Can A Loving God HATE?

A popular doctrine today is God is love, period. I can’t help but think how restricting that is on the Creator of the universe. Imagine! Human beings trying to restrict God Almighty!

It evokes images of a weak old grandfather who approves of everything his grandchildren say and do: a namby-pamby senile old man rocking in his chair, grinning at everything and everyone. No dimension to him at all, just approval of anything and everything. That’s not my God!

Can a loving God "hate"? Absolutely! His Word is very specific about exactly what He does hate. Look at Proverbs 6:16-19 as one example.

(I will quote the Amplified Version because it fills in the gaps between the Hebrew and English translations.)

16 These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him:

17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (Ps 120:5-7)

18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,

19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.
(Used with permission)

[Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ]

Wesley’s Commentary: 6:16 "Hate" -
Above many other sins which have a worse name in the world.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says about Proverbs 6:17-19:

"Observe how such a man is described. He says and does every thing artfully, and with design. His ruin shall come without warning, and without relief. Those sins are in a special manner provoking to God, which are hurtful to the comfort of human life. These things which God hates, we must hate in ourselves; it is nothing to hate them in others. Let us shun all such practices, and watch and pray against them; and avoid, with marked disapproval, all who are guilty of them, whatever may be their rank."

I’m ashamed to say that in the process of researching the word "hate" in this passage, I saw despicable sites, sponsored by so-called Christians. I will not name them, for I do not want to publicize them, drawing traffic to their sites. But I was struck by the ignorance that prevails among the Protestant and Catholic denominations when it comes to knowing what God hates.

Most of us know that “for a man to lie with a man as a woman lies with a man is an abomination.” But far more is in God’s Word about attitudinal sins! I call them "heart sins", and I get that phrase from what Jesus said when the scribes and Pharisees were berating the disciples for not washing their hands before eating (a tradition of the elders they were teaching as LAW).

Matthew 15:17-20 Amplified Version


17 Do you not see and understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the abdomen and so passes on into the place where discharges are deposited? [intestines]

18 But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles [him].

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech.

20 These are what make a man unclean and defile [him]; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean or defile [him]. [emphasis mine]

We have so many, these days, trying to teach laws of men as doctrines of God! They are not! When I read all of the passages in God’s Word that tell us that God judges the intent of the heart, it makes it very clear to me that what’s on the inside is often more “hateful” to God than what is seen on the outside.

I’m so grateful that God loves and He hates. And what He seems to hate the most are attitudes and behaviors that are hurtful to other human beings. He protects His precious creations even more than a mother protects her babies!

I was listening to Rev Don Piper who co-wrote 90 Days In Heaven. He said what surprised him most were all the people who were in Heaven – people he never would have expected to be in Heaven! I thought, "That squares with Scripture, Lord, where You said many would be saying on that day, 'But we cast out demons in Your name!' and You answered, 'Depart from Me. I never knew you.'" (Matthew 7:21-23)

Today I am struck with the urgency of concentrating on my own heart (mind, will, emotions) instead of trying to judge another’s heart by behavior I don’t like. God, alone, knows what causes a man or woman behave as they do. I am told to “guard my heart” not to “guard her behavior”. And I’m struck with the multi-faceted Creator that is equal parts holy wrath and unqualified love. My finite mind cannot begin to comprehend the depth of God’s “emotions”, but I’m awe-struck with His complexity.

(c) 2007 April Lorier Perspective