EVERYTHING WE NEED: If the World Hates You!
Karen Michell
In I John 3:13 (NIV), John made this statement: “Do not be surprised… if the world hates you.” These words were spoken to believers who were facing persecution and being led astray by false teachers. Perhaps some were shocked at how following and serving Jesus would bring out such hatred from non-believers and religious factions. Jesus had already told the disciples, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Not maybe but for certain!
But why does the world hold such animosity toward Christians? Simply put, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18). He also said, they hate me because “…they do not know the one who sent me” (John 15:21). Another reason is because we do not belong to the world. Jesus stated, “…I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:19). It is a privilege to be counted with Jesus as an enemy to the world.
Jesus was despised when He came into the world. King Herod so feared that the Jews would no longer give their allegiance to Caesar that he ordered all children two and under to be killed. His ruthless act was not successful, however. Jesus was kept safe by God’s providence.
From the beginning, our Savior was hated without reason. He was sinless, yet the Bible tells us that He was despised, rejected, oppressed and afflicted — a man of sorrows (Isa. 53:3,7). If the world hates Jesus, we will we not be hated as well?
We do not know the terrible suffering Christians through the ages have endured. Early believers were tortured, fed to wild animals and even crucified. Open Doors USA is an organization whose mission “is to support and strengthen persecuted Christians worldwide,” and last year they did just that for millions of persecuted believers around the world. In 50 countries ranked for extreme persecution, 4,998 Christians were murdered last year and 295,120 had to go into hiding or find refuge in another country. We cannot fathom the atrocities that are poured out on believers for faith-related reasons. We must pray for our brothers and sisters in other countries.
How do we fare in our own country? We certainly feel the animosity directed toward Christians. We are pressured and even threatened if we do not conform to the world’s standards. Our rights are being challenged. Believers have lost their jobs, been jailed, ridiculed, cursed and harassed. Churches, Christian businesses and colleges have been threatened with closings or loss of funds for not accepting what the world calls the new normal — abortion, sexual immorality and alternative lifestyles, to name just a few. We live in evil times, hit on every side by Satan, but we must remember that “…the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (I John 4:4). Jesussaid, “…take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We have no need to fear.
How are we supposed to respond to haters? Jesus said, “…love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). They do not know God. We must maintain our Christian testimony and not react with the same anger and hatred that is directed toward us. There is a cost to following Christ; hard times will come but remember “…our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).