Is it possible to overcome hate with love, tolerance and grace? Let’s look at the possibilities. Please take a moment to watch the FREE GIFT video while you are on this page. It will change your life!
Today we will be discussing the following:
- Is it possible to overcome hate with love, tolerance and grace? (for more about grace click here)
- How hate erodes the container in which it is carried.
- How tolerance and acceptance are targets of a hateful spirit.
- What is the difference between tolerance and acceptance?
- How do you respond to hateful words and deeds?
- Why every act of hate must be met with an act of love.
- How to help each other grow in grace.
- How to extend forgiveness over hate.
- Escaping the hate.
- God is love.
Hatred Erodes the Container in Which it is Carried
Hatred erodes the container in which it is carried. We must protect ourselves from the mental and physical damage that is inherent when we allow hatred to remain a constant companion, when we stoke the flames and nourish that hatred. It is destructive.
How Hated Hurts the Hater
- zaps the spirit
- tarnishes the soul
- darkens our days
- removes joy in our lives.
Hatred is a powerful emotion. The word hate itself is a missile of destruction when directed at a person. It destroys individuals and relationships, tearing down unity of purpose and community.
Tolerance and Acceptance are Targets of a Hateful Spirit
Parents try to teach children to be tolerant of others and to accept those who may not be just like them. But can we be tolerant of unacceptable behavior in others? We teach acceptance of differences; however, when those behaviors overstep the general rules of society, that being the conformity of society, problems naturally occur.
What is the Difference?
Striving to be tolerant of others so long as they bring no harm, or to accept different behavior patterns than those we practice, can often produce a stressful learning situation. We must learn to differentiate between when to tolerate and when to step away and reconsider. Being pushed constantly by beliefs and actions that do not meet our own criteria may result in the building of hate within us. Learning how to cope with those feelings is required in order to maintain a calming and productive atmosphere. Is it possible to overcome hate with love, tolerance and grace?
Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own belief. Rather it condemns the oppression and persecution of others.
John F. Kennedy
Being tolerant of others is not a sign of weakness. It does not mean we change our convictions. We learn to communicate and interact with kindness, compassion, and a gentler way.
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Galatians 6:9-10.
How do You Respond to Hateful Words and Deeds
We need to be measured in our response, not igniting more hate. We must learn to tread lightly, love greatly and to pray without ceasing. This is not an easy assignment. It is monumental in our daily response. Find a safe outlet for anger, frustration and the need to retaliate.
An ongoing hateful manner; a finding of fault in anything and everything; and being abrasive in our communication with others, often produce physical maladies as well as emotional and social problems. If that dark cloud has entered your life, tell yourself this is not acceptable. This behavior can be altered.
Others do not have to be exactly like me. We can choose not to spend time with trouble-makers. Make allowances for others as needed. Is it possible to overcome hate with love, tolerance and grace?
Every act of hate must be met with an act of love
Bridge the gap of communication breakdowns. We develop maturity and understanding as we confront our own off thinking. Then we must seek to grow in our ability to interface with those who may not think, act or look like we do.
We are free to choose how we live, how we interact, but we are not free from the consequences of our choices. It takes a stronger person to interact calmly and reasonably than for the one who frequently goes on a rant while losing self-control.
Helping Each Other to Grow in Grace
Let’s help each other out:
Let’s strive to be a part of the solution rather than the problem. Our children deserve a world with less hate and more love. We must show them how to make a difference and make a better world when they ask “is it possible to overcome hate with love, tolerance and grace?”
How to Extend Forgiveness Over Hate
- Extend the grace of forgiveness and the willingness to restore broken relationships.
- Demonstrate a deep respect for other cultures, races and walks of life. Practice diversity and inclusion. Build bridges and restore relationships. Defuse with well chosen words.
- Hate escalates: love restores order. Tread lightly. Love greatly. Pray without ceasing. Knock down fences of misunderstanding.
- Learning to exist peacefully, to disagree constructively, and to be able to work together productively on issues that are necessary for society as a whole, is a step in the right direction. We all need to address these issues in our lives and become kinder, more encouraging to others, and even smarter in our interchange.
Jesus set the pattern in his Word as to how to deal with old hatreds, prejudices, and people of different levels of education and income. This is the way out of an acrimonious society– may we learn how to walk in it.
- Let us seek to be compassionate, tender hearted, generous, gentle and wise.
- May we remember that humor is a solvent against the abrasive elements of life.
- And may we be dependable and ever ready to lend a helping hand.
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
Escaping the Hate
This will seem too easy to believe. You can change your version of the world. We are what we think.
Dwell on the good news, on stories of people doing good deeds, of people building their world, of the good work that hospitals and schools do. Look for the good news. Chances are the good news stories will outweigh the bad news.
Share good news. Greet people in a friendly manner. Smile, wave, laugh, run and play. This behavior is contagious. As your inner soul is regenerating, recharge your playful self. The exercise will work off the bad vibes. There will be a merging of your renewed inner self with your outer behavior. Joy and enthusiasm will replace anger, fear and rage.
This is the way out – walk in it. Trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord and live a life that is conducive to loving, sharing, encouraging and helping others .
We must leave the task of condemning others to someone else. We will hold fast to truths, fairness, equality and service. Is it possible to overcome hate with love, tolerance and grace?
God is Love: God Commands us to Love
The Lord Jesus Christ gives us the command:
Jesus said “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
Jesus said ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.’
Luke 6:27
The famous quote from Martin Luther King reads “Hate cannot drive out hate – Only love can do that.” A worthy admonition, for sure.
This is Agape love – unconditional.
The type love that God extends to us. It is only through His work in us that we are able to extend that type love to those who seemingly hate us and seek to destroy us.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
John 4:11
That is a lot of loving. God loved us so much that He sent His own son to die for our sins. It is only by His power in us that we are able to forgive and love and share his love with others.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:35
This is another Jesus quote about loving our fellow believers.
How can we do this?
These are high goals and possible only by the indwelling Spirit of God that lives in the heart of believers. When we yield to God, He will remove the hate and show us how to love our enemy.
We are called to be bold leaders for justice and peace in this world. By the grace of God, may we be empowered to make a difference and share love in our little part of God’s beautiful world.
Give thanks for all the blessings in life. There’s a better world coming – Heaven – with the absence of sin – but the presence of our Lord God – Praises!
Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14.6
If you would like to have. the power of Jesus Christ within you to help you overcome hate with love, I invite you to watch FREE GIFT video on this page. It will change your life forever.
