Hello brothers and sisters;
When we study the Bible, God reveals so much in the Old and New Testaments about anger that can fester into hatred toward other humans. Yet as Christians we still struggle with this in our daily walk with Christ more than a broken down car, house appliance or our personal computer.
If we study the Bible regarding the downfall of toxic hatred, why is this so rampant in the Christian community?
Example, in my 19 years of Christian fellowship on the internet, I have experienced so much anger, hatred and division from the past between devout Christian men and women. This still exists daily, almost more than in the community.
The Bible teaches us that God is Agape Love, God's highest form of unconditional love, mercy, charity and grace. Hatred is the opposite of who Jesus is.
Anger or getting mad at someone in a relationship with our spouse, family, friends and the Church does not necessarily lead to hate. We all get angry. It's a natural human emotion that needs to get through a managing process arriving at calm and reconciliation with others but also ourselves. This takes constant discipline.
But in our anger it can have the potential for hate.
Years ago I studied Christian Counseling as a prerequisite at seminary. I'm not a clinical therapist that specializes in human behavior. But as a Pastor I have sat with so many people, mostly men and women. One of the prime problems is the way we interact with other believers. Are we receiving or are we reacting?
As a lifetime student of the Bible, God's Word, or "God Says," these two Scriptures sunk in during my share of daily life;
Proverbs 10:12, 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. - KJV
Matthew 5:21-22, 21 “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire. - RSV
I thought to myself, these Scriptures are coming from the Lord, therefore, wouldn't the Lord also have a solution to help me with my anger, especially behind closed doors or when I expose myself to others?
Every morning when I am given a new day, I include during my prayers this discussion; I give thanks to God for His infinite love over me. I acknowledge He knows me better than I know or understand myself. I then asked God to help me more and more each day to look to Him, first, in every instance and ask to help me guard my heart and tongue, especially toward others.
In the evening when I prayed before resting, I would continue the discussion by recapping the day, and confess when I didn't look to Him first by getting impatient with the other driver on the road, at Costco, etc...I ask God for renewed chances in this discipline.
At this time in my life I am more calm and receiving of others toward me. But it's still a work in progress and little by little God has revealed a change in me in guarding my heart and tongue in all instances. I'm also growing because every instance with Jesus benefits my relationship.
I'd like to know your thoughts and testimony regarding toxic hatred in a Christian life. How do you deal with it and have you confessed this to God?
God bless you all and your families.
When we study the Bible, God reveals so much in the Old and New Testaments about anger that can fester into hatred toward other humans. Yet as Christians we still struggle with this in our daily walk with Christ more than a broken down car, house appliance or our personal computer.
If we study the Bible regarding the downfall of toxic hatred, why is this so rampant in the Christian community?
Example, in my 19 years of Christian fellowship on the internet, I have experienced so much anger, hatred and division from the past between devout Christian men and women. This still exists daily, almost more than in the community.
The Bible teaches us that God is Agape Love, God's highest form of unconditional love, mercy, charity and grace. Hatred is the opposite of who Jesus is.
Anger or getting mad at someone in a relationship with our spouse, family, friends and the Church does not necessarily lead to hate. We all get angry. It's a natural human emotion that needs to get through a managing process arriving at calm and reconciliation with others but also ourselves. This takes constant discipline.
But in our anger it can have the potential for hate.
Years ago I studied Christian Counseling as a prerequisite at seminary. I'm not a clinical therapist that specializes in human behavior. But as a Pastor I have sat with so many people, mostly men and women. One of the prime problems is the way we interact with other believers. Are we receiving or are we reacting?
As a lifetime student of the Bible, God's Word, or "God Says," these two Scriptures sunk in during my share of daily life;
Proverbs 10:12, 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. - KJV
Matthew 5:21-22, 21 “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire. - RSV
I thought to myself, these Scriptures are coming from the Lord, therefore, wouldn't the Lord also have a solution to help me with my anger, especially behind closed doors or when I expose myself to others?
Every morning when I am given a new day, I include during my prayers this discussion; I give thanks to God for His infinite love over me. I acknowledge He knows me better than I know or understand myself. I then asked God to help me more and more each day to look to Him, first, in every instance and ask to help me guard my heart and tongue, especially toward others.
In the evening when I prayed before resting, I would continue the discussion by recapping the day, and confess when I didn't look to Him first by getting impatient with the other driver on the road, at Costco, etc...I ask God for renewed chances in this discipline.
At this time in my life I am more calm and receiving of others toward me. But it's still a work in progress and little by little God has revealed a change in me in guarding my heart and tongue in all instances. I'm also growing because every instance with Jesus benefits my relationship.
I'd like to know your thoughts and testimony regarding toxic hatred in a Christian life. How do you deal with it and have you confessed this to God?
God bless you all and your families.