The danger of hate

Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. - 1 John 2v7-11

There are a few clear tests whether or not we are walking in the light. One of them is spelled out here.

It is impossible to have hate for the brethren while walking in the light. The two are totally incompatible. They just don’t work together. The same truth is repeated over and over in this passage. It could not be any clearer. ‘If you say you love your brother and hate your brother you are in darkness…anyone who hates his brother is in darkness, walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going because he is blinded by the darkness.

Only God knows the heart. Only He knows if the words we speak are motivated by true hate, an angry spirit, or just an angry moment.

Either way, showing what appears to be hatred toward a brother is a poor testimony at best. At worst, it is evidence of an even more serious problem.