Psalm 119:113 I hate double-minded people,
    but I love your law.

Under the New Covenant we seldom think, much less talk, about hate, but it is a natural human emotion and response to things. The Old Testament mentions it quite a few times, and it actually comes up in the New Testament as well. This verse specifically talks about hating double-minded people, but a more accurate, Christian response would be hating double-mindedness. In other words, hate the sin but not the sinner – though that has become a cliché. The thing is, there are lots of things toward which we should feel revulsion. Recently an incident has been in the news of a woman accusing a group of men of gang rape. Hearing the background, and particularly what she said at the time, I feel nauseated at what she did, but at the same time I feel deeply sorry for her. Her attitude toward herself and the men she was with was totally hijacked by the devil, defiling what God created to be pure and holy and beautiful, but it is all too common, and even promoted, in society today. I hate that! Likewise, the brutality that was displayed toward Jesus in His trial, scourging, and crucifixion was all too common, but He prayed from the cross that those responsible be forgiven. All cliches aside, we are indeed to hate the sin but not the sinner.

I will confess that, reading the account of the “gang rape,” even as I was nauseated, my flesh was tempted to fantasize about having been one of the men involved. I have no “high horse” from which to talk down to people! That said, I am to nurture a hatred for the activity promoted by the devil. I recognize that a major tactic of the devil is to cloak his lies in sweetness and light, and the “accepting, compassionate” thing to do. I may have understanding as to why someone does what they do, but that doesn’t make their actions right. That said, I’m to hate wrong attitudes and actions in myself as well, even while I am deeply grateful for the grace of God. I am not to be “unequally yoked” in any sort of partnership with someone who doesn’t recognize their actions as evil, and that can be difficult to manage at times. I am to be gracious and loving, but indeed hate the evil. Dennis Prager has been rightly strong on this point, and I respect that.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed love what You love and hate what You hate. Thank You for what You have done through us already in this meeting. I pray that for the next two days we would be even more available to you, so that all of Your purposes for this time may be fulfilled, drawing people to repentance and faith for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!