BiblicalInsights.net

Recently, the South Florida Avenue Church of Christ had on one side of its marquee, “‘Homo-Phobia’ Is A Misnomer;” and on the other side, “God Hates Sin But is Not ‘Sin-Phobic.'”(The Harvester, June, 2018, vol. 38, no. 11).  Some of the responses to the sign were: “Shame on you for encouraging hate.  This is not Christian.” “This is hateful and Jesus would be ashamed of you.” “I was under the impression that God doesn’t hate anything.”  These statements betray a lack of understanding of how the word “hate” is used in the Bible and especially how it is used of God.  The fact that God is love does not negate the fact that there are some things that God hates.  The question is: in what sense does God hate?
Hate Defined
There are three senses in which the word “hate” is used in the New Testament.  (see W. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, vol. II, p 198).  First, the word hate is used of “malicious and unjustifiable feelings toward others, whether toward the innocent or by mutual animosity (Matt. 10:22; 24:10; Luke 6:22,27; 19:14).  Second, the word hate is used of a right feeling of aversion from what is evil (Rom. 7:15, Heb. 1;9; Jude 23, Rev. 2:6).  Third, the word hate is used of a relative preference for one thing over another by way of expressing either aversion from or disregard for the claims of one person or things relative to those of another (Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:13; John 3:20).
Hate and God
God never hates in the sense of #1 “malicious and unjustifiable feelings toward others.  This hate is a sin.  God does hate in the sense of #2, He has a strong aversion toward evil.  And, He hates in the sense of #3, when He manifests a relative preference for one person or thing over another.  It is simply false to say that God does not hate anything (see Proverbs 6:16-19).  In addition, God hates:  (1) arrogance, Amos 6:8; (2) evil hearts, Zech. 8:17; (3) false worship/idolatry, Deut. 16:22; Isa. 1:14; 61:8; Jer. 44:4, Amos 5:21; (4) divorcing legitimate spouses, Mal. 2:16; and (5) wickedness, Psa. 45:7.  God showed a preference for Jacob over Esau, Rom. 9:13 where the KJV states that God hated Esau.  Jesus hated the doctrine of the Nicolaitans (because it was false), Rev. 2:6, 15 and as the Messiah has a strong aversion toward iniquity/false doctrine, Heb. 1:9.  The Messiah hates lawlessness.
Summary
There are some things that God hates.  God hates iniquity, wickedness, false worship/idolatry, and false doctrine, but, that does not make God sin-phobic.  If we hate (have a strong aversion for evil) that does not make us sin-phobic either!  Love rejoices not in iniquity (I Cor. 13:6).  Here, love and hate (strong aversion for evil) are correspondent.  Hatred in the sense of malicious thoughts and actions toward others is forbidden in God’s Word (Gal. 5:20). This type of hatred is a work of the flesh.  Love is the opposite of this type of attitude and conduct.