Did Jesus Teach Hate?
According to a Superbowl advertisement last Sunday evening, "Jesus didn't teach hate. He washed feet." Is that the truth? One might respond initially, "If He just washed feet, why did they crucify Him?" One would think, from the commercial, that Jesus spent much of His time washing people's feet, but it only occurred on one occasion, which is described in John 13. Jesus did not travel about washing people's feet indiscriminately; He only performed this action once on the feet of His twelve apostles. And then it was to make a point about humility. Jesus did enter into cities, villages, and towns and work miracles, thus proving His Deity (Mark 6:54-56). The advertisement did not mention that practice.
Jesus also taught the Word of God wherever He went. Did He teach hate? Jesus taught, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26). Yes, Jesus taught that people should hate everyone on earth, including oneself\God more. This verse cannot be used to justify harming others due to prejudice or animosity. Jesus is the One who taught, "Love your enemies" (Matt. 5:44). He is the One Who died for the sins of all mankind—even as they were exhibiting hatred against Him on the cross! Jesus showed how to love, but it was not by washing feet.
Ads against hatred have been on radio and television for some months. At first, they were in defense of the Jews who have been the victims of hate crimes in many locales. And there ought to be wholehearted agreement against racial prejudice, whether against Jews, Blacks, Orientals, Hispanics—or anyone else. Suddenly, however, someone inserted hatred against homosexuals in those ads, which is totally inappropriate. What race are they? What nationality are they? No one chooses the race he will be when he is born. Homosexuality is a choice. No, we are not saying that homosexuals should be hated—but that they do not fit the category of those persecuted for their race's sake.
A further problem exists. Those who oppose the practice of homosexuality on Biblical and moral grounds are themselves accused of being hatemongers. If that is the case, then Jesus is one, also, since He condemned fornication—a Greek word which includes homosexuality. The world will never agree with Jesus' call to holiness because their deeds are evil (John 3:18-20). They like the message of loving one's enemies, the golden rule, the forgiveness extended to the woman taken in adultery or to the thief on the cross. But how many like the message of repentance from sin (Matt. 4:17; Luke 13:3)? Those who have no intention of giving up sin in their lives are just using Jesus for their own purposes.