The church is supposed to represent Jesus here on earth, and it does a very good job of that, but ,being made of humans, it is not perfect. One of the most painful scars that affects the church is hate. At all times hate is wrong. It affects everyone, the hated, and the hater.

1 John 2:9 — Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.

I have had multiple people tell me how they have been hurt by someone hating them, and we have all heard the stories about people leaving the church because they were hurt, or shunned. This has to stop. We are the body of Christ, hate isn’t in our DNA. We are supposed to love all people. Anyone can love some and hate others. Jesus puts it this way:

Matthew 5:43-48 — You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Here’s what I’m trying to say: Love everyone. Don’t hate anybody. I don’t care who they are, or what they’ve done. This is easier said than done. Could you love a murderer? Your called to. Politics have been crazy recently. Love all the politicians. Love the atheists. Love the LGBTQ people. Love the crazy conspiracy theorists. Stop hating.

Proverbs 10:12 — Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.