Hate is a word that God does not really want in the Christian’s lexicon except it is used in the context of sin. Here we are probably allowed to let our hatred roll full steam, as long as it is sin we are hating and not the sinner. Moreso if that sinner is the person looking in the mirror!
3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. 4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. 5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. Psalm 17: 3-5
The Psalmist acknowledged a weakness for lies and purposefully declared that he would refuse to succumb to that temptation again. A declaration of hatred for a choice that offends God will receive divine help towards implementing the resolution from the One whose glory we seek. This self-declared zero-tolerance policy, when backed by a martial war stance against the sinful choice will be graced with the help of God’s Holy Spirit.
A Spirit-aided, cold-turkey approach works against sin more often than not. To do otherwise or do less than that would be to let the enemy know that one is not quite ready to end or stop said sin. Satan will seize upon a conciliatory, take-it-easy approach and fortify his temptation to deny Jesus a victory.
When it comes to repentance from sin and resolution to turn away from sin, we need those red lines.
Hilltop Thoughts, Valley Strengths 