Yes - the Bible says the God of love does hate things. One example is:
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV)
Let's take a look at these seven items.
- Do you see anyone's name?
- Do you see any designation by race, religion, sex, gender, age, location, political view, etc?
- Do you see any specific condemnation for any individual?
Let's check Paul's list of "works of the flesh," and the result of those works:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 KJV)
Look at the three items listed above. There are no names in Paul's writings, no discriminatory designation, and no condemnation - except for "they which do such things." Those people "shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
That is a doctrinal validity of any segment of Christianity - and few people really look at the list as things not to do. Instead, a large number of people spend a great deal of time justifying that what they do is not really part of that list.
Many skip right over adultery and fornication as though God didn't really mean it, or it doesn't apply to them because they've seen religious people caught commiting one or both of those sinful activities without God's wrath coming down upon them. Look at stories of Baptist ministers who have committed such actions multiple times. At the other end of doctrinal beliefs, look at stories Catholic priests who have done similar with boys who assist them in serving communion.
True, throughout the spectrum of doctrinal Christian beliefs, men and women have sinned as deeply as those we consider examples in the Old Testament. After Adam and Eve left the Garden, mankind has indicated a lack of sexual control, intent only on satisfying a physical enjoyment of pleasure.
Few will accept idolatry or witchcraft as things that even happen in today's society. May I assure you that it does. Anything that we accept as able to fulfilll our hopes and desires can replace God in our lives. There isn't a list I could make short enough to show on this page that could cover that single word, "idolatry." It doesn't have to be anti-godly, though some have taken specific religious tenents and mocked them openly. You've seen the photos, the news stories, the television shows that denigrate religion, and accepted them as normal.
Why have people done these things from the time Eve accepted that God didn't really mean what He said?
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:1-6 KJV)
Weve heard this story since childhood, but ceased to believe that a serpent in a perfect world could speak, and if by some myth it could, why would it be believed? Yet we fall for the same fallacy Eve did. The serpent started with exactly what God said, just slightly different - first bolding above. Note that only one tree was excluded, but the serpent didn't point that out. Eve, on the other hand, didn't quote God correctly, either - second bolding above. Also, God did not tell them not to touch the fruit.
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:17 KJV)
But - they didn't die the moment they ate that good food. They just began to die, the Garden was removed from their care, and people still ignore God's promises.
Back to the seven items in Lamentations, and the list from Paul's letter to the Galatians. Are there any good things in those lists that you wish were taught in our school systems? Do you doubt that some in that list are being taught in school by teachers being paid by our tax money? If so - please leave a comment and enlighten me as to what God hates is good for mankind. Please include why you believe so.
Please remember that there is no religious discrimination to any individual who does things God hate. In fact, there are specific verses that explain what to do to turn from anything that is tempting.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (John 3:16-20 KJV)
Once again I ask that you read surrounding verses, chapters, even the full books, for context.
