12 Steps To Heaven: #7, Despise Evil

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart…

In whose eyes a vile person is despised…

Psalm 15:1-4 (NKJV)

Since love is God’s #1 Commandment, His call to despise (“regard with contempt”) a vile person (as in “wretchedly bad”)... requires biblical consideration. 

We don’t want to despise the wrong people. For me, despising anyone is HARD.

Why? Consider two reasons:

  1. It’s easier to look the other way.

  2. Despising isn’t Christ-like. Or is it?

Jesus DID despise one specific group– a surprising group, a powerful group… of scribes, Pharisees, and Jewish leaders: men in lavish robes who professed great faith, men of high degree and education.

Matthew 23 is their indictment, coming from God and spoken by Jesus. It includes:

  • ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence… Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so, you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.’

One take-home lesson?

Leaders are held to a higher standard. Christian leaders must practice what they preach, or more to the point, what JESUS preaches.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

  1. Your Director did NOT despise sinners or the sinful word. He came to save them! So refuse to join Christian hate parades. You are the King’s Good News ambassadors!

  2. Instead, “Cross-examine” Christian leaders, because they’re held to a higher standard. Are they living and loving like Jesus? If not, they’re “vile” people… to be despised.

Sadly, many churches point sharp fingers the wrong way: outward instead of inward… which produces the opposite result than the one Jesus ordered us to do.

One more reminder and two suggestions:

To those who think Christ only condemned Jews, re-read His Letters in Revelation. They’re written specifically for us!

  1. Love all outsiders into the kingdom.

  2. Despise vile Christians who push them away.

12 Steps To Heaven: #7, Despise Evil (Part 9)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings. Parts of this series are edits of a prior Carey Lewis Devotion series, first published in 2014.

Carey Arban