Hatred and vitriol hang over our country like the dark storm clouds that nurture tornadoes in the spring. When hatred makes a touchdown,  it destroys lives and property in its path for miles and miles. 

Sometimes the hatred is only an F1 causing damage but other times it is an F3 or F4 causing severe or devastating consequences. In recent days, we as a nation have been damaged and destroyed by the violence of hatred. The devastation is widespread, and it feels as if the storm is not even close to being over. What fuels  this catastrophic storm of hatred? The answer is simple, fear.

Across America, Christians are fasting and praying for healing, protection, and wisdom for our nation. I have added my petitions through prayer and fasting. I will continue to pray for the peace of our nation. I have scoured the word of God for wisdom concerning the hatred and strife making touchdown near me and those I love. 

One thing has become clear — hatred is the language of fear. Consider the following quotes from well-known authors and historical figures.

“In time we hate that which we often fear.” — William Shakespeare, “Antony, and Cleopatra”

“Often those that criticize others reveal what he himself lacks.” — Shannon L. Alder

“Save your skin from the corrosive acids from the mouths of toxic people. Someone who just helped you to speak evil about another person can later help another person to speak evil about you.” — Israelmore Ayivor

“Hatred is the coward’s revenge for being intimidated.” — George Bernard Shaw

Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. — George Lucas

“I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him.” — Booker T. Washington

“I think that hate is a feeling that can only exist where there is no understanding.” — Tennessee Williams, “Sweet Bird of Youth”

“If human beings can be trained for cruelty and greed and a belief in power which comes through hate and fear and force, certainly we can train equally well for greatness and mercy and the power of love which comes because of the strength of the good qualities to be found in the soul of every human being.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

“Hate is the consequence of fear; we fear something before we hate; a child who fears noises becomes the man who hates them.” – Cyril Connolly

“Fear of something is at the root of hate for others and hate within will eventually destroy the hater.” – George Washington Carver

During the turmoil of this past decade, I have seen the strongest, most respected of Christians embrace hate. Understanding that hate is the language of fear has helped me guard my heart. It has helped me counsel those handicapped by fear and overcome with hate. It has helped me see individuals and people groups who hate as captives of fear. Fear is not of God and its fruit; hatred is not of God. 

The scripture is clear that hatred is a work of the flesh and not the character of God. Consider these scriptures of conviction and guidance. 

John 3:20, “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”

I John 2:9  “The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.”

1 John 3:15 “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

Proverbs 10:12  “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions.”

Proverbs 15:17 “Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, than a fattened ox served with hatred.” 

I John 4:20 “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”

To overcome the hatred that has covered our country we must expose the fear. Why are you afraid? What has that person or people group done to cause you fear of loss or harm? Then we must forgive as Jesus did, so we are not bound by hatred. Forgiveness doesn’t mean the offense never happened. It doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. It doesn’t mean the relationship will return to the way it was, but it may even be better. 

Forgiveness means I am not afraid of what you may do to me, and I refuse to speak the language of hatred. You are free when you forgive, and the fear of the past has no hold on you. Your language becomes a dialect of love and healing instead of fear and hatred. What language are you speaking?