Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness…and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. (1 John 2:11, NIV 1984).
My Musings – It is okay to “to hate evil…pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” (Proverbs 8:13, NIV 1984). Among other things. But we must not hate our brothers or sisters, even if “the darkness has blinded [them]” to do such things. Rather, we “should restore [them] gently. But watch [ourselves], or [we] also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, [we] will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1–2, NIV 1984). For this is exactly what we would want them to do for us if we were in their shoes.
We should also extend the same grace to those who are not brothers and sisters in Christ, for “that is what [all] of [us] were. But [we] were washed, [we] were sanctified, [we] were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11, NIV 1984). Only God’s grace separates us from them, and we should do all that we can to “let light shine out of darkness,” (2 Corinthians 4:6, NIV 1984). Because “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4, NIV 1984). We must be that light.
My Advice – We cannot “restore [our brothers and sisters] gently,” we cannot help “carry [their] burdens,” if we are “[walking] around in the darkness” of hate. Nor can our “light shine out of darkness” if we ourselves are “in the darkness” of hate. We can only do these things if we “fulfill the law of Christ.” What is this law? “A new command [law] I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34–35, NIV 1984).
The Brew Is A Musing 