Haters Gonna Hate
It started in American hip hop but now it is mentioned regularly
Reference: Do not let those gloat over me
who are my enemies without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason
maliciously wink the eye. (Psalm 35:19 NIV)
Explore: There’s a popular catchphrase that is going around, particularly on social media, “Haters gonna hate.” It’s a way of disregarding someone else’s negative opinion.
It started in American hip hop, but now it is mentioned regularly in younger generation conversations as well as in many memes online. The original animation was of a tubby boy strutting along with the thought bubble of this phrase attached.
Now there are crazy looking cats and famous celebrities who have had this phrase attached to them.
In a world full of criticism, I quite like this take on things. It’s basically saying that a ‘hater’ is never going to be satisfied with anything anyone else does, so I’m just going to strut my stuff anyway.
Application: While this saying may be cool, and the memes that go with it are super cute, it is often hard to believe. While ‘haters gonna hate’ we still get wrapped up in trying to please them.
This saying was thought to be mentioned first in a hiphop song in the year 2000, I think David, the writer of Psalm 35, got in first! Ok, so he didn’t write the exact words, “haters gonna hate”, but he did in his own way.
He acknowledged the people around him who were trying to pull him down, but that never stopped him from strutting his Godly way. He was not swayed from his convictions, but prayed that God would have justice on these people who were always hating.
There will be people in our own worlds who are “gonna hate”. They may be constantly judgemental or condescending, but that’s where we need to stick to our convictions.
Don’t be swayed by other people’s opinions, but stay confidently on God’s path and strut your stuff like only God is watching.
Prayer: Lord, it’s so easy to get persuaded by others. May we stay firmly on the path You have declared for us. Amen.
Who are the haters in your world? How will you react to them?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.