They are the words almost every parent hears and fears – I hate you. We all, at some point, probably either thought it or shouted it at our parents; in a fit of immaturity and self-centeredness, we allowed our emotions to explode on those people who are usually just trying to get us to 18 alive. As parents, we know that our kids don’t really hate us, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. And after we shout or think those words, we feel remorse. We know we don’t mean it, and we know how much it hurts; we just had no place else to send our frustrations over being limited. The language of hate – the words and actions that are often linked together – is devastating.
I am still reeling over the news of hate from this past weekend. Since the killer on Brown University is still at large, I will consider the unspeakable act of anti-Semitism at Bondi Beach in Australia. While there is still little known about the terrorists who perpetrated this attack, it was clearly based in hatred of Jews, something that has been growing all over the world for decades but has always been present. I have had Jewish friends ask me, a Christian pastor, why I thought this hatred has existed for so long, and I have never even tried to answer the question. There is no answer, and to try to give a reason is to attempt to make this visceral hatred reasonable. There are no excuses – no historical events to point to – no answers – just hate. Where does it come from and how is it nurtured? I don’t know those answers either.
What I can say is that this kind of evil – anti-Semitism – must be countered by those of us who are not Jewish. We must speak up when some so-called follower of Jesus says that Jews – or anyone else – are going to hell for not accepting Him. We must speak up when we hear people say, “Well, Hitler did some good things.” That makes him, and his evil followers, somewhat reasonable – a little less evil. We must speak up when the language of hate becomes commonplace, no matter who says it. We must respond to all hateful language, because the language of hate is the first step towards violence. Do they have free speech? Do they have freedom to practice religions that promote hate? Yes – but so do we, and we don’t have to be polite in the face of hate. We don’t have to nod and say that they have the right to their opinions without confronting their hate. Hateful language leads to hateful and violent actions, and we need to stand together against it. If we don’t, we are complicit – we are guilty – we become hateful as well. My life has no room for hate. Maybe yours doesn’t either.
Prayer – Holy God, give each one of us the courage to speak up and stand united against hatred of all kinds. We might save a life. Amen.
Today’s art is “With All Your Unfolding Essence” by Myrto Papadaki.