In a class I am taking, I heard some pretty strong words today. They made me cringe, because I could hear the hate in the person's voice that said them. A couple students were talking about holidays and the professor mentioned that Good Friday is now only considered a religious holiday and not a federal one. Good Friday is the day Christians remember Jesus being crucified at Calvary. Someone else chimed up and said "but, Black Friday is a nationally recognized holiday!" Black Friday, by the way, is NOT a federal holiday. It simply is the day after Thanksgiving in which retailers make enough sales to put them "into the black ink". The student sitting in front of me turned around and I heard him say "all Christians should go back to Hell!" The statement made me cringe. I watched as he repeated what he said to someone in front of him and looked around with a smile on his face as though he were seeing who had heard him. Yet, despite his words, I felt compassion for him. I don't know why he said what he did or what compelled him to say these words, but I did know he did not understand the meaning of what he was saying and it was coming from something in his heart.
Who can avoid hearing the hatred so many people are voicing? We hear it on the news, we see it on signs, etc. Jesus told us to "love those who persecute you". What good will it serve to fight hate with hate? The definition for "hate" above says it is derived from fear, anger, or a sense of injury. You don't just hate for no reason. By loving others, you aren't operating out of fear, anger, or a sense of injury. In fact, by choosing to love, you are overcoming these things. So, the next time you feel the urge to say "I hate...", stop and think where that is coming from. I can guarantee it is coming out of one of three things: fear, anger, or a sense of injury. Don't allow hatred to spill from your lips. Remember that out of the abundance of your heart your mouth will speak. If there is evil in your heart, then evil will spill from your lips. Stop: Hatred!
Written by
Nickie Farley
