JUST THINKING: The God of Love Who Hates (Part One)
I was just thinking about a statement an agnostic recently made. He said, “How can the Bible’s God be called “Love” when He carried out actions stemming from hate?” First and foremost, I want to be clear that God loves people — but He hates the detestable actions of many.
A Passage with No Contradiction
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers” (Prov. 6:16-19 NIV1984).
A saying I have heard most of my life says, “God hates the sin but loves the sinner.” We know God loved humanity so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross. That didn’t mean He didn’t hate our sinfulness. It was our sins that nailed Jesus to the cross! The writer of Proverbs indicated that there are seven things God detests — that He finds abominable.
Prideful Haughtiness
Scripture uses the words “haughty eyes.” We are familiar with those whose arrogance causes them to “look down” on other people. They do so because they feel they are better than others. They consider themselves superior to those who are less fortunate. I remind you that was the attitude the Pharisee had toward the publican in the temple in Luke 18:9-14. God detested his attitude and commended the humility of the publican.
Intentional Lying
No one likes a liar — that includes God and His Son, who is also called The Truth. People who continually lie cannot be trusted. They may say one thing one day and something completely opposite the next. We might compare them to the little boy who cried “Wolf!” When the wolf really did appear, no one would heed his warning.
Despicable Murdering
Sadly, we live in a culture — in a world — where murders take place every few minutes. Lives that could be productive and appreciated are snuffed out in a moment. God detests such actions! He didn’t include armies at war — He talked about the act of taking innocent lives. God hates the act. But many murderers who died in prison experienced the love of God because someone cared enough to tell them about the salvation provided by God.
Heartless Scheming
Few sins are committed accidentally. Prideful people think of themselves better than others long before they confront them. Liars usually rehearse in their minds the lies they will tell. Murderers premeditate their acts long before they take the lives of others. This is by no means new. Before the destructive flood, God was grieved about the intentional sinning of mankind. “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” (Gen. 6:5).
Worthy Sovereignty
Indeed, God is the God who loves. But because He is sovereign — the Lord of all — he has the right to look at the things of His creation righteously. That is what angers many unbelievers. They cannot perceive a God of love also being a God who hates. These first four sins are like the three that follow — they are detestable to our Lord. As a result, there is a reckoning. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness” (Rom. 1:18).
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Dr. Tom Mitchell
Dr. Tom Mitchell pens a column titled, Just Thinking, in which he addresses many topics relative to the Baptist Missionary Association. His Trailblazers series provides biographies of many BMA trailblazers from the past.
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