Blind Spots of Hate by John Avant
- Donna Avant
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
“Where love is present, we abstain from doing evil to one another. Indeed, we put our minds in the service of doing good, when we love one another.“
Isn’t that beautiful? It was written very early in the history of the church by Severian, a man considered an early church father.
But here’s the rest of the story. While Severian was writing the quote above, he was also engaged in a campaign to get another Christian leader exiled or killed! His name was Chrysostom and he was one of the greatest preachers in the history of our faith. Eventually Chrysostom did die in exile because of the very harsh conditions where he was forced to live.
Severian talked about loving others. But his behavior revealed his true character. Those who wrote about Severian said he was “filled with hate for Jews and heretics.”
I know what I mean by the word “heretic” but unfortunately these days the word can actually mean “anyone who disagrees with ME!”
Hatred rules and reigns in most circles these days. Sometimes it’s so shocking it’s truly inexplicable. How, for instance, after the holocaust, can antisemitism be so alive and well today? And often it's led loudly by protesters who support terrorists who would take away their right to protest as well as many other freedoms.
But we don’t have to look at the protesters on the street to see hate.
I see it pretty clearly in my own mirror.
Oh, I don't like to call my own thoughts, words and actions toward other Christians “hate” but often I am no different from Severian.
My blind spots just don’t show up well in my mirror
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
It’s possible this is the most disobeyed verse in the New Testament today.
Imagine what might happen if we actually prayed for a revival of love in the body of Christ beginning in our own hearts. What if the world watched our church business meetings and convention meetings and wondered why we are so different from the Republican and Democratic parties, rather than seemingly patterned exactly after them?
Imagine if those we disagree with the most saw us as the people with the towel and a basin rather than a picket sign?
Even as I say this, I fully realize there are faces I see in my mind that I am tempted to hate right now. Those who have hurt me and my family over the years.
The only hope I have is to turn my thoughts from those faces to another face crying for me on a cross, weeping over my sin.
Consider right now, intentionally thinking about the one person you are most tempted to hate. Right where you are, hear the weeping of the Savior as He forgives you and turn your face toward Him instead.
Perhaps if we do that often enough the Spirit of love who lives in us will begin to overflow from us, even to those we may hate.
Lord, let the revival of love begin!
And let it begin with me

Oh so convicting and beautiful. Thank you HOLY SPIRIT. GOD let revival begin