How to Respond to a Hater
I am tired of haters. Watching a group of Americans stand united to promote discord and bigotry is revolting.
We are all created in the image of a holy God. We all bleed red. We are all sinners in need of a Savior.
Pride and animosity are tools of the enemy birthed in the pit of hell to keep us captive to our sin and brokenness.
It pains me deeply that the stain of bigotry still blackens the hearts of so many of my neighbors and continues to bludgeon those who’ve experienced malevolence for hundreds of years.
We should celebrate the beauty of God’s creation, rather than cry for cookie cutter commonality.
How do I respond to vitriol and vindictiveness? All week long, I’ve wanted to curl up in the fetal position and cry “Jesus, fix this.” But He reminded me how He already laid down His life to overcome this hellishness.
We don’t need to preserve monuments or more marches. We need transformation. We need the Holy Spirit to do surgery in our stony hearts.
Only a supernatural work of God’s redemption can right the wrong we’ve created.
As I pressed in to Jesus this week for comfort and clarity, He reminded me how He experienced bigotry and hostility. He understands and offers hope to the hurting today. Jesus defied hatred to defeat hell.
The Savior who loves us and laid down His life for sinners is not surprised by hatred. He knew we’d experience this evil, and He provided a primer to show us how to defeat the enemy.
How to Respond to a Hater
Exercise discernment
Wisdom teaches us when to speak and when to stay silent. Our job is to continue extending grace, promoting peace and putting God’s Word into practice.
“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16, NLT)
Follow the Spirit’s Leading
Don’t worry about how you will frame your response. The Spirit of the Resurrected Christ lives in you and will teach You what to say.
“When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:19-20).
Refuse to Quit
Put perseverance into practice. Rather than rant and rave, rehearse God’s promises.
“And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22)
Fear God Above All
Run toward righteousness and reverence your Redeemer. The world will witness your worship and see the wonder of God.
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
Confess Christ
Acknowledge your total allegiance to the Savior. Use every opportunity to declare the Good News that Jesus gave His all to save us from our sins.
‘Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32, NKJV)
Surrender Selfishness
Die daily to your flesh. Crucify every carnal inclination.
“If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.” (Matthew 10:38, NLT)
Find small ways to Serve
Wash the feet of a hurting hater, and you may just help heal an open wound. Hospitality often turns foes into friends.
“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” (Matthew 10:42)
The love of Christ trumps hate and transforms hearts.
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In these days of crazy news, I think we’re all looking for positive ways to respond and to help those who are proximate to the center of the crises (which seem to be on repeat).
Thanks for adding a sane and helpful voice to the mix.
I am not sure how sane I am, MIchelle! But, I definitely am praying for God to help me love well. Let there peace on earth — and may it begin with me.
Lyli, thank you for pointing us all to the wisest solution of all – love like Jesus. Only as hearts are changed and filled with His love will we then be able to see change. It all comes back to our hearts. May He fill my heart with His love so that His love is poured out on those around me.
On my own, I am pretty much a hater. Thankfully, meeting Jesus has helped me be a little less selfish every day. (He’s still working on me though!)
Thanks, Lyli! The world seems to be coming apart at the seams. When I do watch and listen I am persuaded that beyond the human vitriol and violence, there is a dark force at work seeking to divide and destroy this county (a force of evil beyond humankind). As I have watched black masked and black dressed persons in city after city, I sense demonic work afoot. The body of Christ needs to look more like Him than ever before, modeling love, discernment and wisdom while standing for justice for all. Man does not have answers for this and government doesn’t either. Only God can move to transform the hearts of all of us. Our bodies should be praying fervently and remembering our responsibility to steward the gift of freedom in Him wisely. We also need to be looking up to Him an remembering that the Word has pointed to how much more of this may well occur before He returns. Will we be ready? Will we be His watchman?
Yes! Watch and pray. The battle will be won on our knees. I totally agree, friend.
I was reading in Jeremiah 4 this morning. I think the Lord wants us to step out, to be a blessing for Him, despite the fact that it seems overwhelming and unchangeable we need to stand with the Lord. From Jeremiah 4 in the NLT:
“O Israel,” says the Lord,
“if you wanted to return to me, you could.
You could throw away your detestable idols
and stray away no more.
Then when you swear by my name, saying,
‘As surely as the Lord lives,’
you could do so
with truth, justice, and righteousness.
Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world,
and all people would come and praise my name.”
Love that, Loretta. He is so faithful to show us which way to turn.
All the hate around us breaks my heart too. Thank you for reminding us how to respond when facing haters.
Lovely to connect with you today, Michelle. Your blog is beautiful. 🙂
Truly, in these situations where we feel led to respond, seeking God’s wisdom and discernment is essential. Been wrestling with this…. Thanks Lyli for tackling a difficult but vital topic.
Sadly, there is so much hate and anger on all sides. Our world needs Jesus more than ever before. May we have the courage and wisdom to offer the love of God as you have so beautifully said.