As Jesus looked forward in time to the closing days of time before the Rapture of the Church, He prophesied of a global atmosphere of angry emotions that would erupt: “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another”, Matthew 24:10.
The unrest around the world can be seen in microcosm in our own country – our nation is seriously divided politically and ideologically so much so that our disagreements have turned to violence. Cars have been burned, business storefront windows smashed, people injured and police attacked. Our political atmosphere has grown so poisoned that some think it’s actually acceptable to shoot political leaders, e.g. the June shooting of House Majority Whip leader Steve Scalise. More recently, a state congresswoman called for the assassination of the President! Political differences have now degenerated into a new level of personal hatred on display as we see in marches, late night TV hosts, cable news, newspapers, Hollywood and Broadway.
The degree of hatred has risen to the point of a new art form branded as “assassination porn”, as demonstrated by the recent disgusting display of the mock up bloodied head of the President of the U.S. being held up “Isis-like” by a female comedian and a Shakespeare in the Park (Central Park, NYC) play in which actors viciously slash and stab a look-alike President Trump – Blood sprays everywhere. But the worst part of these examples is how Hollywood personalities are coming to the defense of the “severed head” stunts as “art” and the reaction to the mock assassination of the President on a stage in New York City – the audience “cheered wildly” as the President was butchered before their eyes. The unintended consequences of unrestrained anger give permission to people like the “fervent opponent of President Trump” who gunned down Congressman Scalise to take their hate to a violent end. All the while, millions of partisan citizens either cheer or jeer at these hate inspired events depending on their politics. It appears to me our nation is being driven by the sins of anger, bitterness, and hate, each of which if given enough fuel and enough fanning leads to violence. These are dangerous times for America! “But every man is
“But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, (desires) and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:14-15.
The antidote for hate is love: Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you”, John 15:12.
If it's true that the antidote for hate is love then the only love strong enough to displace and erase the level of hate today is the love of God – the culture may have given folks permission to hate, but Jesus has given us a commandment to love!