We live in a time when hate is getting a lot of attention. Courts prosecute people for “hate crimes,” social media condemns “hate speech,” and singers proclaim “haters gonna hate.” It’s as if hate is getting a bad name!

But believe or not, there are occasions when hate is actually a good thing. In fact, I would argue that sometimes hating is the loving thing to do.

Now, before you conclude that I’ve lost my mind, let me explain. The Bible tells us that God, who is love, actually hates certain things about humanity. Proverbs 6:16-19, states, “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Let’s take these one at a time.

1. “Haughty eyes” means that God hates pride and arrogance. 1 Peter 5:5 says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Indeed, pride can be dangerous. Proverbs 16:18 warns us that “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” You don’t have to look far to see examples of “how the mighty have fallen.”
2. “Lying tongue” and “a false witness who pours out lies” means God values truth. As Proverbs 26:18 says, “A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” Jesus didn’t just command us to tell the truth, but He reminds us that He IS the truth — “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).
3. “Hands that shed innocent blood” is pretty obvious. As Creator of all living things, God values life. If we hate it when the innocent and defenseless suffer, God hates it infinitely more.
4. “A heart that devises wicked schemes” means God detests those who think up ways to hurt or take advantage of others. And I’m not just talking about condemning terrorists, but cunning businessmen who profit from the loss of the unsuspecting (like greedy pyramid schemes or phone scams) or anyone who takes advantage of a weaker person or group (like the elderly) for personal gain.
5. “Feet that are quick to rush into evil” describes a person whose conscience is so numb that he doesn’t think twice about doing wrong and rarely considers the negative consequences to others or himself. He ignores the rights and feelings of others. That’s why Romans 12:9 tells us to “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
6. “A person who stirs up conflict in the community” describes someone who enjoys destroying relationships, like a gossip. Proverbs 16:28 reminds us that “A gossip separates close friends.” And Jesus said, “A house divided cannot stand.” God hates anything that kills unity in a family, a neighborhood, a business, a church, a country, or our world.

There are many other things God hates, such as injustice, prejudice, greed, lust, physical, emotional or verbal abuse or when people call evil good or good evil. Like a surgeon who hates the cancer she’s removing, God hates the things that can harm us. And if God hates certain things, then it’s probably a good idea for us humans to hate them, too. As Ephesians 5:1 encourages, “Be imitators of God, as His dear children.” 

So, don’t be afraid to hate the things God hates. It’s the loving thing to do.

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A similar version of this appeared in the July Edition of STROLL The Canyons at Scenic Loop magazine.