Chapter 18: Myth—Abortion Doesn’t Matter
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Myth—Abortion Doesn’t Matter
Hating what God hates does not mean that you hate people in your heart. It does not mean you are intrinsically only a hateful person. But, it
does mean that hate is intrinsically part of you when you walk with God. That is because hate is an intrinsic part of God Almighty Himself. Having the capacity to hate means, that like Christ, you too adopt the Father’S ways. To think simply because you hate what is evil means you are
“hateful” per se is the stuff of Christian mythology.
This is the nuance many Christians fail to understand. Indeed, God has the capacity to forgive those who do hateful things in His eyes when
they truly repent from inside their hearts. Again, this type of repentance is from the depths and bowels of their spirit-soul where the heart resides. We should adopt God’s reasons, methods and strategies to hate what He hates.
“You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin
[family]; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself.” Leviticus 19:17 NRSV
There are a couple of important aspects in the above verse. First is the
issue of where hate resides. Is it in the mind as the result of knowledge of God’s Word? Or is it inside the heart, where permanency lies and action springs forth from? It makes a difference to God. When you hate someone in your heart, it is difficult to forgive. Therefore, God specifically would
have you contain hate within your mind and intellect and not in your heart.
A second and equally important aspect of the above verse is that each of us has the duty to reprove or rebuke our neighbor when they commit sin.
This means to gently or kindly scold them for wrongdoing and to get them to take godly action and make amends. There is a penalty from God for those who fail to reprove their neighbor when evil or improper action has taken place and you bear witness. Failure to reprove your neighbor means that
you will incur guilt yourself.
Failure To Reprove Means You Incur Guilt!
Today, people want the ability to do anything they feel like doing. “If
it feels good, do it.” And, “what I feel like doing is none of your business!” Copyright 2005 Edward G. Palmer, All Rights Reserved. Book of Edward—Chapter 18