God’s Assessment of Hate Crimes

The world is at war. There is enmity between men. There is conflict between angels. The whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 Jn 5:19), who is the ruler of this world (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), and who the Apostle Paul also called, “the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4).”

Besides blinding the minds of unbelieving people, so that they will not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Cor 4:4), the devil is the father of lies (Jn 8:44), who deceives the whole world (Rev 12:9). He is lord over the spiritual forces of wickedness, which dominate in this present evil age (Gal 1:4), manifesting as the world forces of darkness (Eph 6:12). These are to be resisted (Jas 4:7).

For these reasons, the natural man walks in darkness (Jn 8:12; 1 Jn 2:11), even loving the darkness because his deeds are evil (Jn 3:19). When the wicked have their evil deeds exposed by the Light (Jn 8:12; 9:5; Eph 5:11), they will not come to the Light for fear of being further exposed (Jn 3:20). They hate the Light. They love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking what is right (Ps 52:3).

The eyes of Yahweh are in every place, watching the evil and the good (Prv 15:3), and He will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil (Eccl 12:14; 2 Cor 5:10). The wicked are twisted. They call good “evil” and evil “good (Is 5:20).” God’s people are to abhor evil and cling to what is good (Rom 12:9), even overcoming evil with good (Rom 12:21).

God hates those who do iniquity (Ps 5:5; 11:5), that is, sinners who break God’s Law (1 Jn 3:4; Jas 2:10). As a just Judge (Gen 18:25; Jn 5:30), God punishes sinners with perfect righteousness (Mt 25:46; Jude 7), sentencing them to the lake of fire for eternity (Rev 20:14–15). God is right in His hatred and His wrath, but is it right for sinners to be haters of God (Rom 1:30)?

Jesus said to His disciples, “He who hates Me hates My Father also (Jn 15:23).” In this, the world hates the Father and the Son without a cause (Ps 35:19). David implies too voluminous a number to count, when he suggests they number more than the hairs on a head, those who would destroy him/Christ…if they could (Ps 69:4; Jn 15:25).

The world’s hate crimes against Christians are also too numerous to count. Jesus calls the world’s hate crimes against His body of people, Himself, and His Father…”sin (Jn 15:22).” For which the world has no excuse. Many kill Christians thinking they are doing service to God (Jn 16:2).

Jesus’ precursory warning to His disciples was meant as a “heads up” or a “be on the alert” warning for persecutions to come from the world (Mt 5:10–12). Jesus’ argument was that a slave is not greater than his master (Jn 13:16; 15:20), saying, “If the world hates you (Christian), you know that it hated Me before it hated you (Jn 15:18).” To take up one’s cross and follow Jesus means a walk of suffering, in some likeness to the sufferings of Christ (Rom 8:18; Col 1:24; 1 Pet 2:21), for if we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with Him (Rom 8:17).

What is the reason for the world’s hate crimes against God and His people? The world hates God because He is three things in particular, and He infuriates the wicked by doing this one particular thing. The prophet Isaiah said it best, “For Yahweh is our judge; Yahweh is our law giver; Yahweh is our King; He will save us (Is 33:22).”

God has fixed a day when He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed (Acts 17:31). The standard for judging the whole earth is the Law given by Yahweh to Moses (Rom 2:12). The whole earth will writhe in pain (1 Thess 5:3), as the King of kings comes to execute judgment on the living and the dead (1 Tim 6:15; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5; Rev 19:11–21).

The world knows that the wrath of God is kindled against all of its ungodliness and unrighteousness (Rom 1:18). Christian preachers, who are good and faithful servants, do confront those who wish to usurp Christ Jesus on His throne, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come (Mt 3:7; Lk 3:7)?”

The children of the devil (1 Jn 3:10), that is the sons of disobedience (Eph 2:2) are the children of wrath awaiting the great and terrible day of the Lord (Joel 2:1; Mal 4:5; Eph 2:3; 1 Thess 5:2–3). Job knew, “For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity. They will be led forth at the day of fury (Job 21:30).” Here is the reason for the nations, the world, to rage against God and His anointed (Ps 2:2).

Jesus did good works among those who crucified Him (Jn 15:24). Still, the Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19). Jesus chose His own out of the world because His elect people are not of the world (Jn 13:18; 15:19). They belong to Him (1 Cor 3:23), and for that reason they believe in Him (Jn 10:26), having received His Spirit of adoption (Rom 8:9).

The cosmic coup d’etat by him who is armed with cruel hate, is both political and religious. Lucifer is the author of confusion; and his anti-Christian spirit is at work and has been throughout world history. Satan wants to be God, and he promises his followers that they too shall be as gods (Gen 3:5). And so, they appear as bright and morning stars in Hollywood; Washington D.C.; Brussels; Geneva; and in every hall of fame of every kind.

The world loves its own (Jn 15:19), but Jesus loves His own (Jn 13:1). Christians cast their cares upon Him, for He cares for us (1 Pet 5:7), having granted us all His precious and magnificent promises (2 Pet 1:4). Isaiah knew that Yahweh would save the remnant people (Is 33:22), the Israel of God, and the Apostle Paul knew it was a done deal, “He saved us (Tit 3:5).”

God has passed His hate crime bill into Law and the whole world is guilty of hate crimes against God, against Christ Jesus, and against Christians in every nation. Waiting patiently for far more than social justice, God’s redeemed people in His presence cry out, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth (Rev 6:10)?”

The judge, law giver, and king has issued His statement in reply, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me to render to every man according to what he has done (Rev 22:12).”

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

March 13, 2021