Section 7
“You shall not hate any man; but some you should reprove, and concerning some you should keep them in your prayers, and there are others whom you shall love more than your very own life.
My child, flee from every evil and everything that resembles evil. “
Again, if we list out these points, we can spend more time on each point:
*Do Not Hate Anyone.
*Some you should Reprove.
*Some you shall Keep in your prayers.
*Some you will love more that your own live.
*Flee from every evil and everything that resembles evil.
The first statement, “You shall not hate any man”. Second only to Loving God, is one of the greatest instructions given to mankind and so often ignored by humanity.
The world suffers because of man’s inhumanity to man, a direct result have people having no love or compassion in their hearts for others.
We may struggle to find love in our hearts for those who are wicked, and we may be challenged even to like some people, but there is never a warrant for Hating anyone. God has forbidden it for those who follow Messiah.
Anyone who stands at a pulpit, claiming to be a servant of Messiah, but then summarily encourages hate in any form, is not a one of Messiah’s disciples
The next 3 statements:
*Some you should Reprove.
*Some you shall Keep in your prayers.
*Some you will love more than your own life.
Are interrelated, just as we are called to hate knowone, this does not mean we automatically treat all people the same way. You may not hate your co-worker, it does not meant you treat your co-worker on the same level you treat your parent, or child, for instance.
These instructions outline these different relations. Those you reprove are those who turn away from the Narrow Path of Messiah. Those you keep in your prayers are those who have not only turned away from the Narrow Path, but have no intention of listening to you speak to them of God, Messiah or the Narrow Path anymore. All that is left that you can do for them is pray that God has mercy on them and that He may show them the light before it is too late.
Last of these 3 instructions is “Some you will love more than your own life”. This is in relation to those nearest and dearest to our hearts: Our loved ones, it could be spouses, children, parents, grandparents, friends, family etc. That is the estimation of each believer. Why mention them? Wouldn’t a person automatically love their loved ones?
Yes and no. Sometimes we may love others but we don’t show this to them in our conduct. If we have love for others but never express this, how do those we care about, know how we feel about them?
Think of the number of children who have issues with their parents, in part, because some parents thought that expressing emotion was a sign of weakness and never showed their children any affection. Or perhaps, a parent spent all their time nagging or complaining and even if this was intended for instruction, the end result was that there is distance between that child and their parent. Maybe you never show your spouse or your parents or your family or friends how much you care, thinking that there is always tomorrow to show this. For some, tomorrow never comes and then it is too late.
This instruction is show the people you love how you really feel, while you have the time. One day, this opportunity may be gone.
Fleeing from every evil reminds us that while we are in the world, not to be of the world. But moreso, that it is far too easy to get caught up in worldly or wicked ways merely by association. The long-term effects are that we become desensitized to this wickedness. We take it for granted and allow the devil in the door, so to speak. Perhaps, rationalizing that detante with the wickedness in our lives.
But we are too remain ever-vigilant, never accepting what God has strictly and clearly told us not to accept. If the world will not stop its depravity and cruelty, then we are not to be around this wickedness or those who immerse themselves in this evil.
The direction to flee from evil and those who practice evil, is repeated often in the Didache, meaning its importance cannot be overstated. Seriously, Flee that which is of no use for your eternal soul!
What to take from this: I have no God-given right to hate anyone. If I would not wish the hatred of others upon me, then what right do I have to willfully hate others, when God has told me this is wrong?
Those who are in my life, I will fellowship with if they say faithful to the Narrow Path. If they veer, I will gently and clearly urge them to correct their behaviour and if they will not listen I will pray for them as at this point this is all I can do, their fate is in God’s hands.
I will avoid the wicken in everyway that I can. I will avoid adopting the ways of the wicked in my own personal life.
Practice: When you catch yourself in wishing ill will on another. Remember that it is not your job to condemn or hate anyone. That Judgment is only in the Province of the Lord. Those you feel you hate, work towards softening those feelings to a dislike. For those you dislike soften this feeling to an acceptance. It doesn’t mean you accept all they do (Love the sinner, hate the sin), but you do not actively or passionately hate them, and you do not actively dislike them.
Those you accept, develop feeling of general affect and understanding. Those you like, do the same till your like is a love and value of them in your life. And for those you love, please show them how much they mean to you. Don’t waste a moment in pointless bickering, aruing, petty disagreements and quarrels. Make peace, and cherish them.
Review how you spend your day. Do you spend time in a negative and spiritually unhealthy environment, or the company of those who are antipathetic to virtue? Seek every avenue to spend time with positive and God-centered people or alone if there are none. But avoid the wicked like the plague. If, by being virtuous, you are abhorrent to them, then the dye has been cast. It is not your job to change them, only yourself. If they seek the light, they will seek you out. If they seek the darkness as the light, they have made their choice and will answer to God for this one day.