John 3:20-21 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.… There is all the difference in the world between battling for the truth because of one's love for the truth, and battling on the side of truth because of hostility to the opponents of truth. A man may be as intense and as violent in the one case as in the other; but if a man lacks a profound conviction of truth, and a devoted love for truth, he can never be inspired to a high courage, and held to an unwavering endurance, by any hatred of those who are over against him in his struggles. All real progress in any line of reform is made through the dead earnestness of men who love the right; not through the impulsive violence of men who are aroused, for a time, against the upholders of evil. He who loves his fellow-man, and therefore strives for his disenthralling, is worth more as a friend of liberty than he who hates oppressors, and therefore seeks their overthrow. So it is in every sphere of well-doing; love for the good is a more potent factor than hatred of evil — more potent even in the battle with evil. (H. C. Trumbull.) Parallel Verses KJV: For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. |
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