- Love, Hate, Racism, Social Issues, Culture

We are seeing so much hatred and bitterness in our world. Results of racial inequality natural floods and fires causing panic and of course the ongoing difficulties of getting along with family. So how should Christians respond to those things? This is no time to be silent or passive. As followers of Christ, we are called to be ambassadors for the Gospel and we cannot stand idly by and watch the condition of our communities deteriorate into sin.

No matter what your situation in life is right now, there is hope in scripture for you. Whether you have found yourself acting bitter towards others, or you are the victim of the hatred in our world, Romans 12:9 tells us how we should respond to either of those things. “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Among the evil in our world there is still good, and people will see that good if believers will remain faithful.

An outward belief of clinging to what is good despite the hardships in life, will show those who are lost the beauty and security of Christ. A believer’s response to hatred and darkness should be to shed the light of Christ so that others will see the love of God.

The opening of this sermon from Pastor Jesse Bradley is a message from Dallas Pastor Tony Evans. It is a statement with the #IAmSecond movement on putting Christ first in everything that you do.

Watch this message from Jesse Bradley on the response we can have to the hatred and strife in our culture.

When it comes to seeing bitterness and evil from people, we know from Romans that it doesn’t tell us to respond with hatred toward the person doing the evil. As followers of Christ we should know that hate is an equivalent to murder. But, what we can do is hate the evil. Better yet Hebrews 12:14 says to, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

We see bitterness spread and grow because we allow it to. Surly we have all been bitter at some point, the longer bitterness sits in us, the stronger those roots will grow and be watered by more and more evil. The response to hatred and pent up bitterness is not to blurt it out to the world. Pray, seek help from the Holy Spirit to dig up those roots and make an effort to live in peace, held together by Christ.

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” - Colossians 1:17-20

Christ wasn’t sacrificed on the cross so that people would stop hating one another, his sacrifice made a way for believers to be forgiven when we do hate one another. His love for His children overcomes all things and the Holy Spirit has the power to shine from us and push back the darkness in our world. All we need to do is love like Christ loves.