I would like to write to all of you today about a cancer that is eating away at this society and causing many to stumble and to sin because of the sins of their fathers. The sin we are tripping all over is the most important sin in the Bible and that is the use and practice of the deadliest of sins - HATE. Just exactly where does hate come from? It comes from you and me and our attitude towards people who are different from us whether it is in culture, color, beliefs or our own skewed perceptions of why we don't or won't get along and accept these differences as just plain old differences between human beings created in God's image. It comes from other family members and people's opinions based on dealings with one member of a particular group indicting the group as a collective instead of dealing with an individual one on one. It comes from our friends and our family. Remarks are made within our peer group so we may appear cool or "one" within our group magnifying stereotypical behavior that leads to negative characterization of any group or what we think it stands for. Are you willing to risk the loss of heaven for the sake of being cool? Are you willing to risk losing your soul because you disagree with the Almighty's choices when He created the races? Or are you willing to take a stand when you hear or see racism and hate or are you so desensitized to it that you no longer care or are even aware that it's happening? Hatred is summed up in the bible like this in 1 John 2:9 "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness" We are further instructed in Ephesians 4:31 to "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." Hatred we are told in Proverbs, stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs." Regardless, we are all human beings and children of God and as such, are expected to follow His great commandment of loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. God makes no distinction between black or white, red or yellow. God's only interest is in the whole being and their soul nothing else matters which is as it should be. The bible tells us in Matthew 5:43-44, Jesus speaking, "You have heard that it was said, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy. "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..." When asked by the Scribes what the greatest commandments were, Jesus replied in Mark 12:30 that, "the foremost islove your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." "The second is this, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." There is no other commandment greater than these." The same theme appears in Matthew 22:36-40 where Jesus tells the Sadducees in verse 40; "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." When we really sit down and take God's word and practices into account, the differences between the races of the entire earth are not that great. We all want health for ourselves and our families, we all value honesty, loyalty, friendships and love. We all seek peace and want our children to prosper. We are all proud of what we have and who we are; we all have strong ties to family and our community. We all bleed the same color, have the same hopes and fears, feel the same disappointments and have the same dreams for ourselves and our children. Why can't we have just friends instead of feeling like we have to qualify or categorize our relationships? Well my white friend so and so or my friend who and who, a black guy I know You say but Dr. Chas, so and so does this that bugs me or you know how they all are.I've got news for you my friend you better get yourself over it because the Person who is interceding for you to the Father before judgment is pronounced is a little shade of all the races and doesn't give a hill of beans about your outward appearance. We will all stand judgment regardless Are you willing to risk the loss of heaven for the pains of hell? Steven Tyler, lead singer for the wildly famous rock group Aerosmith says in one of their songs that if you can tell the wise man by the color of his skin, mister you're a better man than I. The international singing group, Up with People, asks what color is God's skin it's black, brown its yellow it is red it is white; everyman's the same in the good Lord's sight. Martin Luther King Junior once stated in his now famous "I have a dream speech", "I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident : that all men are created equal." I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" Do we even bother to see what others are like on the inside before we judge their outward appearance? Why not? God does and so did His Son Jesus Christ and we should follow their example in all our dealings. When God created everything on the earth, He saw that it was good and declared it so. Who then are we to disagree with the Most High Almighty God? Hate is something that is taught, not something we're born with. It is learned from our parents, friends and from the warped minds of various secular groups throughout the world. I remember one Saturday I took my niece and nephew to our local McDonalds and bought lunch. It was one of those that had the indoor play area. Inside the play area there were 4 children. One was black, another white, one was Asian and the last was Hispanic. All the children were laughing and playing and chasing each other all the way through the maze of the play area. They had no apprehension or fear towards each other and played without a care in the world. I thought to myself what a wonderful world it would be if we could all get along like this. The parents all watched their kids, each other and not a word was spoken by anyone there. It just fascinated me that all these children were brought together and for a brief moment shared something without barriers, malice or hatred. The bible, God's infallible word tells us in Psalm 133:1 that we should "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!" Additionally, God's word states in James 4:12 the perils of being hypocritical by stating "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy you. But youwho are you to judge your neighbor?" Acts 10:34-35 says that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you were baptized in Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus Galatians 3:26-29 God does not judge by external appearance Galatians 2:6 Christ tells us in John 7:24 to Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment I ask the Lord at this time to let the Holy Spirit lay a conviction upon your soul about lingering hate or bigotry and that you would ask for God's forgiveness to heal you this very day. Our Father tells us "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:14-15) He also reminds us in Ephesians (4:32), to "Be kind to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you." If you don't know forgiveness, you'll never understand or be ready for salvation. So ask yourself this, "What must I do to be saved?" 1.)Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. This is not a promise of a perfect life quite the opposite! Jesus said "Take up your cross and follow me!" You may be ridiculed, lose friends, lose jobs and be persecuted for your beliefs. If this happens, and more times than not it will, praise God for this tells you without a doubt that you are His child and when the day is over and everything is said and done, that's all that matters. 2.)Confess your sins. Bring all your sins to the cross of Jesus. Christ's blood has the power to cleanse all sins don't hold anything back! God knows everything but He wants you to come to Him freely and make your confession. 3.)Repent of Your Sins. What does it mean to repent? To repent is to completely turn away from old habits that cause you to stumble or sin in the first place. 4.)Live a Godly life. Christ said in John, Chapter 11 that "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even if he dies" In John 14 he reiterates this statement and adds that "no one comes to the Father but by me" There is no name under heaven other than Jesus that will unlock the gates of heaven to you when you die. None of us are guaranteed anything. You and I may die today, only the Father knows the appointed time. Wouldn't it be nice to know that you've laid up for yourself treasures in heaven? If you do not know where you'll go when you die, I would encourage you to examine your heart, listen and wait upon God and the Holy Spirit to work in your life. There is no decision you and I will ever make that's more important than this one. If you've accepted Christ as your Savior, please pray this prayer with me; Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve hell, but You sent Jesus to die for my sins. I believe that He died and rose again and ask You now to forgive my sins, once and for all. I now receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. Please come into my heart and save me. Help me to know that I am saved and help me live for You the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray Amen God patiently waits on those who seek Him. If you're unsure of your relationship with our Father and with His Son Jesus Christ, contact me. Together, we'll seek guidance from the Father to eliminate those things which are interfering with your walk with God.

Copyright 2010 Dr. Myers is an Independent Christian Minister and a Biblical Counselor with an Honorary Doctorate in Psychology, and a Masters in Divinity with a PhD in Biblical Studies. He is also a motivational speaker and writer and may be reached at; [email protected] All Scriptures taken from the Zondervan 1984 NIV and used with permission.