Love defines us. Love defends us. Love sets us on our way.
Hate deludes us. Hate destroys us. Hate blocks our path.
Love and hate can be felt and described. Their effects can be witnessed and experienced. But neither can truly be well-defined. Love and hate are in a power struggle in the USA and on planet Earth. Given our current geopolitical and socioeconomic conditions, we humans are the play-actors in this struggle.
God loves all of creation, including the people who care for others as well as those who promote hate and discord. “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) God has an abiding patience with detractors, as with those who obey Jesus’ command to love thy neighbor as thyself. (Matthew 22:39)
The years 2000-2025 have been full of conflicting ideas about love and hate. We’ve seen hateful behaviors in the name of love, even in the context of following Jesus, such as the way white Christian nationalists carry their banner. We’ve seen threats and violence to the life and liberty of fellow human beings, rather than love for humanity. Several years ago, I noticed that the word “hate” was being spoken more frequently, almost daily, in public newscasts and podcasts. That’s when I started questioning: what’s going on with these culture wars, in the political arena, and even in some faith-based organizations?
Power dynamics between God’s will and human behavior are similar to struggles between parents and teenagers. Parents and rebellious teens sometimes do not reconcile their ill feelings, due to the dynamics of ego, hateful energy, and the unconscious influence coming from the spirit of hate. Some adults, consumed by hate, might not find their way to God’s love during their earthly lifetimes. Some victims of hate might die in the same traumatized state they experienced throughout their lives; browbeaten, confused, blamed, diminished, and hurt.
My question is: What is it going to take for we Americans to collectively choose love over hate?