Eric Hoffer (1898-1983) was a longshoreman working the San Francisco docks when he published his provocative book The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements. He explored the nature of fanatical, extremist movements including Fascists, Nazis, and Communists.

A force that unifies these movements is hatred. Hoffer wrote: “Mass movements can rise and spread without belief in a God, but never without belief in a devil.” In essence people want a devil to hate more than a God to love. Does that sound outrageous? I don’t think so when you look at how the world works.

Although Hoffer was an atheist, he saw religion as a positive force in the world–except when it became consumed by hatred. I have seen it happen. I received a phone call once from a woman inquiring what Lutherans believed. Concerned about how we differed from Roman Catholics, she became outraged that I didn’t condemn all Catholic beliefs and practice. In her mind a good Christian hates Catholics.

I have frequently encountered this sort of attitude. We are told to hate Jews, Muslims, non-believers, liberals, conservatives or anyone else who disagrees with us. Christianity becomes wrongly defined not by the Lord we love but by the people we hate. This has interfered tremendously with evangelism efforts.

Hatred eats at the human soul. We should avoide it for our own sake as well as for the sake of its victims. Whenever we hear a fellow Christian talk about hating people, we need to stop them. We must turn our hearts to love, not hatred.

Read 1 John 4:17-21 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne