Growing up in a community with a large Jewish population was an interesting experience for a young Protestant kid like me – especially when my father was antisemitic. He didn’t have any Nazi paraphernalia hanging around, and I don’t recall seeing a copy of Mein Kampf on the bookshelf, but he spoke often about how he had been mistreated by “the Jews.” He blamed Jews for his lack of success, and He – and a few other people I knew, used to say things like, “All the Germans weren’t evil” and “Hitler did some good things”. I saw it for what it was – antisemitism. I have heard these kinds of disclaimers since my youth about a variety of groups, most notably about Muslims since 9/11. I still recall my sermon on the Sunday after that terrible day; I said that the people who did this were not real Muslims – they were terrorists and they were evil. As a follower of Jesus, I cannot hate anyone, no matter who they are. That does not, however, excuse or allow their evil to thrive.
One of our readings in church yesterday was from Romans 12, and the Apostle Paul gave the 1st century church good advice, which still holds true today. He wrote, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” In fact, Paul told them to feed and give water to their enemies, and to not “be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” I will admit, for the umpteenth time, that I struggle every day with these words. Paul took this directly from Jesus, so that makes it a command, not an option or a suggestion. No matter how much I want to hate – no matter how much I want vengeance – no matter how evil someone is, it isn’t my job to hate them. That doesn’t mean they go free; evil should be punished. I just can’t become like them.
That is the difference, I think, between good and evil; we are all flawed and do wrong, but good cannot thrive on hate. Hate is never an option, because allowing ourselves to hate others turns us into them. It gives us permission to commit the same atrocities they do to others. It leads us to say, “Sure, but look at the good they have done!”, thereby excusing who they are on the inside. There is no place in public life, whether it be business or politics or religion, to allow hatred to rule our lives. It doesn’t matter if a political leader lowers crime or rent; if they hate, they should not serve. There is no place for hate speech; it is protected by the Constitution, but that doesn’t mean we should put up with it in the public square. We should turn our backs on any and all forms of hate, whether it be antisemitic, antimuslim, or antichristian. Hate is never an option, and when it becomes the norm, tyranny follows.
Prayer – Holy God, it is so easy for us to want to avenge those who have been hurt by evil. Help us to pursue justice, not retribution. Help us to remember that hate is never an option for those who believe in You. Amen.
Today’s art is “Time to Love – Time to Hate” by Lyn Deutsch.