Hate Evil/Love Your Enemies.

Hate Evil…. Love your enemies…

A young shepherd boy was sent by his father, to bring his brothers some lunch one day… They were on the battlefield trying to fight off the enemy. When he overheard the conversation about a giant man taunting the army of men – He got interested in the conversation and asked for more information.

When his brothers heard him getting “involved” – they were annoyed and said “why are you even here? Who’s watching the sheep?”

In other words, get lost little boy – you’re not needed or wanted. Let the grown ups work here…

But they weren’t working…. they were all just freaking out – standing around – trying to come up with a game plan…

In church terms that means, “we need to pray about it…”

Christians would say, “[the giant] needs to see our love…”

But the young man wasn’t idle. He didn’t stop to “pray about it…” or call a meeting, or even gather a committee…

Nope.

He answered the call to be obedient.

“Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (Jm 2:16).

David was angry – he got downright mad enough to kill… why? “and David said to the men who stood by him… Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Sam. 17:26).

David realized that there is a difference in hating evil and the evil doer (the Philistines  – specifically Goliath – who were attacking God’s army) – and the command to pray for and love the sinner who sins against him personally – his enemies  (his brother’s attempts of belittling him).

So with all the confidence of the Holy Spirit and to protect the holy and righteous name of the Lord God – he picked up 5 stones, told the giant man – “I come to you in the name of the Lord and today – you’re going down.”

Okay so that’s the Holly paraphrase – But you can read it for yourself: (1 Sam. 17: 45-46).

The fact is that God hates the sinNER.

Psalms 5:5-6: “you hate all evil doers… the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”

I can handle it when people sin against me – (my enemies) as a matter of fact, we all need to “handle it” as it is commanded that we love our enemies. Pray for those who persecute US.

No problem… I do what the shepherd boy did and simply reply to my brothers (and sisters), “What have I done now!” (1 Sam. 17:29).

What I cannot and will not “handle” or remain silent on, is when the Holy Spirit is grieved because someone or some policy or group has sinned against God Almighty…

That is what God calls evil and Jesus says is worthless – and Paul tells us is deserving of death.

Therefore, when Bible study lessons are taught by teachers and preachers that are telling me how I should live my life in accordance with Scripture (specifically 1 Tim 2 and Titus 2) – but they are not carrying out those same precepts – ie: deacon led rather than elder led, teachers who are new converts, leaders who are a train wreck in their own lives, women pastoring, not praying for God’s appointed leaders, sexual misconduct allowed to “retire” peacefully and quietly…. etc.

I get mad… Down-right angry.

I was told that “anger” was sin a couple weeks ago. Another misinterpretation of Scripture the church tends to hone-in-on when they don’t like to hear truth.

 “Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies” (Ps. 139:21-22).

With that being said – we are to hate with a holy and righteous hatred – we are commanded first and foremost to be witnesses for Christ and call the sinner to repentance and faith in the LORD Jesus Christ – so DO NOT misunderstand or misquote me here –

Love from a pure heart includes discipline and rebuke.

“O LORD, God of vengeance” – the Psalmist prays – “O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, judge of the earth, repay to the proud what they deserve!” (Ps. 94:1-2).

Doesn’t sound like a very loving guy…. And he continues:

“They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage...” (v. 4-5).

Did you catch that? “your heritage.”

It’s about HIM. His namesake (Ps. 23:3; Ps. 25:11; Ps. 31:3; Jos 7:9; Ez 20:44; Ez 39:25) … Read it.

Because of His holy, righteous, perfect, great name – His heritage – are we ever redeemed, rescued, restored – again – it is because of His holy name.

So why would we take that so lightly?

We would never stand idly by and allow the violation of our own family name? Whether a member of our family is murdered, raped, or bullied – we (most vocally) take a stand and demand justice….

Why do we not defend our God in the same manner?

God is very clear – we are to HATE evil – God HATES the evil DOER:

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I HATE” Pr. 8:13. – We do not fear the LORD.

“Hate evil, you who love the LORD…” Ps. 97:10. We do not love the LORD.

“Hate evil, love good…” Amos 5:15. (This one just flat-out, goes by the wayside).

“Let LOVE be withOUT HYPOCRACY: ABHOR WHAT IS EVIL, cling to what is good” (Rom. 12:9).

You are a hypocrite if you love without hate.

How’s that for some biblical truth – Truth that is not being preached in our pulpits, let alone demanded to be lived out in our leaders or our congregations – and all hell breaks loose when we call out blasphemers!

That’s just “unloving.”

It’s time to clean house! And I don’t mean send some people on a mission trip (Spiritual vacay) in some foreign country – I mean right here – right now – beginning with our own “house.”

“Purge the evil that is amongst you” (1 Cor. 5:13).

There can be no demonstration of love when there is nothing worthy of hating –

There is no recognition of Holy when there is no disgrace for that which is defiled.

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation” (2 Cor. 7:10).

How is a person who is never brought to a godly sorrow ever going to experience the joy found in repentance? What about their salvation?

There can be no repentance when there is no conviction of sin – “All have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one” (Rom 3:12).

Either God is holy – or He is not.

Either we are His witness – or we are not.

Either you love Him enough to defend His holy and righteous name – or you don’t.

And if you don’t then you need quit taking the LORD’s name in vain. You cannot call yourself a Christian if you do not obey His commands.

My anger comes in – as it should – When God’s holiness is devalued. When we blemish the Name of the pure, righteous, holy, great I AM – because we will not open our mouths to speak-out against evil!

“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24).

When we don’t HATE the evil DOER…. When we remain silent and let evil reign…. when we allow evil to prosper and go without condemnation in this world…. and IN OUR PEWS… we mock God. We simply defy the command to “go… teach… preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ… baptise.. and make disciples.”

The Bible tells us to not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).

When the church minimizes, normalizes, and dismisses sin – and allow the sinner to go without a warning, we are in violation of God’s holy commands and we grieve the Spirit of God when we are not defending His holy name!

But the most egregious result of our non-action (lack of works by faith) and dismissive behavior is we devalue God’s holiness and no one fears the Almighty God – No one fears His holy wrath – and therefore, no one hears the Gospel of Christ (because there is no fullness of the Gospel of Christ being preached, taught, or even vocalized)… and therefore, there is no hope….

… And “their blood will be required of you” (Ez. 33:1-11).

Not only did David slay the giant Philistine – but he was proud of it.

Scripture tells us that the soon-to-be king, said with clarity and concise authority “… The battle is the LORD’S and today He will give you into our hand” (1 Sam 17:47).

After which he cut off his head and carried the blood-dripping gruesome, skull, with him … ALL DAY LONG. (1 Sam. 17:51-57).

What head of evil have you ever cut off?

Why is the church made up of and perpetuating such cowards?

Where are the: “Be courageous! Act like Men!” Men?

Sometimes when I hear people say, “Jesus come…” I cringe.

Not because I don’t want to live in glory – but because it is usually those that are asking that are going to get the biggest shock!

““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matt. 7:21-23).

“lawlessness” … No laws, commands, precepts… just free grace for all.

I got news for you – there is no grace without repentance – and there is no repentance without acknowledgement of the wretched, unholy, worthless persons we are –

So bad are we that the only propitiation God deemed worthy enough to satisfy His holy, righteous, wrath – was through the blood of His holy, righteous, blameless, only son.

But your gonna practice free grace …

Good luck with that. Excuse me while I stand over here…

Jesus warns that when we bury our head in the sand – we will be severely punished and there will be NO REWARD (Matt 25:14-30).

The other day my husband, Pastor David Ashley, was scolded via text-message, by a “brother” in Christ, for calling out a very hateful, combative, blasphemous, and evil man on Facebook…  This man is a Jewish man – and Dave called him out for his pathetic doctrine, and he did it because he was blaspheming the Son of God –

This “leader” of the church – via text message as we were arriving for worship, mind you –  declared that that Dave wasn’t a good representative of our home church, let alone that of a Christian – or Pastor – stating that no Pastor…. or Christian should ever do that. (meaning respond to a sinner in need of salvation, in such an “unloving” manner).

In other words, “get lost little boy – you’re not needed or wanted. Let the grown ups work here…”

Well – he’s not far off…. TODAY’S little “c” Christian wouldn’t do that….

But let’s back up a little….

Dave responded to a man on a Facebook post, that we have “sparred” with before – yet he continues to come back to us time and again… We have been witnessing to this guy for over seven years.

So, Dave told this combative hell-bound Jewish bully (on Facebook) – that he pitied him – and we do.

Who wouldn’t pity a man going to hell?

“Who is this uncircumcised man that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Dave informed the man on Facebook of the Jewish fulfillment of the law and pointed out his lack of theology and Biblical knowledge (basically the same message Jesus gave the Pharisees).

We did manage to get out of the car and make it into the sanctuary… but I’ll tell you, it wasn’t easy “remaining silent” for this wifey…

For those offended when there is name calling towards a blasphemous, unrepentant, habitual sinner – I would strongly suggest that you take a step back in time…

Like about the year 34ish _A.D  ….

In Matthew 23 Jesus Christ calls the scribes and pharisees hypocrites (7 times), “sons of hell,” “blind guides,” (2xs); “white-washed tombs,” “serpents,” “a brood of vipers.”

The apostle John calls them “liars,” and “antichrists.”

The Bible repeatedly refers to the disobedient and non-believing, as “fools” (our English translation would be “idiot”).

And Paul talks of those in the church as being “hypocrites, busybodies, and gossips.”

I heard Dr. Voddie Baucham say that we have “sissified” Jesus.

Agreed.

Jesus doesn’t need us – He never has and He never will.

We don’t preach on this particular sin… We don’t demand accountability for those within the church who remain silent or whose lives (or wives’ lives) are “unworthy of the call” (Eph.4:1) – we’re afraid to offend…. we’re afraid we might, “lose some really good people,” drop in attendance, split a church, or be seen as unloving… or “judgmental”

I agree with Baucham: If you think that “Jesus needs you… is longing for you…” think again –

“He’s going to break you.”

“It amazes me that we believe God would crush and kill His own Son – but will let you slide.”

(see the video here) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRLluVmkrJ8

There’s some hard truth right there.

But what amazes me even more – is the pastors who do actually preaching this Truth –Refuse to wage a holy-war on their own members of the congregation – let alone their unworthy, unrighteous, unholy staff!

They don’t live it – because they don’t believe it – and if the church doesn’t believe it – neither will the world.

“For wicked men are found among my people, they lurk like fowlers lying in wait.”  -Jer. 5:26

So, you can continue to get mad at me – shake your head, wag your finger… and ostracize us, telling others that I need “a work of Jesus” in my life –

But here’s what I have to say to that…. The only reason I do not go around throat-punching stupid, is a true testament of the work of Jesus in my life.

If I have yet to offend you, be patient – To those I have not offended, be happy – because the Gospel is offensive to [only] those who are perishing (1 Cor 1:18).

America needs revival – But heads up church  – because, “the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Heb. 12:6).

We are in serious need of the Lord’s discipline.

Pastor David Ashley explains it best: “Wake UP Church!” (it’s only a minute) https://youtu.be/JuUwXMtKHsE

“For it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:26-31).