One of my lifelong bottom lines is that we continually misuse the word “hate.” From the angry adolescent who “hates” brussels sprouts served at dinner to grown adults “hating when that happens,” I question the use of the word. I even sometimes question the phrase “hate crimes” — not because of any lack of compassion. My thought is more that any crime intentionally directed at another is motivated by hate. Hence, crime is hateful.
So in trying to wrap my small brain around what happened in Belgium on Tuesday, I find myself wavering once again between shock, anger, denial, and throwing something semi-breakable at the newscast on my high definition TV.
How could a person do that?
How could they be so open to evil?
How could they care so little about the life of another person?
And don’t get me started on this one… If these men at some point attempt to proclaim that they were motivated by God or by faith… please. No omniscient, loving God would advocate the intentional killing of the innocent. No, their supposed faith is nowhere close to authentic or good.
There exists, no less, a valid reason to feel “hate.” While I much prefer peace (and am very thankful for my friends who consistently advocate for such), I do see a place for hate. Note the following: it’s limited, rare, and not self-driven.
Read that again: Limited. Rare. And not self-driven.
Where I’ve come out on this after extensive wrestling — and what I’ve tried to semi-humbly teach my kids — is that hate is valid if our hate is consistent with what the great big God of the universe hates. What does he hate? Here are six things… and one more that he loathes with a passion:
“Eyes that are arrogant,
a tongue that lies,
hands that murder the innocent,
a heart that hatches evil plots,
feet that race down a wicked track,
a mouth that lies under oath,
and a troublemaker in the family.”
Near 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, two blasts detonated in the departures terminal at the airport in Brussels. It was one of the busiest times of day in one of the busier weeks of the year. Windows shattered. Ceilings collapsed. Hundreds bled. Just after 9 a.m., another blast occurred at the metro station. At least 34 people have died.
The radical Islamic terrorist group, ISIS, quickly claimed responsibility for the attacks, which occurred four days after the surviving suspect in the November Paris attack — in which 130 people were killed — was finally arrested.
More attacks may be planned. In fact, one evolving chief concern is that the radical Islamic group may now be firmly implanted in Europe; there have been three large-scale terrorist attacks in Europe in solely the past 15 months.
So allow me to now use the word “hate” appropriately. I hate what these terrorists did. I hate what they still plan to do. I hate what motivates them… arrogant eyes, murderous hands, evil plots, and feet racing down nothing less than a wicked track. I hate that.
God be with the families in Belgium.
(Now looking for something to throw at my TV.)
Respectfully…
AR