Is America Full of Hate? The Conversation We're Not Having

 

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Biblically speaking, there are positive and negative aspects to hatred. It is acceptable to hate those things that God hates; indeed, this is very much proof of right standing with God. “Let those who love the Lord hate evil” (Psalm 97:10 a). Indeed, the closer our walk with the Lord and the more we fellowship with Him, the more conscious we will be of sin, both within and without. Do we not grieve and burn with anger when God’s name is maligned, when we see spiritual hypocrisy when we see blatant unbelief and godless behavior? The more we understand God’s attributes and love His character, the more we will be like Him, and the more we will hate those things that are contrary to His Word and nature.

Is America full of hate? That’s the question many are asking after a recent spate of high-profile and disturbing incidents. In just one week in late September, a man armed with an automatic rifle murdered 22 people at a restaurant in suburban Denver; a man sent explosive devices to prominent critics of President Trump, including several Jewish leaders and former Vice President Joe Biden; and, in response to these events, the president tweeted a video of him beating up another person with the face of CNN labeled as “Fraud News Network.” If you think we’re living in a particularly hateful moment — one highlighted by divisive rhetoric from our leaders — you’re not alone. But the answer isn’t as simple as that. There is ample evidence to support this claim, but this phenomenon is not new. This type of hate has always existed in America but recurs cyclically throughout history. It’s an essential distinction because figuring out why these events continue to repeat themselves is the key to resolving them. So let’s explore what is driving this current resurgence of hate and what we can do about it.

 
A Brief History of Hate in America

That America has a long history of hate is not news. It’s in our DNA. We were founded as a nation on the principle that certain people aren’t worthy of being part of our collective “we” — that they’re “others” who don’t deserve to be treated like “we” do. Given this, it makes sense that there have been several cyclical upsurges of hate in American history. The first significant one was in the early 19th century when a movement of “nativism” — or fear of cultural or racial change — was directed against newly arrived Irish and German immigrants. In the 1850s and 1860s, during the era of western expansion and the Civil War, there were two more violent upsurges: one against Native Americans and another against African-American slaves and freedmen. Each of these movements featured the signs of modern hate: false propaganda, dehumanization, and the use of violence. They culminated in a tragedy: the Native American population in the U.S. declined by about 90% in the 19th century, and black people were terrorized and subjected to the Jim Crow system of segregation and discrimination until the mid-20th century. During these eras, many people of conscience tried to speak out against the hate and warn of the tragic consequences it would bring. But they were ignored.

However, the hatred that is negative indeed has to be that which is directed against others. The Lord mentions hatred in the Sermon on the Mount: “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment” (Matthew 5:22 ). The Lord commands that not only should we be reconciled with our brother before we go before the Lord, but also that we do it quickly (Matthew 5:23-26). The act of murder itself was certainly condemned, but hatred is a “heart” sin, and any hateful thought or act is an act of murder in God’s eyes for which justice will be demanded, possibly not in this life but at the judgment. So heinous is the position of hate before God that a man who hates is said to be walking in darkness, as opposed to the light (1 John 2:9, 11). The worst situation is that of a man who continues professing religion but remains at enmity with his brother. The Scriptures declare that such a person is a liar (1 John 4:20 ), and he may fool men, but not God. How many believers live for years pretending that all is well, putting on a front, only to be found finally wanting because they have harbored enmity (hatred) against a fellow believer?

 
The Myth of American Exceptionalism

American exceptionalism is the belief that the U.S. is qualitatively different from other nations. It is a core premise of President Trump’s political philosophy (and his brand of right-wing nationalism). It also infects many other political ideologies and its proponents often use it to justify the idea that the U.S. is immune to the kind of “bad things” that happen in other countries. But this myth of American exceptionalism is a distraction from the real issues facing our country. It is a myth because, in fact, hate and other social ills have been present in America as long as there has been an America — since the beginning. So this is nothing new. What is true is that America has been a leader in many positive social and political movements, including the abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage, and civil rights for black people and other minorities. These are all things worth celebrating. But they don’t negate the fact that hate is deeply rooted in our history and culture, and it is cyclical in nature.

 
Code Words and Hidden Meaning

Many of the talking points that fuel hate are framed in terms of “freedom,” “security,” and “American values.” This is why it’s important not to take these terms at face value but to think critically about what they actually mean and to whom they apply. For example, many of the leaders who promote the idea of building a border wall use the argument that it will protect the nation from “illegal” immigrants who are coming here to do us harm. This is an example of “dog whistle” politics — a coded language used to appeal to the prejudices of a particular group of people. “Illegal” immigrants are a made-up group that doesn’t actually exist. All immigrants who come here without proper documentation are violating the law — that’s why they’re called “illegal.” Yet we conveniently forget this and speak in terms of “them” being “evil” and “us” being “good.”

 
An Outgrowth of Institutionalized Racism

The hate that is currently being stirred up in the U.S. is, in part, a continuation of the racism that has always been present here — but it’s also a reaction to the tremendous demographic and cultural change that has taken place in the past several decades. We’ve become more diverse and less white, and we’ve become more globally interconnected. This has created more economic and cultural competition, and it’s brought more people of different backgrounds and cultures into our country. All of this seems to be triggering a backlash among certain people who feel that their “way of life” is being threatened. They fear that they no longer “own” their country and that they don’t have the same opportunities as other people.

 
A Culture of Violence and War as Entertainment

We’ve also become a more violent society in recent decades. We are attracted to images of violence and war, and we’ve created a culture in which these things are seen as entertainment. We’ve also become more isolated and self-focused. We’re less likely than ever to know our neighbors, and we’re less likely to engage in civic activities like voting or volunteering for charities or community organizations. This has created a climate in which people become more susceptible to the fear-based messaging of the hate-mongers, because they have less opportunity to engage with others and get the facts that would contradict these messages.

 
Where Do We Go From Here?

The good news is that hate is not a new emotion, nor is it an emotion that is unique to America. There is ample evidence that all societies have the capacity to hate and inflict harm, and we see these tendencies in both our history and our present. The difference between now and other historical moments is that our society has never been as connected as it is now, and we have more tools at our disposal for propagating hate and triggering violent responses. So how do we respond to this challenge? First, we need to recognize that hate is a cyclical phenomenon. We must learn from the past, study the patterns of history, and recognize the signs of its cyclical nature. This will help us to not get caught up in the hysteria of the moment and keep us from making knee-jerk reactions that might make the situation worse. Second, we must continue to speak out against hate in all its forms and call out those who promote it. This is essential and will be increasingly important as we move into the 2020 election cycle. Third, we must use all the tools at our disposal to promote understanding, encourage dialogue, and break down barriers between people of different cultures, races, and backgrounds. This is the only way to overcome the fear and ignorance that breed hate.

 
Conclusion

This podcast is meant to help us better understand the current state of hate in American society.

Hatred is a poison that destroys us from within, producing bitterness that eats away at our hearts and minds. This is why the Scriptures tell us not to let a “root of bitterness” spring up in our hearts (Hebrews 12:15 ). Hatred also destroys the personal witness of a Christian because it removes him from fellowship with the Lord and other believers. Let us be careful to do as the Lord advised and keep short accounts with everyone about everything, no matter how small, and the Lord will be faithful to forgive, as He has promis