Hate not hurt not

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"Hate not hurt not" by Diane Webb

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."

Hate is a very strong feeling of dislike. It prompts action which most often causes harm. Hate does not usually lead to anything positive, wholesome, or good. It triggers a wave of emotion that can be overwhelming to experience. That wave of emotion then is directed at someone or something. Then there is hurt or damage of some kind. We've all had feelings of hate—toward someone or something that has caused us or someone we love harm. We see evidence of hate in the headlines daily. The crimes underscored by hatred are so heinous they have their own category for processing (as hate crimes). There is hate for entire groups of people which lead to further hate. Hate feeds on itself and is expressed through anger. Hate and anger go hand in hand. They fold back into each other often to the point it is difficult to distinguish one from another. Being the object of hate is a scary and uncomfortable feeling. We have a sense of what people are capable of when they hate and we do not want it directed at us. Sometimes hate is earned because we have done something wrong to someone else (betrayed trust for example). Other times hate is inherited—we are part of a group that another group hates. We are hated because we are a certain race, color, gender, religion, or nationality. This is the type of hate Jesus referred to when he warned his disciples of the hatred they may experience. Jesus was hated so intensely he was wrongly accused, beaten, and killed through crucifixion--a very cruel type of death. Crucifixion was a slow, painful, and deliberately degrading form of execution. It was meant to torture and humiliate. There were more humane forms of execution at that time. He could have been executed quickly by, for example, decapitation. Those who killed Jesus meant for him to suffer and die a degrading death. The reason Jesus was killed in such a de-humanizing and painful manner was hatred. Hatred creates the desire to hurt. The stronger the hate, the greater is the desire to hurt. Who can honestly say they have never wanted to hurt someone out of anger and hate? Popular theories of psychology sometimes encourages the expression of anger and hate, albeit symbolically. "Get it out" you may be urged. "Don't hold it in" is the warning. Although many healthy counseling concepts can be found in the Bible and supported by scripture, this one cannot. It is most certainly possible to move past anger and hate without spending any time at all processing, exploring, and expressing the negative feelings (Albert Pesso). Time spent on hatred or anger is energy wasted and can create harmful consequences. The impact on your body—through increased blood pressure and heart rate—over time can cause health problems. It can prompt you to make rash decisions you regret. It can also increase the hate and anger rather than decrease it. Overcoming anger and hate by expressing anger and hate is impossible. Hate and anger is overcome by eliminating it through love, patience, and understanding. Jesus loved his tormentors. He even prayed for them before he died, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23: 34). Jesus forgave them and asked God to forgive them while they were in the process of killing him. He did not wait until they repented. He did not wait until they were sorry. They hated him and he responded with love. What better example can we have on the best way to respond to hate or anger?

God, please help me feel and show the love of Christ to all I encounter today. Help me deflect anger and hate using love, patience, and understanding. I know I cannot do this in my own strength, Lord, but I can in your strength. Please give me the strength I need to overcome hatred and anger both from me and directed toward me. I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.