Why Is It 'Haters Gonna Hate'?

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14

We hear some form of it almost every single day: "If you don't agree with my choices then you are a ______ (racist, bigot, hater, idiot, insert your favorite insult)". We claim that everyone who disagrees with our stance on an issue, decision of  life, or anything else that makes us unique, hates us and we want everyone else to hate them too.  

Yes, people are going to hate things that are different, because different makes people uncomfortable.  Think about this, I don't have to like a person's choice or decision!  That's right.....you read correctly....I don't have to like their choice or decision or lifestyle or hairstyle or food choices or anything else they choose!  Chances are, people don't like some of my choices or decisions either.  

Believe it or not, I know they don't in the way they treat me (ignore me, suddenly stop talking with I walk by) as if I am somehow going to judge them and blast them with hellfire and brimstone. No, I am not one who chooses to Crossfit.  Yes, I do have a sense of humor (and it seems to surprise quite a few people). I am a human being, just like you, and ALL humans (yes, even me) are social beings who enjoy being part of the society in its various forms, sizes, and formations.

But I am commanded by Scripture to love others as I want to be loved.   Scripture also commands me to live in peace with all, as far as it is within my power.  Now this does not mean I will surrender my beliefs or my choices, if means we may agree to disagree.  But it is not MY place to judge any person! And it's not YOUR place to judge any person either!  Even if you don't like their choices, actions, styles, or even if they just rub on you like sandpaper underwear!

We Are Family!!

In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. 

And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, 

because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

~ 1 Peter 5:5 

 

 

It's time for a little history lesson....go ahead and roll your eyes, yawn, stretch, and get your coffee...way back when I was a child, I remember my Mom getting ready for church and after she was dressed in her "Sunday go to meeting" attire, she would put on an apron and prepare lunch, which would cook while we were gone so it would be ready to eat when we got home.  What was the purpose of the apron? To keep her clothes clean.

 

In the old days, before color photography, tradesmen would wear aprons, overalls, and even coveralls when they were working (this was way back when even the garbage collectors wore ties). Why? So they wouldn't get their clothes dirty.  But it was also one way of marking the blue collar worker from the white collar worker.

 

Now...When Peter tells us to "clothe yourselves with humility toward one another" he is using the language that indicates putting on an apron (in Peter's day, slaves word aprons and it distinguished them from former slaves, called freedmen).  What Peter is telling us is to not be afraid or hesitant to understand that we are no better than anyone else!  Peter, a fisherman by trade, was very familiar with the idea that there are some who believe they are better than everyone else...the "don't you know who I am?" club.

 

It's taken quite a few lumps, bumps and bruises, but I have learned that I am not better than anyone else by any stretch of the imagination.  I, like everyone else, must take in nourishment, expel waste, and breathe.  In its basest form, those are the functions of existing.  Therefore, unless I can figure out how to exist without having to go through those processes, I actually might be better than others.

 

Here's the fact: God created us (ALL OF US) in His image! If you remember the story of the Last Supper, Jesus removed His clothing, wrapped a towel around Himself, and washed the feet of His Disciples!  If Jesus could humble Himself in such a way, why is it so difficult for us?

Hating The Haters Makes You Like Them....A Hater!

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much."

~Matthew 5:43-46

 

There has been quite the uproar of late about how one group hates another group and fights ensue leaving chaos and injury in their wake.  And then, we have people like the black officer helping an member of the KKK with a heat related condition into the shade.  Let's be completely honest here, that officer did not HAVE to help this man, but he did.  He did not HAVE to bring him to shade, but he did.  He could have called a white officer over to take care of this, but he chose to do it himself.  He could have told this member of the KKK, "You hate me because of my skin.  You believe you are better than me.  So good luck to you."  But he didn't.

 

THIS is how God expects us to act.  THIS is how Jesus instructed us to act.  We, as believers, are SUPPOSED to be weird; we are SUPPOSED to be different, even if it shocks the rest of the world.  

 

When we hate the haters...we are just like them!  Yet Christ called us to love those who hate us.  

 

Let me state the obvious here: 

Skin Color Is Just The Gift Wrap, The Gift Or The Curse Is What Is In The Heart! 

 

Look at the gift, not the wrapping.  BE the gift worth receiving!