Hate is Important
While studying Matthew 14 this morning, I read the account where Jesus was telling His disciples that anyone who comes to Him must hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, if he wants to be His disciple. This is one of those paradox's of God's word that requires careful analysis and interpretation if one is to understand it within it's context. Romans 12:14 tells us to bless those who persecute us. Matthew 5:44 tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Luke 6:27 tells us to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us. It is one of the most profound things about a true follower of Christ that he can look into the face of one who wants to kill him and tell him God will forgive him and grant him a place in His kingdom for eternity if he will repent, forsake his sin, and follow Jesus.
Knowing these things, we must wrestle with what He means when He says we must hate those close to us if we are to be His disciple. One could easily write a book explaining this problem. Actually, I wrote that book. I called it Conversion verses Discipleship, so I'll refrain from waxing too eloquent here. Suffice it to say, this is a statement of monumental contrasts. What Jesus wants us to realize is that when we compare our love for Him with our love for those close to us in this life, they must be relegated to the level of hate. That is to say, our love for anyone of His creatures should appear as hate when contrasted with the all consumming love we must have for Him. The rigorous life of the disciple does not grant him the luxury of wallowing in the muck and mire of daily living. I believe I love my wife as much as any human is capable of loving another human. That said, she knows such love is only possible because of the all consumming love I have for my Lord Jesus. She is the second love of my life, whom I believe I would gladly sacrifice my own life to save if that need ever presented itself. But the fact remains that she is the "second love" of my life. And I believe it nears blasphemy to suggest my love for her anywhere nears the love I have for God. I counseled a parolee once who had gone to prison for assaulting his wife and abusing his children. Interestingly enough, he claimed to love both more than he loved God.
Jesus uses similar reasoning when He declares it would be better to enter the kingdom of God without an arm and an eye than to be cast into hell whole. Certainly, the statement is true; but cutting off one's arm or plucking out his eye completely misses the point. It is man's heart that needs healing, not his eye nor his arm. The eye and arm are only instruments of the heart. So, while the statement is true, there will be plenty of people enter into eternity in kingdom of hell without arms or eyes.
God's word is filled with many paradox's, so it behooves us to study it carefully so we don't end up in some cult doing stupid things in His name. There are too many such cults to count. Some of them have gained incredible respectability, in some cases even identifying themselves as Christians, so be careful beloved. Don't be sucked into a cult by placing too much emphasis on your feelings. Godly emotions are the natural overflow of pursuing Jesus above all else. Be a Berean. Always make sure your emotions don't ignore the warnings and insights He provides us in the revealed will of God as given to us in His word.

"For unless one's heart is made soft by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit of the living God, eternal life after physical death will consist of eternal torment, agonizing thirst, and unbearable heat." (copyright D.L. Purkey 2009)