Loving Others part 1

 When Godly People Feel Hate toward Unbelievers

  "I do not sit with the worthless or associate with hypocrites; I hate a crowd of evildoers, and I do not sit with the wicked." Ps 26:4-5

I don't know if Jesus would utter these words as the Psalmist does. There is this "tension line" that needs to be defined as Christ-ones. God needs to teach me how to love my neighbors and yet hate all that is sinful. When Christians feel hate towards another person similar to the Psalmist above, how can a Christian respond as Christ would rather than this Israelite? 

In the Psalms, in the Old Testament we see that the Law brings condemnation and therefore people felt it ok to "opt-up" of neighborly love if their enemy is unquestionably an offense to God. Why else would the Psalmist have a right to profess such hatred towards his neighbors. Its the Law's implication rather than the grace at the cross of Jesus.

In living amid the wretched, the Psalmist wants God to be glorified and sin punished. In looking at Psalm 10; 12; 14; 26; 83 I see the Psalmist wishing harm on another person in at least one verse of each Psalm. What is important to note is that the writer doesn't wish to take matters into his own hands; he is asking God to execute the harm instead –to make Himself known to the wicked.  

"So pursue them with Your tempest
and terrify them with Your storm.
Cover their faces with shame
so that they will seek Your name Yahweh.” Ps 83:15-16.

The imprecatory Psalms like 7; 35; 69; 22-29, 83, 109 The writer goes a step further almost taunting God into action: "Do it God, he's offended You, Your Law says you just can't let that slide." Praying like this requires a clear understanding of the situation, the person, the sin, the Law, and God's righteousness. Here anger towards another person is being dealt with by bringing it to God -not placing the toaster next to your enemy’s bath tub. I can't say that I have prayed like this often. But when a predator is evil seeking only to devour… may it be them who is devoured instead of another victim. 

The problem I have with treating my neighbors this way -even though they may be the worst kind of evil; praying this way seems to ask God to forget His Son's purchase on the cross. Jesus has grace for the very ungodly. But if the innocent are murdered then yes; it is a difficult prayer.

  

Keep in mind that in each of these Psalms the writer wants/prays for the wicked person or the society around them to know who God is via the punishment. One of my teachers prays for unbelievers similarly: "Lord get their attention." He doesn't go so far as to wish them affliction or harm, but rather that God would do whatever it takes to bring the revelation of His mercy in Christ to an unbeliever.