Why Should You Hate Evil?
Because love that doesn’t hate evil isn’t love at all
I remember telling a Christian brother about a man I saw blatantly throwing trash out of his car window. Frustrated, I honked at him. My friend just smirked, shrugged, and said, “It’s ok, man. I would have just kept rolling.”
That shrug also irked me.
I could tell you story after story of brothers and sisters who shrug at the evil around them—shrugging at what flashes on the TV, shrugging at the neighbor being bullied, shrugging at sin as if it were nothing.
But when will we stop shrugging? When will we hate what is evil and cling to what is good, like the Good Samaritan who refused to look away?
Scripture is clear:
“Let those who love the LORD hate evil.” (Psalm 97:10)
“Hate evil, love good.” (Amos 5:15)
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)
These verses led me deeper into Romans 12. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul reminds us that we are called to be living sacrifices. What we deserve is the full wrath of God. But because of Jesus, we now have a North Star. We have purpose. We live to glorify Him in all we do:
Love God and love others
Pursue sanctification
Make disciples
And here’s the truth we can’t miss: God’s hatred of evil flows from His love for the world. Evil destroys what He loves. He doesn’t want anyone to perish but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but longs for them to turn and live (Ezekiel 33:11). That’s why He sent Jesus—because “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.” (John 3:16).
So before we live out these purposes, we must know who we are and whose we are. And even before that, we must pursue Him daily—in His Word, in His world, in worship.
As that relationship grows, our identity strengthens. Our life purpose becomes clear. Our daily assignments—jobs, roles, and callings—take shape. And in that clarity, we begin to properly hate what is evil.
Proper hatred leads to proper response.
Never Finished Challenge: HATE
“Hate” is a strong word. I remember a song from my childhood that said, “Hate is a strong word, but I really, really don’t like you.” Strange as it sounds, those lyrics feel prophetic. Our culture has no boundaries, no prayers, no tears over what is truly evil.
So here’s my challenge: grow close to God by practicing three things daily. This doesn’t come overnight—it comes through consistency and showing up.
Read His Word first thing in the morning. Not for information, but for relationship. Ask Him for urgency and zeal. If mornings are hard, backward plan: go to bed earlier so you can rise earlier. If that is still challenging because of your work schedule, listen to Scripture as you drive, run, lunch break, or walk. Plug it in.
Pray. Not just meal prayers. Pray Scripture. Pray your frustrations and confusions. Pray for others. Pray until your heart bends toward God’s heart.
Fellowship. Surround yourself with believers who burn with urgency. You will become like the people you spend time with. Even at fifty years old, if your circle drags you down, you delay becoming who God has called you to be.
Every day we are being influenced. If the Light enters—through God’s Word—we have a fighting chance of reflecting Him when the world throws evil at us. And it will. Every single day.
What Does Today Say About God?
Terrifying.
“Mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.” (Psalm 97:5)
Think about that: mountains—the most immovable, unshakable forces we know—melt like wax before Him. Terrifying, but thrilling.
Because that presence now walks with us. That power goes before us. And that same presence wants to melt away our pride, sin, and indifference. The same God who hates evil is the same God who loved us enough to send His Son so that we would not melt under His judgment, but stand forgiven in His grace.
So when will you stop shrugging and let Him melt away what keeps you from Him?
What a Father.
What a Friend.
What a King.
Thank You, Jesus.