I admit it. I’m a little tired of people using the word “hate” for things that are unimportant and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I’ve done it myself. You hear it all the time:
“I hate that song. I hate broccoli. I hate that movie. I hate it when people do this, that or the other thing. (Why? Because it inconveniences us in some way. Because it annoys us in some way.) I hate my job. I hate having to clean up my room. I hate homework. I hate losing money. I hate cows.” Whatever.
There is actually a website set up for people to talk about what they hate. And boy do they. Everything from Brazil to Windows Vista to parents and ex-girlfriends. Nothing is out of bounds, and sharing your hate with the world is encouraged.
Nothing is beyond the hate of a human being.
It’s really out of control. We’ve taken an extreme word and used it in petty ways, which makes us petty to the extreme.
Consider, by comparison, what God hates. It’s in the Bible. Read it for yourself and see. God hates:
Sin and evil. Arrogant, bloodthirsty people who deliberately work against God to bring evil and pain into the world. Taking advantage of the poor. Religious hypocrisy. Those who lie and deceive for personal gain. Divorce. Idol worship and the sinful things it causes people to do. Violence and those who love it. People who arrogantly look down on others. A lying tongue. Hands that shed innocent blood. A heart that devises schemes to hurt the innocent. Feet that are quick to rush into evil. A false witness who gushes with lies. A person who stirs up dissension among brothers and friends.
Some people trust that God exists. But they hate a lot more than he does. They are very free with their hate. Other people don’t believe God exists. But they do seem to believe in hate. Like a religion.
It seems to me that if we could reserve our hate for things that genuinely deserve it, our world would be a much more gentle place to live in.
Leviticus 19:17-18
Peace to you.
© LW Publishing 2010
I think that "Love" is also a word that is also mis or over used. I hear so many people, especially women who are friends or aquaintances of each other, say 'Love you!' Even men will say it sometimes, but their actions may not indicate it. But maybe I'm being cynical...I've also heard it many times when it really does seem to be true. Plus how do I know what people are really thinking anyway. (Begin the pelting with rocks and garbage)
ReplyDeleteI think you're right in the sense that if you love strawberries and you love baseball and you love watching some TV show, it can water down the idea of love in our lives. The word "like" is much more appropriate for a lot of those things and it helps us to keep the word "love" for things that really matter. To me it's kind of the opposite side of the same language coin. love/hate
ReplyDelete