Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” This verse teaches us that as Christians, we are called to genuinely love others, while abhorring or hating evil and clinging to what is good.
To “abhor” something means to hate it, detest it, or regard it with disgust. The Greek word translated “abhor” is apostygeo, which means to feel horror and repugnance towards something. So when Paul instructs us to “abhor what is evil,” he is telling us that as followers of Christ, we should hate, detest, and be repulsed by evil.
What Does Evil Refer to in This Verse?
In this verse, “evil” refers to anything contrary to the holy and righteous character of God. Evil includes obvious sins like murder, theft, and adultery, but also more subtle attitudes and actions like greed, envy, pride, hatred, deceit, and selfishness. Anything that goes against God’s perfect law and nature is evil.
Evil is pervasive in our fallen world. No human except Christ is without evil and sin. We all struggle with evil desires and temptations daily. The devil seeks to promote evil through culture, media, relationships, and even our own sinful hearts (1 Peter 5:8).
Why Are Christians Called to Abhor Evil?
As followers of a holy and righteous God, Christians are called to mirror His character by hating and rejecting all evil. Here are some reasons why:
- God abhors evil – God’s nature is morally perfect. There is no sin or darkness in Him (1 John 1:5). He hates evil so much that He cannot even look upon it (Habakkuk 1:13). As His representatives, we are called to share His hatred of evil.
- Evil opposes God’s standards – God has declared what is good and evil in His Word. Evil contradicts God’s perfect law and standards for human behavior (Psalm 119:128). Hating evil demonstrates our allegiance to God’s commands.
- Evil harms others – When we tolerate evil, it inevitably inflicts harm and brokenness in people’s lives. Evil deeds require justice. Abhorring evil motivates us to protect those negatively impacted by the wickedness of others (Psalm 94:16).
- Evil hinders holiness – Sinful habits and patterns prevent us from pursuing holiness and Christ-likeness. We must loathe our own evil tendencies in order to walk in greater obedience and purity (Romans 7:15).
- Evil displeases God – God calls us to be imitators of Him (Ephesians 5:1). When we make peace with evil, it deeply grieves His heart. Abhorring evil brings joy to the Lord.
As Christians, we must view evil through God’s eyes – as something repulsive and dangerous that demands an intense hatred. Tolerating or excusing evil is simply not an option for followers of Christ.
How Can Christians Abhor Evil in a God-Honoring Way?
Hating evil the way God does requires wisdom and discernment. Here are some principles for abhorring evil in a manner that pleases God:
1. Guard your own heart first
Before focusing on evil externally, we must allow God to cleanse our hearts from the inside out. The Holy Spirit will prompt us to hate and repent of the evil residing within us, such as wrong desires, sinful attitudes, and pride (Psalm 139:23-24). We must daily submit our hearts to His refining work.
2. Flee from temptation
One way to abhor evil is to avoid anything that may entice or tempt us towards sin. We must be proactive in distancing ourselves from environments, media, or relationships that would expose our weak areas (2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Corinthians 10:14). Wisdom and self-control are key.
3. Fill your mind with truth
Immersing our minds in God’s Word renews our thinking to discern and reject evil desires and deception (Romans 12:2, Psalm 119:9-11). Staying grounded in scriptural truth helps protect us from subtle compromises and rationalizations.
4. Walk in the Spirit
The Holy Spirit gives us power to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21, Galatians 5:16). As we submit to His control and guidance, our lives will produce His fruit such as love and goodness instead of sinful behaviors.
5. Intercede for others
Abhorring evil includes grieving over the wickedness ravaging lives and society. As the Holy Spirit prompts, we can directly intercede through prayer against the schemes of the devil seeking to promote immorality and corruption (Ephesians 6:18).
6. Take practical steps
In certain circumstances, abhorring evil requires tangible actions – from removing tempting objects or situations, to directly confronting someone trapped in sin, to reporting crimes, to exposing evil deeds. Bold yet wise steps may be needed to restrain evil (Ephesians 5:11).
7. Demonstrate Christ’s love
While detesting evil itself, we are still called to show Christ’s compassion to those caught in sin – just as He did. Our desire should be for their repentance and restoration by God’s grace (Luke 6:27, Jude 1:22-23).
8. Trust God’s justice
When evil seems to prevail, we can rest in the truth that God will perfectly judge all wickedness in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:17, Revelation 20:11-15). He alone has the power to right every wrong and redeem the pain caused by evil.
Abhorring Evil While Loving People
Since all humans have sinned, abhorring evil requires wisdom and discernment. We must hate the sin without hating the sinner. Following Christ’s model, we can stand against evil itself while lovingly calling people to repentance and forgiveness.
Here are some ways to maintain Christ-like compassion when abhorring evil:
- Remember that only by God’s grace do we stand against evil. We too were once dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1-5).
- Grieve the horrible impact of sin, not the person caught in its bonds. Make the distinction between hating evil and hating people.
- Aim for restoration – that those committing evil would turn from darkness to light by God’s mercy (2 Corinthians 5:20).
- Overcome evil with good through sacrificial love, kindness, and prayer (Romans 12:14, 21).
- Trust the power of the Gospel to transform even the worst sinners into new creations in Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Abhorring evil requires a careful balance. We must take a bold stand against wickedness while also demonstrating Christlike compassion to those enslaved by sin.
Beware of Unrighteous Anger When Abhorring Evil
In abhorring evil, we must be cautious not to harbor unrighteous anger. Human anger rarely achieves God’s righteous purposes (James 1:20).
The Bible warns that anger over evil can too easily turn into malicious hatred. We can wrongly justify vengeful words and actions that dishonor God by convincing ourselves we are “hating evil” (Proverbs 27:4).
Righteous anger over evil is marked by:
- Grief rather than rage or bitterness
- Seeking justice while trusting God’s final judgment
- Desiring the redemption of sinners rather than their destruction
- Motivation to protect others from harm rather than punish offenders
- Love for both victims and perpetrators
When abhorring evil, we must guard our hearts against ungodly anger and desire for revenge. Human vengeance only breeds more evil. As Christ’s ambassadors, we abhor evil by trusting God’s perfect justice, loving others, and praying for redemption.
Abhorring Evil While Trusting God’s Sovereignty
In a fallen world filled with sin and darkness, abhorring evil also requires trusting in God’s sovereignty. He ultimately uses even evil for His good and glorious purposes.
Joseph spoke these powerful words to his brothers who had sold him into slavery: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20). The greatest evil in history – the crucifixion of Christ – resulted in the greatest redemption of all.
As we abhor evil, we can take comfort in knowing:
- No evil can thwart God’s sovereign plans (Job 42:2).
- God sets clear boundaries on evil’s impact (Job 1:12).
- God will be glorified as He judges evil and redeems the suffering it caused (Revelation 19:1-2).
- Nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ (Romans 8:38-39).
- God is able to work all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
Rather than responding to evil in fear or despair, we can trust the one who promises: “I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). He will have the final say.
Examples of Abhorring Evil in a God-Honoring Way
Throughout history, Christian leaders and reformers have modeled what it means to abhor evil as Romans 12:9 exhorts:
- William Wilberforce – campaigned tirelessly to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire. He hated the appalling evil of slavery while advocating for slave traders to repent.
- Martin Luther King Jr. – led non-violent protests based on love while vehemently decrying the evils of segregation and racism in America.
- Mother Teresa – served the sick and dying in the slums of India while calling society to address the evil of poverty in a more just way.
- William Booth – founded the Salvation Army which simultaneously met physical needs and preached the Gospel to the most destitute in London’s streets.
These reformers all shared common traits:
- They were gripped by the horrific reality of evil and injustice.
- They used wisdom and discernment in responding.
- They avoided retaliation and ungodly anger.
- They courageously called people and society to repent and change.
- They loved in practical ways while trusting God to make all wrongs right.
May we follow their Christ-like example of genuinely loving others while boldly confronting evil in all its destructive forms.
Abhorring Evil Starts With Our Own Hearts
Ending evil externally starts by admitting the evil within. We all struggle with sinful tendencies even after salvation (Romans 7:21-25). Too often we are blind to the greed, pride, apathy, prejudice, jealousy, and idolatry harbored in our own hearts.
Here are some ways we can increase awareness of our own evil tendencies and abhor them:
- Ask God to search your heart and reveal any offensive ways in you (Psalm 139:23-24)
- Study God’s Word to understand His holy standards that expose our sin (Hebrews 4:12)
- Observe any sins that too easily entangle you (Hebrews 12:1)
- Pay attention to your thoughts and attitude throughout each day
- Note situations that trigger wrong responses like anger or envy
- Confess and repent promptly of any evil desires or actions (1 John 1:9)
The more we grow to abhor the evil within, the less we will tolerate it in the world around us. Abhorring evil requires courage, wisdom, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. May we cling to God’s perfect goodness while taking a bold stand against every form of wickedness.
