Suddenly, speakers or megaphones began making all sorts of loud declarations. There were accusations of oppression, calls to fight for freedom, warnings of invasion, threats of retaliation, and feverish pleas to stop the enemy at any cost. While at first I thought they were cries to encourage the troops, as they increasingly became louder, more vehement and more violent, it became clear they were enemy propaganda. I heard the voice of the Lord declare, “Behold the prophets of hate who proclaim their accusations and allegations. They desire to stir up their wolves of rage to bring as much damage and destruction as possible.”

With this, a door to the room swung open and in walked a large, dark wolf who was growling and had the fur on his back bristled up. Almost immediately a similar wolf entered from the other side. As soon as they saw each other, these two wolves glared at each other and their growls grew louder. They both lunged toward one another but instead of attacking each other they sunk their teeth into opposite corners of the flag and began pulling it toward themselves. This happened three more times until there were eight wolves with their teeth sunk into the flag snarling and pulling on it with all their might. The flag began to tear, its fabric fray, and its stitching began to loosen. As the dream ended, I heard the Lord declare, “If my children keep hearing and heeding the prophets of hate this flag will unravel. While they are called to be salt and light, the only battle they are called to join is the one for eternal life or eternal death.”

Days of Division
For many of us in these days, it feels as if the United States has never been less united. It seems our nation has become irrevocably fractured along political, cultural, racial, and ideological lines — rich vs. poor, Republican vs. Democrat, liberal vs. conservative, black vs. white, etc. For some Americans, sitting down for a family dinner has never been more uncomfortable and the admonition to avoid discussing politics in polite company has never been more apropos.

Jesus told us that we are called to be “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). Being salt means we are to season this world with the values and virtues of God’s kingdom. The new life we have been given in Christ should make a change in our lives that makes the world we live in a better place. There is nothing wrong with Christians being active in politics and social issues. But we need to be careful about how we do this. In the kingdom of God, the end does not justify the means. God’s Word clearly instructs us, “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).

Far too many leaders of political and social causes have become prophets of hate. Their messages are filled with anger, hate, and fear. Whether they are on the radio, television or internet, much of what they share is polarizing and divisive. Proverbs warns us about people like this “A perverse man stirs up dissension …” (16:28), and “Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin …” (17:19).

But, as Christians, we have been instructed to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior” (Ephesians 4:31). Jesus told us that we should never return anger for anger or hate for hate. When you are confronted by hate, Jesus’ instructions are to “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). In the early Church, Tertullian tells us that pagans were struck by the witness of Christian love. “See how they love one another!” they would remark. I wonder how many people who look at us would say the same today. 

Being “the light of the world” (Mathew 5:14) means we are to be witnesses for Jesus Christ. The only conflict important enough to pour our lives into is the battle for souls … for this has eternal consequences. Allow me to share a story Vance Havner used to tell about the only classification system for people that should truly matter to us.

“I remember when the Titanic sank in 1912, it was the ship that was supposed to be unsinkable. The only thing it ever did was sink. When it took off from England, all kinds of passengers were aboard — millionaires, celebrities, people of moderate means, and poor folks down in the steerage. But a few hours later when they put the list in the Cunard office in New York, it carried only two categories — lost and saved. Grim tragedy had leveled all distinctions.”

At the end of the age, there will only be two kinds of people: those who are saved and those who are eternally lost. While we should season this world with good, godly values while we are here on the earth, anything other than the souls of people is, in the light of eternity, a trivial pursuit. Do not let the prophets of hate trouble your soul and drag you into their battle. If we will renounce the prophets of hate (even when their cause is one that we agree with) and focus on leading lives that glorify God, we will have the ability and opportunity to share the great news of the gospel with others and have a chance of making a permanent impact on the lives of others. “God so loved the world …”, as His children so should we.