“Hate” we all have said. I hate green peas, I hate my job, I hate my life, I hate this weather and I hate snakes. It has become common to use the word. But As I reflect I have found “Hate” should not be used. God did not call us to “Hate”. God called to us love. We were created in his image to do just that love our neighbor. Using the word Hate give me a cringe I know it is not right to say it and I now feel when I say it and correct myself.
Hugh Downs said that: ” Hatred is never anything but fear–if you feared no one, you would hate no one.” So true. Having worked on myselt to love more over the years I know that hate is fear. Like with snakes we don’t touch them out of fear. When we hate someone is usually out of fear of what they may do to hurt us. But, we need to be the light of love to the world as Christ Followers people need to see a difference in us.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” -Martin Luther King, Jr. God is love so he is not about hate. The apostle John said “Perfect love drives out fear.” And God is the one who has Perfect love. So draw close to him and he will help your fear subside and allow you to love more. People will still do things. Are people seeing you drive out darkness?

People can drive us crazy enough to think they hate you but Christ said it best. “But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do go to them which hate you.” – Luke 6:27. Love to me is hard but it has no greater reward. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). Christ set the ultimate example and we shall strive to follow it. It won’t be easy we will slip up but we can start anew And stop hating.

Gandhi said “Hate the sin not eht sinner is a precept which, though easy enough to understand, is rarely practiced and that is why the poison of hatred spreads in the world. He was so right as I reflect on this I know we can change for the better if we remove hate from our words and actions. It will show we are working on making our world reflect the love of Christ. Who is with me on removing “hate” from our words as a place to start.