Recently a child asked, "Why do we hate?"

That is a good question,especially since peacemakers and mediators have worked for centuries without being able to eliminate conflict and war. But it is especially a pertinent question to a child who may have seen extreme anger, even hate, between waring or divorcing parents.

While anger is an emotion that even our perfect God has, hate is a sinful aberration of anger. In fact, the Bible says, "Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him" (1 Jn.3:15).

The origin of hate is the spiritual defect of original sin, which resulted from the first sin of Adam and Eve. It was first evidence by the first-born son of Adam and Eve, Cain, whose hate led to the murder of his brother (Gen.4:1-15; 1 Jn.3:12-15).

The Apostle Paul counsels (Eph.4:26-27), "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."

God's love in Christ rescues us from slavery to hate, enabling us to even, as Jesus says (Lk.6:27-29), "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."