Hallelujah and Hate from the Same Mouth

By now Zykina Stewart

How can people spew a hallelujah and hate out of the same mouth? How can we claim to love Jesus yet use His Word to harm others? The Bible was never created to divide or destroy. It was given to heal, reconcile, and guide. It was written to lead us toward God’s heart, not to justify our own agendas.

America did not create the Bible. It belongs to no nation, no political group, and no leader. From the earliest days, Christianity was present on the continent of Africa, long before Western influence. Jesus Himself was not the white man seen in many paintings and churches today. The Bible is global and eternal, yet people continue to twist it for power, money, and control.

Jude warns us of this very thing. He says that certain people would creep in unnoticed, ungodly people who pervert the grace of God for their own gain. That warning still stands today. We see it in the way Scripture is misused to manipulate, to oppress, and to profit.

Past and Present Misuse

History shows us how deeply the Bible has been weaponized. It was once used to defend slavery, segregation, colonization, and the erasure of entire cultures. Even now, people of African descent face mistreatment both in America and globally, including on the very continent where early churches thrived.

In modern times, this misuse shows up in different forms:

Scripture twisted to support Christian nationalism and political agendas. Laws passed in the name of God that harm rather than heal. Economic systems cloaked in religious language while exploiting the poor. The current Israel conflict, where some view Israel only as a place rather than understanding that biblically it also represents a people called to God.

All of this leaves us with a crucial question: how can so many intelligent people, standing ten toes down in their faith, fall for manipulation that can be easily debunked through proper study of Scripture and history?

Why This Matters

When the Bible is misused, it distorts our view of God. It turns faith into a weapon instead of a source of love and freedom. God is never pleased with hate. He is never okay with His children despising others for having opportunities or thriving. The heart of God is to lift, not to tear down.

Jude tells us to contend for the faith. Contending does not mean fighting with people. It means standing firmly for the truth of God’s Word and refusing to let lies take root. It means making sure that hate does not disguise itself as holiness.

Five Ways to Contend for the Faith

Study Scripture Deeply Do not rely only on others to tell you what the Bible says. Read it in its full context. The Bible cannot contradict the love and justice of God. Pray for Discernment Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding and reveal truth from deception. Stand with the Oppressed Jesus sided with the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. If a teaching benefits only the powerful while harming the vulnerable, it is not aligned with Christ. Speak Truth in Love Call out wrongs without hatred. Silence can be as harmful as hate, but truth should always be delivered with grace. Live What You Believe Your actions speak louder than your words. Let your life be a testimony of God’s love and justice.

A Final Call

The Bible was meant to bring life, not death. It was meant to build bridges, not walls. As followers of Jesus, we must rise above the noise and confusion. We must not allow the Word of God to be twisted for greed or politics.

Jude’s message is clear: stand firm. Fight for truth. Let the light of Christ shine through you so that no one can mistake His message for hate.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” — John 1:5