Bill Is not the enemy of good evil?
Yes, it is.
Did not Jesus say "Love your enemies."
Yes, He did. What was the context?
Matthew 5:43-44 (KJV), "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. (44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
Luke 6:27-29 (KJV), "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, (28) Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. (29) And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also."
The Word of God reads, Psalm 97:10 (KJV), "Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked." Ecclesiastes 3:8 (KJV), "A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." Proverbs 6:16-19 (KJV), "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, (19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
One might ask the question, if the same LORD tells us to Love and Hate, isn't this a contradiction? Not so. It is a concurrent reality. The proper context of Matthew 5:43-44 and Luke 6:27-29 is one's own personal enemies. If someone has wronged you in some way, yet not in violation of Scripture, you are not to hate them. You can be angry, Ephesians 4:26 (KJV), "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:" However, committing sin (even while angry) in prohibited.
Christ Jesus was addressing a personal enemy and not God's enemy. Psalm 97:10 clearly shows we are to hate. Moreover, our Sovereign LORD addresses those He hates, Psalm 5:5 (KJV), "The foolish shall not stand in thy (the LORD) sight: thou (the LORD) hatest all workers of iniquity." Psalm 7:11 (KJV), "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day."
To clarify, if it is our personal enemy, then we are not permitted to hate them, whether angry or not. If a person is God's enemy, evidenced by their actions, then we are permitted to hate them. A concurrent reality and not a contradiction.
Did not Jesus show compassion to the women caught in adultery? He showed love to her not anger or hate.
Presuming you are addressing John chapter 8, Jesus Christ was upholding His Law, the Old Testament at the time. Jesus, whom is very God, very God is all seeing and all knowing. John 8:1-11 (KJV), "Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. (2) And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. (3) And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, (4) They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. (5) Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? (6) This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. (7) So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. (8) And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. (9) And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (10) When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? (11) She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more"
He (Christ) was well aware of the entrapment of the Pharisees and the willing death penalty crime committed by the woman. When they arrived, Jesus whom is omniscient, omnipresent, new their conspiring to entrap him, so that somehow he would violate His revealed Word of that day. viz. the Old Testament. How did Jesus deal with the Pharisees? First, he ignored them. After a while, he addressed them, verse 7, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Since the Pharisees were party to this crime, not a one was able to be blameless in this sin. The result was they left one by one.
Then, Jesus turned to the adultress. Adultery is a death penalty crime. Deuteronomy 22:20-25 (KJV), "But if this thing be true, [and the tokens of] virginity be not found for the damsel: 21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you. 22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, [both] the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. 23 If a damsel [that is] a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, [being] in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. 25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:" Leviticus 20:10 (KJV), "¶ And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man's wife, [even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." Romans 1:28-32 (KJV), "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
Adultery is one of the death penalty crimes. How then is the death penalty prescribed? Under the testimony of two or three witnesses. Hebrews 10:28 (KJV), "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:" Deuteronomy 17:6 (KJV), "At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death."
Since this woman's accusers were culpable to the crime and there were none left, Jesus still knew she committed adultery. She was still deserving of death. However, the two or three witnesses were not there to attest. Therefore, He (Christ) upheld His Law by not putting her to death. Was God any less God? No! He was faithfully upholding His Word.
Did not Paul say "And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1Cor 13:13.
Actually, the Bible (not a perversion of), reads in 1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV), "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." This is an exhortation by Paul to the saint of Corinth to exercise their many blessings. In no way does this contradicts God's Law to hate evil.
Love is the key to happiness.
Loving Christ with all our heart and all our soul is the key to eternal life and also happiness. We must repent of our sins, and name the name of Christ to have these blessings. Romans 8:28 (KJV), "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." The only happiness one can obtain is by loving God. And, if you love God, you will keep His commandments. John 14:15 (KJV), "If ye love me (Christ), keep my commandments."
We know just because you like, enjoy or even love something does not necessarily mean it is not sinful. Romans 1:32 (KJV), "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Many of Rome enjoyed their sinful activities, regardless how reprobate they are.
If you have problems with something and then hate it, you increase the burdens upon yourself.
Not so! However, if you lean into your own understanding and not the Word of God, they you will increase your sorrow. Proverbs 3:5-7 (KJV), "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (7) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil."
You are confusing hate with anger.
How much time and energy have people wasted by hating something.
Is this a question or a statement? Obeying the Word of our LORD is not a waste.
Hating the traffic is not going to get you home any faster.
Are you giving an example? If so, they you are allowed to be angry, however, sin is not permitted. There is nothing wrong with being angry. Although, you are confusing hate with anger.
Hate is unnecessary. What has it accomplished except for suffering?
Hate is commanded by God. Psalm 97:10, 5:5, 7:11, 139:21-24, Ecclesiates 3:8, Proverbs 6:16-19, 8:13, Romans 9:13, Revelation 2:6, 2:15 and 2:23 (KJV) are commandments and examples of God's Hate. What is accomplished is that believers will receive His blessings by obeying His Word.
Can hate bring people together?
Yes! By God's grace people can and do come together to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD. When godly people protest against sodomites, murderers of the unborn, adulterers, those who have taken the LORD's name in vain, etc, their love for God is shown through hatred of what God hates.
No it is a wedge that splits wood. It can be driven, and cleave what was once whole into two. The wood is destroyed. The wedge does not escape unscathed. It too is hurt. Love can heal all wounds. It bridges the chasm we have needlessly dug.
If love can heal all wounds, then why can't love heal the clogged artery that causes a heart attack and later death? Why can't love heal the amputated arm or leg of someone lost it loving his country? Why can't love heal the person dying of cancer? Why can't love heal that piece of wood in your example? Simple, because love has no power to heal. Only Christ, through His permissive will are people healed.
Perfect love, love for God, casts out all fear. 1 John 4:18 (KJV), "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." It is our love for Christ, evidenced by our obeying His Word that love is shown. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." All things, not just some things.
How can evil thrive in an environment of love? The smallest bit of hate provides a crack that can prove fatal. It is like a small hole in a dam. If left unattended the whole dam will fall releasing destructive floodwaters.
Another simple question. Evil thrives where good Men do nothing. Evil thrives where men do not obey Christ our LORD and His Word. Evil thrives when feelings and tolerance are elevated above the Word of God. Even the smallest sin will cause the damn to be destroyed and most times, it will take others with it.
Jesus taught love not hate.
Even Jesus said, Matthew 22:29 (KJV), "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." Revelation 2:6 (KJV), "But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I (Christ) also hate." Revelation 2:15 (KJV), "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate." At the very least, you are inept in your study of God's Word.
Who are you to say what God loves or hates.
Again, is this a question or a statement? God's Word, the Bible, reveals everything needed for faith and practice. It reveals all the attributes of God. I have given Scripture as to what God loves and what He hates. Not mere speculation, but the inerrant Word of our Sovereign LORD.
He frequently changes his mind.
Again, your ineptitude in the knowledge of the LORD is showing. Hebrews 13:8 (KJV), "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Either you believe the Bible or you don't. Which is it?
If he hates adultery why did he not strike down David? Why did he not keep his word and split Israel after David's reign?
Why God allowed myself, yourself or even others who in the past, that may have done things that demand the death penalty, to live is beyond my understanding. I do take comfort in that Christ in firmly in control.
Indeed if there is a God he would be a God of love not hate.
Finally, your true fool colors are showing. Psalms 14:1 (KJV), "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." Psalms 53:1 (KJV), "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good." 1 John 2:22 (KJV), "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." 1 John 4:3 (KJV), "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 2 John 1:7 (KJV), "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."
If he were a god of hate then Satan by default would be a "God" of Love.
And again, not so. Christ Jesus is very God, very God. Matthew 16:15-18 (KJV), "He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Which would mean all we are taught is wrong.
It is entirely possible that you have been mis-taught. Even more so by your own failed knowledge of God's unchanging Word. I pray to intercede for you, that Christ would grant you repentance and acknowledgment of the truth, that you might be recovered out of the snare of the devil. I pray for you that you know not what you do.
May Christ through our efforts be glorified as He permits.
William Thompson Fisher