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Russia’s war with Ukraine has dramatically increased the amount of hate in the world today………….. First there is the hate that Putin and many Russians have for Ukraine, and then there’s the hate of the Ukrainians, for Putin and his Russia. In addition, the hate level in the entire world rises as we look on and see the atrocities, the brutal Carnage. As we in the world look on, it becomes very difficult to hold back disdain and hatred toward Putin, and all who support this evil onslaught by the second greatest military power in the world. Yet we must hold back! We must not hate!
Unfortunately, there is no real way to measure the level of hate in this conflict, nor the level of hate in today’s world. We can measure temperatures in the atmosphere, we can measure visibility, we can measure barometric pressure, we can measure heights and depths, but there’s no device to measure the level of hate in the world. Nevertheless, the evidence of the level of hate in the world today is inescapable. It smacks us in the face everyday as we watch news reports about the rise in mass murders, uprisings within Nations, tensions between Nations, atrocities committed against human beings, we see it almost everywhere we go.
In John 15 Jesus Christ expressed His concern about hate that would be directed at His followers in the city of Jerusalem, and the entire world, after he went away. He told the apostles the following: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (V18-19).” Of course the disciples would live to see His word come true, and would all experience the harsh reality of this prophecy in a very personal way. They would each be brutally martyred, except perhaps the Apostle John. The persecution that followed the death of Christ rose to its greatest level during the siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE.
In this war the Romans captured the city of Jerusalem, destroying the entire city and its Temple in a 5-month conflict. The historian Josephus reported that some 1.1 million people died in the conflict. Why is it that God wants us to know that the world hated him first? He’s telling this to us so that when people hate us because of Him, we will not develop a complex. He is hoping that by first knowing that we will be hated, and knowing the reason why we are hated, we will expect and be ready for it when it comes. He is hoping that we will not be offended when hatred raises its ugly head toward us! Yet so many of us are still offended! We are all starving to be loved and wanted, and we dislike being hated, so He wanted to put us on our guard. Some of us have been wounded so badly that we will do anything to be loved and wanted. Even when the love is not genuine, and we are merely being used.
Hate crimes are on the rise in the US, the UK and practically every nation in the world. They are most commonly motivated by hatred over race, ethnicity or ancestry, and religion. A hate crime is a criminal offense against a person or property, motivated by an offenders bias against their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity. In the US there was a 44% jump in hate crimes last year. Hate crimes against Asians rose 340%, perhaps because it was felt that China caused the pandemic. Hate speech is illegal in Canada, and can result in 2 years imprisonment. In India several sections of the penal code prohibits hate speech. It is interesting that the US has no hate speech laws, as the level of hate rises they will have to reconsider this. Meanwhile online hate speech Rose 20% during the pandemic.
According to a study by the Harvard Divinity School a 2017 FBI report States that hate crimes on the basis of a religious identity increased by 23% in the US. This is the biggest increase since 9/11. In particular, hate crime against Jewish people increased by 37% over the year before. In case you’re wondering about the impact of hate on the world, according to a UN report, almost half a million people were killed in the world by homicides in 2017; 464,000 to be exact. It has been proven that hating people can make you sick. Hatred negatively impacts the nervous system, the immune system and the endocrine system. These systems are all essential to healthy living and healthy bodies. Extreme hate triggers the release of stress hormones in the brain, which causes inflammation in the body, negatively impacting health. In addition to this, hatred falsely inflates the ego and makes one feel very superior, and self-righteous against the thing or person that we hate.
We see this on display in living color today as we observe the various personalities involved in the Russia/Ukrainian War. On both sides there is an arrogant belief and persistence, and both sides claim that they are really winning the war. Unfortunately, there is never any winner in any of these conflicts.
Ukraine will be left a broken and destroyed country, while Russia will become a pariah to almost every nation on Earth. There’s another frightening scenario, it is possible that this conflict will catapult the world into World War III. Satan, the author of this wicked and evil War will be the only one smiling in the end, but he will not smile for long. Both Nations, and perhaps much of the world will be left broken and pained. Famines, homelessness, poverty, starvation and despair will cover the entire Earth. Jesus Christ is saying to us that satan hated him first! Further, He tells us we can win the victory by following His instructions. In Luke chapter 6 He says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods, do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” This is a mouthful! And it is difficult for all of us to do. Yet it is most certainly doable, and furthermore, it works, and produces beautiful fruit unto the Lord! Nations may never be able to do this, but we as individual believers in Christ are able to do it. We need to bring down the level of hate in the world, and we can do this by offering the love of Christ, which cures everything.
Abel, according to scripture was the first man to experience hate. He was hated by his brother Cain, because the Lord accepted Abel’s sacrifice and rejected Cain’s sacrifice. This first hate crime resulted in the death of righteous Abel. Murder is always satan’s ultimate goal for the seeds of hate that he deposits in our hearts. His agenda is always to steal, kill and destroy. Of course the one who hates usually has no desire to kill anyone. However as the hate turns into bitterness, the hater begins to lose control of his emotions. This can cause things to go downhill very suddenly, because the hater gives up control, and turns it over to the devil to do as he sees fit. Even though God has warned us of the dangers even before we are hated, millions of Christians are everyday struggling as a result of the hate that has been directed at them. Some cannot get over it, and end up walking away from Jesus Christ.
Some refuse to darken the church door ever again, never returning until they are rolled down the Isle of the church. When you find Jesus Christ, and you are hated because of him you are to celebrate, because this is clear proof that the Lord has chosen you out of the world. The word of God says that if you were of the world, the world would love you. In other words, we love people who we think are most like us. Therefore, if you were like those in the world, they would love you. Clearly you are perceived by them as being different, therefore they hate you. So rejoice, because it is Christ who has made you different, and has set you apart for His service. If the world hates you for no reason be assured that Christ loves you.
The New King James version of Luke 17:1 says: “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” We are living in a world where almost everyday, someone will try to offend you. Scripture says it must happen! This is saying stumbling blocks, persecutions and traps set by the enemy to cause us to sin must come. But, judgment will fall upon those who allow themselves to be used by the enemy to bring these offenses! The world has been hotwired by satan himself to assault physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually all who believe in Jesus Christ. We cannot avoid it! But we can be determined not to fall into satan’s trap, and walk about with bitterness in our hearts everyday.
