end, love for God would wither among many because sin would become so rampant (Mt. 24:12). And he wondered aloud, “When the Son of man returns, will he find any faith on earth?” (Lk. 18:8). I pray to God that he grants us the inner strength to continue in faith, reflecting God’s personality and thoughts without fear or partiality until Jesus comes, or until we leave this world and go to him.