Can I be honest with you? There are some bad people out there. Allow me to spend the next fifteen minutes explaining to you how bad they are and how smart you are if you disdain or even hate them as much as I do.

This is the formula that informs many media presentations as well as political messaging. If you listen to various shows that purport to give you news, you will be bombarded by this kind of talk. Unfortunately, it is often based on half-truths or even outright lies. Where it tells the truth, the intent is to paint the “bad people” in the worst possible light. How fortunate you are that you know better and are so much smarter, better, more enlightened, patriotic, virtuous than THOSE people.

When it comes to painting an unflattering portrait of what a group of people are like, you would be hard pressed to find a more damning description than what the Bible has to say about the human race.

"The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
(Jeremiah 17:9)

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
(Genesis 6:5)

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
(Isaiah 53:6)

These verses are just a sample of the picture the Bible gives about the human race. Three chapters in, the first humans are already rebelling against God and bringing down a curse upon all creation. The story doesn’t get better from there. The humans not only continue to do terrible things but every chance they get, they try to make God the problem, not them. The sides are clearly drawn between the bad people and the good, righteous, virtuous side.

Suddenly we are faced with a startling plot twist. Even though the lies, the rebellion, the corruption of the group that are now the Enemies has caused great anger, something very strange happens. The Right One makes a startling introduction.

Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."
(Exodus 34:6-7)

God, right, good, and wise, reacts to the corruption and hatred facing Him by offering love, compassion, grace, and forgiveness. While He makes it clear that wrong needs to be dealt with, He explains that His love is stronger and more long-lasting than His anger.

Later He actually comes down to live with these rebels and shows consistent compassion and love for really bad people who had trampled His holy law. Then He goes so far as to use Himself as an example for us.

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
(Luke 6:35-36)

This is a massively different style than what we see on our favorite media outlets? Mercy over anger, compassion over ridicule, love over hate. God does hate sin, He does hate rebellion, He is angry over what we have done as a human race. He is right, and we are so very very wrong. YET, His response to us is based on His lovingkindness. He reminds us that our anger leaves a lot to be desired. No matter how much we want to think that our anger is “righteous” anger, we’re not righteous.

as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
(Romans 3:10)

We’re not really good at righteous anger, and our anger tends to be something that overwhelms our compassion. Our anger doesn’t move us toward compassion but away from it. Yet even in the midst of what is a powerful wrath, God’s love is stronger and He responds with compassion. Jesus, hanging on the cross, cries out for forgiveness for those who are currently killing him in a travesty of justice.

What are you listening to, watching, and allowing to fill your mind? Are you allowing purveyors of the anger of man to fill your heart and mind with anger and a sense of self-righteousness? Are you being told each day that you are the good, smart, patriotic, virtuous one while those Others are worthy of your derision and condemnation?

Do YOU find yourself moving toward God’s heart by what you are told? Do you find yourself moving toward what Jesus said?

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
(Luke 6:36)

or

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
(Luke 6:27-28)

Perhaps it is time to permanently shut off the voices that are convincing you that since you are more right than others, you can be full of disgust, disdain, anger, and condemnation. Perhaps it is time to focus each day on the Grace and Mercy that has been poured out on us by a holy and righteous God who has compassion on a group of terrible sinners.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8)