This was not the biggest feud in American history; nor the bloodiest or longest running feud, but it is the one with the most notoriety.
It is the one feud that most everyone has heard about, if in no other way, by name – the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s.
I finally sat down and watched all of the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s yesterday; all 6 hours.
Over the past weekend I heard quite a few church folks comment on it and the subject came up a bit in Sunday school.
I did some internet searching on the feud and believe that the History Channel stayed pretty true to the story; of course there is always some artistic license but this was very close.
What I see are two families so consumed by anger and hatred that it consumed the two families. With so many getting killed it doesn’t seem like either side won.
I could not find any information about the spiritual side of either family, so I am uncertain if “Devil Anse” got saved and “Ol Ran’l” became apathetic.
It made for a good storyline in the movie because that much hatred and malice will surely eat you alive.
I noticed many of these when I watched the movie; when you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21
What they inherited was death, which is the payment for sin!
A clergyman in the early 1900’s said, “Hatred is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat.”
To me this feud was about hatred and anger. The Bible has much to say on the subject of each; for they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord. Prov 1:29
Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul. Prov 22:24-25
He who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:11
As the beating of cream yields butter and striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels. Prov 30:33
Hatred is never good and is even worse in a Christian.
Wars have started, genocide has been committed, and murder has been incited all because of hatred.
Families have been split and torn apart because of hatred.
Hatred has caused many, many problems but has yet to solve any!
Don’t hide anger and hatred under the guise of righteousness. Though Jesus was angry at the sin of others– He grieved over it! Not once did He ever say, “I hate you!” Not even to Satan!