Are You Hated?

I'm back! Whew, what a trip. I'll have to share some of it with you later, but for now, I'd like to continue on with what I've been reading in 1 John. Besides, sometimes it takes us a while to process everything and this trip was certainly one of those...

One of the first verses that always pops out to me when reading 1 John 3 is verse 13. "Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you." This seems to be such a harsh statement, but so true. If we are following Christ fully there are going to be many who hate us. Light annoys the darkness. It reminds me of what Jesus says in John 15:18-20. "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me. they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours."

They problem comes in when we realize our natural tendency is to try and be liked by all. We don't want to be hated, so we try to do things to smooth it over and be popular with the world. I just heard of a church that passed out free beer on Father's Day in order to entice men to come to church. While I can see how that did get some people into a church who may have never gone before, I wonder what the point was. Now these people have a worldly expectation of the church which has nothing to do with salvation. I probably preached to Gospel, but were they sober enough to hear it? What about people who were alcoholics, or had the tendency? My point is that so many churches try to please the people, they loose creditability and the point of the Gospel. To be blunt, they are not "hated" enough.

Don't get me wrong - we don't need to try and be hated. Fun is allowed and great! We just need to make sure the world doesn't effect us too greatly. Don't be a heathen nor a Pharisee. Be a follower of Christ. Your attendance may dwindle and you will not be the most popular, but at least you will hear, "...Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master's joy!" Matthew 25:23