Love Stops Hate

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

A gun does not hate as much as a knife does not hate. Only people hate.  A gun does not pull its own trigger; rather hatred behind the trigger pulls it to harm the one who is hated.  A gun is not bias, it has no feelings, it does not seek one out to shoot and it cannot be blamed for any wrongs that are suffered due to the hatred of the one using it.  The same is true for a driver who is drunk, gets into a car and begins to drive.  The car cannot be responsible for the impairment of the one driving and gets into a collision and hurts other drivers. It is the irresponsibility of the driver who is at fault.  The same is true for anything used to hurt others.

The only control that will ultimately work in our society is “self” control.  No one can legislate to anyone who is out of control with anger, hate or animosity toward others.  It will not matter if there are bans on any weapons, if one is hateful and angry enough, he/she will find a way to use any means possible to carry out their attacks. 

It now seems to be a new normal that we hear of mass shootings in our nation.  It appears that our nation is reeking with hate, anger and revenge.  No longer is it “if” there will be another shooting, but “when” will there be another casualty to ones hateful, uncontrolled life.  No longer are these heinous crimes in far away countries or on the battlefields of war, rather, they have come to America in full force and with a vengeance. 

It is vital for believers in Jesus to be realist and ensure that we do not keep our heads in the sand and pretend that everything is ok.  It is not.  It is not ok for Jesus followers to draw a line in the sand and fight over who is right and wrong.  It is not ok for Jesus believers to be segregated by color, ethnicity, denominations or hatred for others.   

It is time for all of God’s people to rally together as one to help change the culture of our nation.  The Psalmist said, “How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!” Psalm 133:1 (The Message) Jesus prayed, “I’m praying not only for them But also for those who will believe in me Because of them and their witness about me.  The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So they might be one heart and mind with us.  Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.” John 17:20-21 (The Message) Jesus was not praying the unification of Baptist, Church of Christ, Methodist, Catholics, Assembly of God or anything church group, rather that all believers will be unified so that the world would know Jesus was sent by the Father to give all of us the opportunity for a life love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. 

The way violence is diminished is by Jesus followers to love God and love our neighbors.  The way hate-crimes stop is by the unity of Christians in a society and the reduction of segregated churches because of color and ethnicity.  The way self-control becomes an attribute in a society is by allowing the Spirit to fully take up residence in the lives of the believers.  The way mass murders stop is by loving God with all of our hearts, soul, strength and mind and loving our neighbors as ourselves. 

You see, when a community is being led by godly, Spirit-filled, unifying, loving, merciful, grace-oriented Jesus followers, it only stands to reason that love will lead, not hate.  Grace prevails, not hate.  Mercy demonstrates, not hate.  Forgiveness is plentiful, not hate. 

It is not up to the government to legislate a self-controlled, unifying, loving, merciful, grace-oriented communities across the United States of America, rather it is up to all believers in Jesus to weave ourselves within the communities we live in and teach by living the “Golden Rule”  and love unconditionally. 

Today, it begins with those of us who say we love God.  Jesus said, “They will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”  We must not allow Dr. King's powerful words to be spoken in vain:  “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

What are you willing to drive out?

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian