Are Christian Ministries “Hate Groups” for Believing the Bible?

“Hate Group”—An Arbitrary Designation

The EHC has arbitrarily made itself the authority by saying that anyone who doesn’t agree with them is a hate group.

Of course, this immediately raises the question, “Who gets to decide what is extreme, hateful, or a hate group?” The EHC has arbitrarily made itself the authority by saying that anyone who doesn’t agree with them is a hate group.

This ignores the obvious fact that many liberals and liberal organizations frequently spew hateful, demeaning, profanity-laced language toward those who disagree with them. (Just view some of the comments on my Facebook and Twitter, and you’ll quickly see what I mean!) Why are they not considered hate groups? It’s arbitrary to designate groups that stand against sinful behavior as “hate groups,” and it’s based on nothing but the coalition’s own values and beliefs. Ultimately it’s a symptom of the spiritual battle raging around us, because those who are “dead in trespasses and sin” (Ephesians 2:1) do all they can to “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

“Extremist,” “Hate Crimes,” and “Hiding Behind Christian Values”

Now the article reporting on this new coalition was sprinkled with problematic and troubling words and phrases. I thought I would pull some of them out and provide some commentary:

• “accusing [socially conservative organizations] of hiding behind ostensibly Christian or family values.” So if you’re a Christian appealing to God’s Word as the foundation for your thinking, you’re “hiding behind ostensibly Christian values”? Essentially they are saying that Christians need to abandon their starting point and instead adopt secular views (i.e., man’s word as their starting point). We could just as easily say that they are hiding behind secular values and need to start their thinking with the Bible. And if they don’t, we could just as easily label them as hate groups.
• “alarmed by a surge in reported hate crimes.” Because the coalition doesn’t provide a definition or description of these “hate crimes,” it’s unclear whether this means physical violence against LGBT people or something as nonviolent as a baker refusing to bake a cake for a gay wedding. Now if there has been a surge of physical violence, that is wrong of course, and we can appeal to the foundation of God’s Word to say that it is wrong. But it’s likely they are simply decrying anything that implies that gay “marriage” or transgenderism is wrong.
• “the campaign will pressure the media to use the hate-group designation for about 50 organizations.” Why is it the media’s job to ensure that socially conservative groups are referred to by provocative titles such as “hate group”? It isn’t the media’s job to push a leftist agenda (though many, actually the majority these days, in the media seem to think it is)! Sadly, instead of being an unbiased source reporting facts, the media has often become a mouthpiece for groups who attack Christians and conservatives and to spread liberal ideas and beliefs. This partnership highlights the spiritual battle that we’re all in today (Ephesians 6:12).
• “extremist groups.” It’s disturbing that socially conservative groups are considered “extremist groups,” a label that was once reserved for actual violent extremists such as ISIS in the Middle East. They are trying to create the perception in the public that Christians are a threat on the same level as Islamic terrorists simply because we disagree with their views on marriage and sexuality.

How Do We Stand in This Culture?

We’ll only continue to see Christians targeted for their biblical beliefs.

The ministry of Answers in Genesis, the new Ark Encounter, the Creation Museum, and I personally have been accused of proclaiming hate speech by those who oppose our messages—which is God’s message from God’s Word. The same level of intolerance you see exhibited by liberals against free speech have been leveled at Christian organizations like AiG for years—and such intolerance is growing in Western nations.

We’ll only continue to see Christians targeted for their biblical beliefs. After all, this is a spiritual battle and Jesus told us,

If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:18–19)

So what can we do in the face of this growing intolerance of anything Christian? Here are three things:

1. Refuse to give up your starting point. Giving up God’s Word is like a soldier throwing down his sword before going into battle. The Bible is the foundation for our thinking and, as Christians, it can’t be any other way. Remember, Noah stood firm in a culture where the whole world, except eight people, had rebelled against God!
2. Check your motives. Are you standing against gay “marriage” and transgenderism because you are disgusted by the sinful behavior, or because you love your Savior and hate the sin that He also hates? Do you sincerely want all people—including LGBT people—to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, or do you just want them to agree with your views? Convincing people that gay “marriage” or transgenderism is wrong really does nothing if we don’t point them toward the one who can forgive their sin and give them new life! Our goal should always be God’s glory and the gentle, loving proclamation of the gospel!
3. Check your attitudes. Are you sharing the truth from God’s Word in a loving and gentle way? When Jesus dealt with sinners, he—the perfect, holy God who hates all sin more than you can imagine—was gentle and kind. (For example, see Jesus’ dialogue with the Samaritan woman in John 4.) How can we be any less?

We can do exactly what Christ instructed—do his business until he comes again (Luke 19:13), and that business is proclaiming the gospel (Matthew 28:19).

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.