by Charles L Alligood

The Christian is commanded to hate. How strange are these words to the ears of a society whose concept of love rises slightly higher than syrupy sentimentalism or subtle self-aggrandizement.

The Christian is commanded to hate. How negative! Do we not understand that the modern psyche is more responsive to positive doctrine?

Yet, the Psalmist states it clearly: “Ye that love the LORD, HATE EVIL. . . .” (Psalm 97:10). [Emphasis mine.] How could we not see in this text a direct relationship between our love for the Lord and our hatred of evil?

The objection is all too clear for some: This exhortation is in the Old Testament.

But, the thrice-holy God does not change throughout the ages in relation to that which is morally repugnant to His character. So we hear Paul declaring in the New Testament, “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” (Romans 12:9).

The Apostle John phrased it powerfully: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15).

We may safely conclude that if we love the Lord, we will hate evil.

An older edition of Webster's Dictionary defines hate as, to hold in very strong dislike; to detest; the opposite of to love. The same dictionary defines a closely related term, abhor, as, to shrink from with horror. The word abomination means the feeling of disgust and hatred, and evil is the antithesis of good; morally depraved; any particular thing that causes harm or mischief, physical or moral.

If we love the Lord, then we will detest those things which our God detests. We will shrink from evil with horror. We will be disgusted by those things which are morally and spiritually harmful.

We do not deny basic and real differences between the Old and New Covenants, but neither do we conclude that God has left the saints of this age to the imaginations of their own hearts as to what is evil in His sight. Our God in the Scriptures gives the Spirit-sensitive saint sufficient guidance in matters of holiness of heart and purity of life to keep him from loving that which God hates.

The saint today may profit by reading the Old Testament enumeration of abominations before the Lord. These sins are as abhorrent to the Lord today as they were in Moses' day. While we cannot note them all, we will list a sampling of sins which are prevalent in our society.

Sodomy and Sexual Perversion. “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. (Leviticus 18:22) . . . . “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” (Leviticus 20:13).

Idolatry and Covetousness. “The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. (Deuteronomy 7:25). Some of the leading preachers of our day appear to have two ambitions—personal glory and gold. God hates the sins of idolatry and covetousness.

Half-Hearted and Unholy Worship. “Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.” (Deuteronomy 17:1).”The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” (Proverbs 15:8). Surely we do not offer animal sacrifices to our Lord in this day. But Paul says that we are to present our bodies “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1). The average church expects less commitment from its members than the Moose Lodge demands of its members.

Deceit. “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” (Proverbs 12:22). “A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.” (Proverbs 11:1). To lie in situations which would protect individual interests is expected in our society. Some would even commend the liar for doing so. God hates it.

Pride. “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5). Pride and arrogance—which is so common among athletes and politicians—is evil, but pride and arrogance among ministers of the Gospel is more wicked.

Injustice—Social, Governmental, or Ecclesiastical. “He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.” (Proverbs 17:15). We live in a day in which good is being called evil and evil is being exalted as good.

Ungodly Dress. “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” (Deuteronomy 22:5). God detests a woman in man's clothing! Why would not godly women hate that which God hates?

But, being under the New Covenant, are we to truly hate evil? If we take Romans 12:9 literally—Yes! If we believe the words of our Lord Jesus Christ—Yes!

Christ commends the church at Ephesus for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans.In the Sermon on the Mount He warns His hearers that they cannot love good and evil at the same time. Love for God and love for mammon are mutually exclusive. If you serve mammon, you do not love the Lord. If you serve God, you cannot love mammon. (Matthew 6:24).

The writer of the Book of Hebrews cites an Old Testament prophecy of Christ. “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” (Hebrews 1:9). If we as saints are to be conformed to the image of our Lord, and we are (Romans 8:29), then we, too, should love righteousness and hate iniquity.

Joseph is an excellent illustration of this principle. Taken into Potiphar's house, Joseph is accosted by his master's wife. In the terminology of the world, he has an open door to sin. A personal invitation is given. No aggression on his part is demanded. At this point Joseph can do that which God hates and that for which the world offers excuses. Consider a famous preacher’s frail absolution of our President's immorality some years back—“he is a man of power and women are naturally drawn to him.”

God hates adultery. Joseph loves His Lord and therefore he hates adultery. He refuses to gratify his flesh at the expense of his Lord's honor.

We need to be reminded that God hates evil. We need to be reminded that we should likewise abhor that which our God abhors. We need to be reminded that nothing abominable to our God will enter into Heaven.