What made me decide to google this question? Does God Hate? I told a fellow Christian that God loves the person commiting the sin, but He hates the sin. Hate is such a strong word. I wanted to do some research about the subject and the following is what I found when I Googled "Does God Hate?
http://www.trosch.org/the/god-hates.htm
Does God Hate ?
Hatred, anger, vengeance, and the wrath of God !
"Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames." [Lk. 16:24]
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If you believe in the teachings of Sacred Scripture as being truth,
then continue reading. If you do not accept the Bible as authoritative
then do not bother reading further as you are without faith.
No one has the authority to diminish or reverse God's Holy Word!
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In our present age there is a tremendous focus on the statement, "God is love." There are only two passages that make this statement in the whole of Sacred Scripture. Both of these passages are found in close proximity in the same book of the Bible. God is Love, means that God is the source of love and is loving – but, disobedience brings hate and wrath. NOTE: Mankind does not need to be told many times what it wants to believe anyway. What needs to be strongly reinforced is what men do not want to believe.
"Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love." [1 Jn. 4:8]
"We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love,
and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him." [1 Jn. 4:16]
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While it is certain that God does love –this is the reason Jesus died on the cross– it is equally certain that God not only loves, but that He also Hates.
Some synonyms for hate (to detest) are: venom, rancor, revenge, malignity, abomination, abhorrence, animosity, abhor, execrate, scorn, despise, look at with loathing, spit upon, anathematize, curse, swear eternal enmity, dislike intensely, shudder at, have enough of, be repelled by, feel repulsion for, have no use for, object to, bear malice, bear a grudge against, spurn, shrink or recoil from, disparage, shun, nauseate, tread or trample underfoot, denounce, resent, curse, be sick or tired of, reject, revolt against, hold cheap, deride, have no taste or stomach for, disfavor, look down upon, feel malice toward, be malevolent, hold in contempt, be disgusted with, view with horror, owe a grudge to.
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Is the Lord open to forgiving everyone?
(Jesus) answered them, "The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that 'they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.' " [Mark 4:11-12]
Not only those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit, but also others are not to be considered worthy of forgiveness due to the gravity of their offenses. Those who knowingly commit grave evils after receiving instruction in truth are accountable to the Lord.
"But whoever blasphemes against the holy Spirit will never have forgiveness,
but is guilty of an everlasting sin." [Mark 3:29]
Does God hate?
Many passages in the New Testament talk of God sending certain classes of people to Hell. God would never send anyone He loved to Hell. When one has ultimately rejected God's love, God stops loving them and places them where they can be of no disturbance to those who have completed their process of acceptance of His love, that is, those who have reached eternal life.
It should be obvious that God hates evil together with those who have deliberately chosen evil. If one believes that God has not and will not ever send a human being to Hell, then such person is a heretic and is under the penalty of automatic excommunication.
"Many are invited, but few are chosen." [Mt. 22:14]
"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." [Mt. 7:13-14]
Since Jesus made it clear in the Gospels that over half of the population will go to Hell, then it must be acknowledged that God hates at least 50% of those who die (everyone will die). It should also be obvious that the fallen angels lost God's love and became hated by God who then took vengeance against them. COMMENT: If you have read this far and are asking yourself, "Where is the Biblical proof for the statement that over 50% do not enter Heaven," then you have missed the significance of the two preceding "quoted" passages from the Gospel of Saint Matthew. (Many read the Word of God without making an effort to understand what is being said. Jesus often did not speak plainly so that those not worthy of salvation would not have understanding of His messages and be saved.) One also might reflect upon Zechariah 13:8-9.
"Learn then that I, I alone, am God, and there is no god besides me. It is I who bring both death and life, I who inflict wounds and heal them, and from my hand there is no rescue. "To the heavens I raise my hand and swear: As surely as I live forever, I will sharpen my flashing sword, and my hand shall lay hold of my quiver. "With vengeance I will repay my foes and requite those who hate me." " [Dt. 32:39-41]
"Honesty is lacking, and the man who turns from evil is despoiled. The LORD saw this, and was aggrieved that right did not exist. He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was none to intervene; So his own arm brought about the victory, and his justice lent him its support. He put on justice as his breastplate, salvation, as the helmet on his head; He clothed himself with garments of vengeance, wrapped himself in a mantle of zeal." [Is. 59:15-17]
Sacred Scripture on God's Hatred
"You are not a god who delights in evil; no wicked person finds refuge with you; the arrogant cannot stand before you. You [God] hate all who do evil;" [Ps. 5:4-5]
"Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, faithful God. You hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD." [Ps. 31:5-6]
"Your throne, O God, stands forever; your royal scepter is a scepter for justice. You love justice and hate wrongdoing; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellow kings. [Ps. 45:6-7]
"For I hate divorce, says the LORD, the God of Israel, And covering one's garment with injustice, says the LORD of hosts; You must then safeguard life that is your own, and not break faith." [Mal. 2:16]
N.T. "Your throne, O God, stands forever and ever; and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. You {Jesus} loved justice and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions"; [Heb. 1:8-9]
N.T. "But you have this in your favor: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I {Jesus} also hate. " ' "Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the garden of God." ' [Rv. 2:6-7]
"As long as the Israelites did not sin in the sight of their God, they prospered, for their God, who hates wickedness, was with them. But when they deviated from the way he prescribed for them, they were ground down steadily, more and more, by frequent wars, and finally taken as captives into foreign lands. The temple of their God was razed to the ground, and their cities were occupied by their enemies." [Judith 5:17-18]
"Abominable wickedness the LORD hates, he does not let it befall those who fear him. When God, in the beginning, created man, he made him subject to his own free choice." [Sir.{AKA: Ecclesiasticus} 15:13-14]
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It is because God's love can and often does turn to hate that He is to be feared. It is prudent to fear (have great respect for) the power of God.
N.T. "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I (Jesus) hold the keys to death and the netherworld." [Rv. 1:17-18]
Sacred Scripture on Vengeance
"Then the just shall rejoice to see the vengeance and bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked." [Ps. 58:10] Then it will be said: "Truly there is a reward for the just; there is a God who is judge on earth!" [Ps. 58:11-12]
"But this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, vengeance on his foes! — The sword devours, is sated, drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts holds a slaughter feast" [Jer. 46:10]
"My vengeance upon Edom I will entrust to my people Israel, who will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger and my fury; thus they shall know my vengeance, says the Lord GOD." [Eze. 25:14]
"A jealous and avenging God is the LORD, an avenger is the LORD, and angry; The LORD brings vengeance on his adversaries, and lays up wrath for his enemies;" [Nahum 1:2]
N.T. "Do you not think that a much worse punishment is due the one who has contempt for the Son of God {how many there are who show contempt for Jesus by receiving Him in the Holy Eucharist with unconfessed sins}, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was consecrated {many reject the teaching of the Bible and the Church about the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and are under condemnation}, and insults the spirit of grace? We know the one who said: "vengeance is mine; I will repay," and again: "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." [Heb. 10:29-31]
"God indeed will not delay, and like a warrior, will not be still Till he breaks the backs of the merciless and wreaks vengeance upon the proud; Till he destroys the haughty root and branch, and smashes the scepter of the wicked;" [Sir.{AKA: Ecclesiasticus} 35:22-23]
N.T. "Then (Jesus) said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored." [Mk. 3:4-5]
Sacred Scripture on Wrath
N.T. "He said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones." [Lk. 3:7-8]
N.T. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him." [Jn 3:36]
N.T. "The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them." [Rm. 1:18-19]
N.T. "Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance? By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God," [Rm. 2:4-5]
N.T. "God must be true, though every human being is a liar, as it is written: "That you may be justified in your words, and conquer when you are judged." But if our wickedness provides proof of God's righteousness, what can we say? Is God unjust, humanly speaking, to inflict his wrath? Of course not! For how else is God to judge the world?" [Rm. 3:4-6]
N.T. "What if God, wishing to show his wrath and make known his power, has endured with much patience the vessels of wrath made for destruction?" [Rm. 9:22]
N.T. "But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose; it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer. Therefore, it is necessary to be subject not only because of the wrath but also because of conscience." [Rm. 13:4-5]
N.T. "All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us," [Eph. 2:3-4]
N.T. "Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient." [Eph. 5:5-6]
N.T. "Because of these the wrath of God is coming (upon the disobedient)." [Col. 3:6]
N.T. "As I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter into my rest." ' "Take care, brothers, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God." [Heb. 3:11-12]
N.T. "Out of his mouth came a sharp sword to strike the nations. He (Jesus)will rule them with an iron rod, and he himself will tread out in the wine press the wine of the fury and wrath of God the almighty." [Rev. 19:15]
"You have brought your wrath and anger down upon us, as you had warned us through your servants the prophets:" [Bar. 2:20]
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"So Moses told the people, "Select men from your midst and arm them for war, to attack the Midianites and execute the LORD'S vengeance on them." [Nm. 31:3]
"Now, therefore, says the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah! I will take vengeance on my foes and fully repay my enemies!" [Is. 1:24]
"A jealous and avenging God is the LORD, an avenger is the LORD, and angry; The LORD brings vengeance on his adversaries, and lays up wrath for his enemies;" [Nahum 1:2]
N.T. "We know the one who said: "vengeance is mine; I will repay," and again: "The Lord will judge his people." [Heb. 10:30]
"Delay not your conversion to the LORD, put it not off from day to day; For suddenly his wrath flames forth; at the time of vengeance, you will be destroyed." [Sir.{AKA: Ecclesiasticus} 5:7]
"The Most High himself hates sinners, and upon the wicked he takes vengeance." [Sir. 12:7]
"Think of wrath and the day of death, the time of vengeance when he will hide his face." [Sir. 18:24]
"Mockery and abuse will be the lot of the proud, and vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion." [Sir. 27:28]
"The vengeful will suffer the LORD'S vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail." [Sir. 28:1]
"wreaks vengeance upon the proud; Till he destroys the haughty root and branch, and smashes the scepter of the wicked;" [Sir. 35:23]
"You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance, and a prophet as your successor." [Sir. 48:8]
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Questions to ask oneself
Does God set good example or bad example?
When instructing us does God always tell the truth?
Did God make up stories that were not focused upon reality?
Is not the intent of the Word of God to give lessons in faith and morals?
Why would God teach about salvation if there are no consequences for sin?
Does God expect us to follow His example?
Can God love evil or those who willingly become evil and do not repent?
While it is clear that God the Trinity intended to give those They created [Gn. 1:26] every opportunity to do what is right and just – and that They did everything in Their power to avert us from doing wrong, and that by Jesus' personal witness They desired to encourage people to turn from evil – it should also be clear that those who reject Their forbearance (patient restraint) are deserving of nothing but Their eternal hatred and wrath.
Just as there is a point in time that God no longer loves –no longer has forbearance– but hates, so it is expected that there be a point in time in which His followers will cease being forebearing and act in accordance with the dictates of justice as guided by the Word of God. While Jesus did not want the common sinner (inadvertent or humanly weak sinner) to be uprooted (one that might repent), His eternal Word also made it clear that there are grave evils that must be dealt with quickly.
"A bruised reed he will not break,
a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory." [Mt. 12:20]
"Moses also said to Korah, "Listen to me, you Levites! Is it too little for you that the God of Israel has singled you out from the community of Israel, to have you draw near him for the service of the LORD'S Dwelling and to stand before the community to minister for them? He has allowed you and your kinsmen, the descendants of Levi, to approach him, and yet you now seek the priesthood too. It is therefore against the LORD that you and all your band are conspiring. For what has Aaron done that you should grumble against him?" [Nm. 16:8-11]
Then, when Korah had assembled all his band against them at the entrance of the meeting tent, the glory of the LORD appeared to the entire community, and the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Stand apart from this band, that I may consume them at once." But they fell prostrate and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will one man's sin make you angry with the whole community?" The LORD answered Moses, "Speak to the community and tell them: Withdraw from the space around the Dwelling" (of Korah, Dathan and Abiram).
Moses, followed by the elders of Israel, arose and went to Dathan and Abiram. Then he warned the community, "Keep away from the tents of these wicked men and do not touch anything that is theirs: otherwise you too will be swept away because of all their sins." When Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing at the entrances of their tents with their wives and sons and little ones, Moses said, "This is how you shall know that it was the LORD who sent me to do all I have done, and that it was not I who planned it: if these men die an ordinary death, merely suffering the fate common to all mankind, then it was not the LORD who sent me. But if the LORD does something entirely new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them alive down into the nether world, with all belonging to them, then you will know that these men have defied the LORD." No sooner had he finished saying all this than the ground beneath them split open, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their families (and all of Korah's men) and all their possessions. They went down alive to the nether world with all belonging to them; the earth closed over them, and they perished from the community. But all the Israelites near them fled at their shrieks, saying, "The earth might swallow us too!"
So they withdrew from the space around the Dwelling (of Korah, Dathan and Abiram). And fire from the LORD came forth which consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense." [Nm. 16:19-35]
Those who are complacent (indifferent) about sin are among the worst of sinners. Those who do not believe in sin are, with uncommon exception, delusional (living in a world of fantasy). If you are interested in finding out whether or not you have been deceived by the humanism that is present not only in the world but also in the Church, you should read the book found on this web site entitled, "Make All Things Right with God." While the basis for the book is preparation for the Sacrament of penance –now commonly referred to as the Sacrament of Reconciliation,– it gives many explanations regarding sin not found elsewhere. If you are truly self-righteous, like the publican in the Gospel passage, you will not benefit from reading the book. Whether God sends you to Heaven or Hell is a result of the choices you make while in this life.
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"Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind."
Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not also blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, 'We see,' so your sin remains." [Jn. 9:39-41]
Hypocrisy (within the context here used is the having of knowledge of God and using it for one's own benefit while rejecting its truths) is the greatest evil that exists short of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Such hypocrisy is the substance of self-worship, the worshiping of a false God. It is self-idolatry. The extreme of hypocrisy would be the having of a mandate to teach, to have authority over souls, to rise in authority, and then use the authority of Jesus to one's own personal advantage. To call oneself a follower or a disciple of Christ and not put that discipleship into action is also hypocrisy.
The failure to use one's position of authority for the good of souls through whom glory is given to God is grave abuse. Giving glory to God is not achieved though the singing of numerous songs of praise by those not putting His Word into practice.
"Whoever speaks on his own seeks his own glory,
but whoever seeks the glory of the one who sent him is truthful,
and there is no wrong in him." [Jn. 7:18]
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A last comment: Some say that one sends oneself to Hell by sinning. In one sense this is true. But, no one actually enters Hell through his or her own action. No one willingly places himself into a condition of pain and eternal suffering. Just as the fallen angels were rounded up and forced into the eternal pool of fire, so will it be with all who are found guilty of commission or omission on judgement day. They will be sent to (forced into) Hell at the judgement of God.
There would have been little reason for Jesus to have died on the cross in the manner in which He did unless God had been trying to convince us of the horrible consequences of sin. A minor cut or even a pinprick, in obedience to God the Father, would have been sufficient to satisfy the requirement of shedding blood for sin if sin was rare or there were no grave consequences for sin in the next life.
The gravity of the evil conditions, under which Jesus suffered and died, were intended to give witness to the consequences of sin for those who earned the hatred of God. If one does not come to recognize how evil sin is, and turn away from evil, God the father will project hatred and offenders will suffer His eternal wrath. Considering the gravity of the suffering that the innocent Jesus endured, we are expected to understand that His sufferings were small in comparison to what unrepentant sinners will have to endure for eternity. (NOTE: The quotations below are all from the New Testament)
N.T. "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." [Mt. 25:41]
" 'Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,
bring them here and slay them before me.' " [Lk. 19:26-27]
"The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom
all who cause others to sin and all evildoers." [Mt. 13:41]
"The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers,
and burned their city." [Mt. 22:7]
". . . then he will send out the angels and gather (his) elect
from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky." [Mk. 13:27]
Father David C. Trosch
3rd Sunday of Advent, 1998
Revised: 17 December 1998
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