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Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Theological Q&A > (No Subject)
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One Love
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 8/6/2003 4:57 PM (GMT -6) |   | Let's make this a much more pragmatic question.
Given all that you've seen on the subject of love and whatnot, is it ever JUSTIFIED to hate another sentient being who continually does evil and, in so doing, acts as your enemy?
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Starkman
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Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1747
| Posted 8/7/2003 12:01 PM (GMT -6) | | If by hatred we mean, "Why, I hate your guts, you piece of ....," then no, God does not hate that way. If by hatred, however, we mean, God views a being as outside of relationship with Him and outside (in character) of God's character, then yes. That kind of "hatred" is simply the flexibility within the concept of agape. It isn't, however, irrational, unjust, underserved or spiteful. It is simply within degree compared to God's own character. Even where God may express emotion about, say, evil, it is within the confines of God's character; never removed from it.
Where Scripture says God hates (e.g., "Jacob I loved, and Esau I hated"), it is in the context of Calling--bringing mankind into relationship with God, and not with regard to God's personal feelings about these two people. This then becomes an example of the flexibility of moving along the lines of agape, within the character of God, but in a different manner than dealing strictly with someone who really is evil (viz. Satan). For God to "hate" Esau is to say nothing less than Esau and Jacob are both equal, in that they are sinners, but Jacob is the one God has chosen to use in bringing many sons into relationship with God Himself.
As the word "love" in the English language has the flaw of always carrying with it an emotion, so, too, does the word "hate." Moving away from this kind of approach and recognizing that the unchanging character of God allows for the flexibility of degrees, not only God's dealing with sentient beings who are committed to evil (Satan), but in regard to His choosing between beings for His purposes, removes the distortion of the connotations of emotions our use of the word hate envokes (whew! Long sentence!)
"Hate Living; love dead."
The Frankenstien Monster
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borg
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Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 324
| Posted 8/26/2003 4:42 PM (GMT -6) | | I don't think you can just ask a question like that. The term "hate" needs to be more defined. For someone who believes that God hates sinners, Ps 5:4-6, 11:5, Mal 1:3, and yet in some way loves everyone, lest He wouldn't have commanded us to love our enemies, Matt 5:45ff. The best human example I can think of is David. He cried out for mercy from God in that all his enemies, especially Saul would die and that he could overcome them. And yet when God delivered Saul into his hand, David said, "No". But the thing to think about, is can humans hate with a perfect hate and love at the same time? Because we don't examine the heart's of men like God does Jer 17. So I would say that it's not right to "hate" as in a meaning of, "God you made a mistake and should never have made you" (for those of us who don't believe God makes mistakes). We should love everyone, but we are not called to love them in the same way.
Grace and Peace be yours,
Borg
Ps 90:13, 14
"So it is a more glorious work of power to uphold a soul in a state of grace and holiness, and to carry it on till it is brought to glory, when there is so much sin remaining in the heart resisting, and Satan with all his might opposing, than it would have been to have kept manfrom falling at first, when Satan had nothing in man." Edwards | | Back to Top | | |
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