In The Face of Hatred

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:19-23.

Today and since the beginning of human existance there have been many religions. Mankind is religious; we feel the need to worship something.

Some religions that presently make the news espouse hatred and variance. These ascribe to the working of the flesh—to the base nature of mankind. Their ways are violence and in violence they debase the meek, the gentle, the peaceful, and the longsuffering.

Yet the Good News of Jesus Christ is just the opposite. It is based on love that gives; that suffers long and that is gentle. Its fruit is unattainable through human means. This means that we simply will not love if we are walking in the flesh.

Yet, we have hope. We have hope for Christ has redeemed us from this world. That is, Christ’s Spirit resides within us; it speaks to us; it condemns our unjust deeds and it teaches us to love.
And in love and gentleness we teach and preach the ways of Christ. A way of love in an unloveable world; a way of peace in the face of hatred and variance.