“With the word surrender there seems always to be a larger and more comprehensive meaning. We do not succeed in carrying out our intentions, and afterward we take back one thing and another until we have lost sight of our original intention. Beloved Christians, let Christ Jesus have all. — He will accept that surrender. He spoke a solemn word: “You must hate father and mother.” Say you to-day: “Lord Jesus, the love to father and mother, to wife and child, to brother and sister, I give up to Thee. Teach Thou me how to love Thee. I have only one desire, which is to love Thee. I want to give my whole heart to be full of Thy love.” — Andrew Murray, The Masters Indwelling, 1895
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:26-27 (ESV)
I composed a song, featured on my third album Confession, inspired by this provocative and controversial, yet imperative passage of scripture.
I’ve seen Him turn water into wine
And raise men from the grave
I’ve watched Him feed the hungry and help the poor
Heal the sick and the lame
But today He did something that I’ve never seen before
He turned to the largest crowd and said aloud, “This is from the Lord”
Chorus 1
He said you have to hate your father, and hate your own mother
I don’t understand, I can’t comprehend, then what is love really for?
He said you have to hate your children, and even hate your wife
I don’t want to know, this can’t be so, do I really have to die to my life?
I’ve seen Him dine with the sinner
And rebuke the Pharisee
I’ve seen Him forgive a cheating tax collector
And forgive even me
But today He did something that I’ve never seen before
He turned to us and He said we must, hear the words of the Lord
Repeat Chorus 1
I’ve watched Him walk on the water,
And calm the strongest sea
I’ve seen Him heal a dying leper
And make a man out of me
But today he did something that I’ve never seen before
He gave His life, and was crucified, I know now He’s the Lord
Chorus 2
And so I have to hate my father, and hate my own mother
I now understand I can comprehend this is what love is for
And if I learn to hate my children, and even hate my wife
I will come to know, cause He told me so, what it means to die to my life