Interesting verses at the end of Psalm 139 (verses 19-22): "If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies." The basic message here: Those who love God hate those who hate God.
But elsewhere in the Bible Jesus himself says "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5). Jesus is talking to Christians, so surely their enemies would include those who hate them because they hate God. And Jesus tells them to love them and even pray for them.
It's not easy being a Christian and walking the very fine line between law and gospel! Adding to the complexity is that we ourselves are sinners just as much as the next guy. We too were enemies of God until God loved his enemies and made us his children. May God guide us as we strive to "hate sin while loving the sinner."
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