The Masaka thanksgiving sermon from the church

By Pastor  Andrew Muwanguzi 

The necessity of hating evil.

Scripture: "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." - 1 Corinthians 13:6

As Christians, we are called to love unconditionally, but does that mean we should tolerate evil? The answer is no. Love and hate may seem like opposing forces, but in reality, genuine love requires us to hate evil.

Striking a balance between loving others and not loving evil can be challenging, but here are some biblical principles to help us navigate this:

1. Love the person, not their evil actions: Jesus loved sinners but hated their sin (Mark 2:15-17, Luke 7:36-50). We can love people without condoning their evil behavior.

2. Hate the sin, not the sinner: Romans 12:9 says, "Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." We hate the evil actions, not the person created in God's image.

3. Speak truth in love: Ephesians 4:15 says, "Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." We share truth to help others grow, not to condemn them.

4. Pray for those who perpetuate evil: Jesus taught us to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Praying for those who do evil can help us love them without loving their evil actions.

5. Set boundaries: Loving someone doesn't mean tolerating harmful behavior. Set boundaries to protect yourself and others from evil (Matthew 10:16, Proverbs 1:10-19).

Remember, loving others doesn't mean accepting evil. By following these principles, you can strike a balance between loving people and hating evil.

Here are three reasons why love must hate evil:

1. Evil destroys what love values: Love values life, dignity, and righteousness. Evil, on the other hand, seeks to destroy these very things. When we hate evil, we are protecting what love holds dear.

2. Hating evil is a form of love for the victim: When we hate evil, we are standing in solidarity with those who have been harmed by it. We are saying that their suffering matters and that justice is necessary.

3. Love and hate are not mutually exclusive: We can love the person while hating their evil actions. In fact, loving someone means wanting the best for them, which sometimes means confronting their evil behavior.

In conclusion, love and hate are not opposites; they are complementary forces that work together to promote truth, justice, and righteousness. As Christians, let us embrace this paradox and hate evil while loving the people caught in its snare.

Pastor Muwanguzi Andrew, Head of Training and Leadership Development, National Unity Platform.