When I first saw the images of the attack on Israel, the first thing I thought was, “Hatred.” Yes, hatred is the contagion that drives these acts of violence. I have since watched the protests against Israel, many were carrying signs and slogans with horrible sayings on them against the Jewish people. Again, I thought, “Hatred.”

You see, every murder, every act of violence, every war springs from evil within the human heart. The motivation could be hatred, jealousy or greed but all of these acts spring from emotions hiding in the heart. In the case of the Israeli – Hamas War being conducted now, hatred is at the center of it all. People are taught to hate from the time they are little, and hatred pervades some people like a sick evil.

Like every other contagion, hatred is easy to assimilate into our bodies and souls. It is natural to pick up an offense and let it fester in our souls until it spews out of our mouths in some form of a derogatory comment. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I must fight the temptation to pick up this hatred in any form it comes to me. It could be in the aerosol of a newscast or in the germ of an article I read in the news.

I’ve thought a lot about what Jesus would have me do in relation to this conflict. Yes, I can choose sides, but I must choose not to hate. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5: 43-45.

How do I do this? I can pray for mercy on the non-military population. I can pray that innocent civilians will not get hurt. I can pray for aid to reach those who need it. There are lots of things I can pray for those I believe are in the wrong. I can pray for a lasting peace and an end to hostilities. I can pray for good leadership. The list goes on. And most importantly, I can pray that the contagion of hate will not permeate my own heart and soul.

Image by Astral Ember. Courtesy of PIxabay.