'"A Time to Love and a Time to Hate" - A Balanced View of Love and Hate

 Clearly, as imitators of God, true Christians need to understand when it is "a time to love" and when it is "a time to hate."  Sentimentally can cause one's view of love and mercy to become unbalanced. But the words of the disciple Jude can help us to keep the proper balance between showing mercuy and hating sin: "Continue showing  mercy to others, doing so with fear, while you hate even the inner garment that has been stained by the fleshy." (Jude 22, 23) We should therefore hate what is bad but not the person who does what is bad.

Christians are also commanded to show love for their enemies by doing good to them. "Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you, said Jesus. (Matthew 5:44) That is why Jehovah's Witnesses do not cease preaching the good news of God's Kingdom again and again to their neighbors, even though some do not respond to that message. (Matthew 24:14)  Looking at matters  from the the Bible's point of view, the Witnesses consider every person a potential recipient of Jehovah's love and mercy. When their efforts to help people  are not appreciated or when they are rejected even persecuted, the Witnesses follow the apostle Paul's counsel:  "Keep on blessing those who persecute; be blessing and do not be cursing . . .Return evil for evil to no one." (Romans 12:14, 17) They bear in mind that Jehovah will determine who meets his love and who deserves his hatred.  He is the final judge in mattes of life and death. - HEBREWS 10:30.

"Yes, God is love." As for us, we show appreciation for his love and make an effort to find out what his will is and then do it.  Jehovah's Witnesses in your locality will be pleased to apply it in your life.  Doing so, you will avoid God's hatred and enjoy  his love.

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