You Can’t Love God And Hate People
It’s a paradox to profess a deep love for God, yet dislike or even despise people. Worse still, to degrade, criticise, or condemn someone based on their beliefs, preferences, or shortcomings. This applies to everyone—whether it be a parent, partner, sibling, boss, co-worker, stranger, or friend. No one is exempt from this command. We are not just called, but commanded, to love our neighbours as we love God.
1 John 4:20 states: “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
The True Measure of Loving God
Ultimately, the way we treat others demonstrates how much we truly love God. The way we accept others reflects how God has accepted us through Christ. The way we forgive others shows how much we understand the weight of what we have been forgiven. The way we handle disagreements with those who have different points of view says a lot about our spiritual maturity and understanding of God’s grace.
Love and Acceptance
A key point to remember: love and acceptance do not always equate to support or agreement. There are people in my life, both close and distant, whom we can choose to love and value, even if I disagree with aspects of their behaviour. It’s a misconception to think that love requires condoning every action.
Love Is an Action, Not Just a Word
Love is the true mark of faith and Christianity. Love is more than a word—it’s a verb, an action, an outward expression.
It’s about:
Making time for those around you.
Being present for a grieving friend.
Praying for a stranger in need.
Giving generously of your time and resources.
Showing grace to family members.
Serving God’s church passionately.
Fighting against evil and injustice.
Using your words to uplift and empower, not to criticise or tear down.
Being compassionate towards those you disagree with while pointing them back to Christ.
The Power of Kindness
Romans 2:3-4 reminds us that it is God’s kindness that leads people to repentance—not His correction, anger, or even conviction, but His kindness. Kindness, simply defined, is the quality of being generous, caring, and affectionate. It’s incredible to consider that the God of the universe draws us in, not by demand, but by gentle invitation.
Our Responsibility: Love and Patience
People must ultimately choose to respond to Jesus, but that decision is their responsibility. Our responsibility is to show love and patience.
“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not just the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22)
The Primacy of Love
God’s number one priority will always be people, and His method to reach and restore them will always be through the demonstration and proclamation of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 13 in The Passion Translation (TPT) says:
“If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to nothing more than a clanging cymbal.”
Love Never Fails
Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honour. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offence. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in wrongdoing.
“Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.”
When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I set aside my childish ways.
For now, we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face. My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything. Until then, three things remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all.
So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.
I fall short on so many of these regularly, but I pray God’s heart would be my heart. I hope that my actions, not just my words, would demonstrate His gospel. Because seriously, who wants to be a clanging cymbal?
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article reflect my personal Christian beliefs and are not intended to be imposed on others. Readers are encouraged to explore their own spiritual and professional beliefs in line with their values.