Posted on 05/02/2021 11:54:19 AM PDT by metmom
“‘If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you’” (John 15:18-19).
Because they are not part of the world’s system, Christians should expect it to hate and oppose them.
If you’ve been a Christian for a while, you doubtless remember how soon you realized that you were no longer in step with the world’s culture. You were no longer comfortable with its philosophy. You no longer had the world’s desires and yearnings. You no longer felt good about doing some of the things the world takes for granted. In fact, you even felt constrained to speak out against such things and urge unbelievers to turn from their sins and embrace Christ. All that opposition to worldliness, when added up, can and will result in hatred toward us from people in the world.
In John 15, the Greek word translated “world” (kosmos) refers to the world’s system of sin, which is devised by Satan and acted out by sinful people. The Devil and his angels sometimes make it even more difficult for us by subtly presenting their “religion” as if it were true. Such deception can lull us into complacency and leave us spiritually weak when persecution comes.
Because of the world’s relentless opposition to God’s kingdom, it is crucial that we remember Christ’s call to stand for Him in our sinful society. The apostle Paul exhorts us to be “children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (Phil. 2:15).
If we take Scripture seriously and prayerfully spend time in it daily, we will not be caught off guard when our faith is opposed. Instead, we will be heartened by Jesus’ words, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matt. 5:14).
Suggestions for Prayer
Ask the Lord to strengthen you today and to remind you that even though you are not of the world, you are to be a light to it.
For Further Study
Read the account of John the Baptist’s death in Mark 6:14.
How did John suffer before he was killed? What character differences do you see between John and Herod?
Studying God’s Word ping
I was astonished recently to discover that my kindness for someone not very easy to love was held in disdain. They were also appalled that I suggested that to consider others as more important than yourself is a Biblical concept. After decades of being a Christian, I finally got a bit of insight into why the world hates the tenants of Christianity. To go the extra mile or give one’s coat as well as the cloak is not considered rational or normal. When you consider that Jesus was telling people under Roman rule to act kindly toward them, it is no wonder he was marvelled at and sometimes hated.
Since the Renaissance, throughout the West Satan's world system has been framed as Higher Biblical Criticism, ideology, evolutionary philosophy, evolutionary biology, science (scientism), scientific materialism, scientific pantheism, communism, socialism, Social Justice, Gender Justice, Racial Justice, Environmental Justice, Economic Justice.. Environmental Justice necessitates the Green New Deal in order to save the planet from Global Warming, code for too many human parasites. Racial Justice demands that mainly white Protestants accept that they are irredeemable genetic racists who should submit to second class status since they are the cause of evil
In its outwardly religious form it presents as Progressive (Leftist) Christianity, Evolutionary Theism, Interfaith/Interspirit and New Age.
I would classify false religions as being part of the world system, thereby earning their hatred as well.
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