“Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:15, ESV)
When I was a young boy I spoke to my mother of hating some particular thing. While I no longer remember what it was I expressed my hatred toward, I vividly remember the dialogue that ensued. My mother told me I should not hate anything, to which I responded, “Well then, I dislike it completely.”
While my mom found my wordsmithing humorous, it raises an interesting question: What is the difference between a mere dislike and hatred? How does one know when they have crossed the line from disliking someone or something to actually hating that thing or person?
Thinking to Believe 