One thing that unites the church to Christ and believers to each other is the fact that, for the most part, the world will hate us.
We live in holiness and obedience to God among wickedness, preach a gospel that says that no one is good, and that outside of Christ all will be condemned. That message sounds pretty offensive to a world that believes that they are mostly good. One thing that makes the cross of Christ so offensive is that it says that all our effort and all of our goodness before a holy God are like filthy rags.
“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:11-15 (ESV)
We are bound to each other by God’s love, but also by the world’s hatred for us. Cain killed his brother because, as the Bible says, “he belonged to the evil one” and this was made evident by his jealousy of Abel. Abel’s goodness exposed Cain’s wickedness and because of this he hated him and eventually killed him.
John says, “don’t be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.” If you are light in the darkness don’t be surprised when the darkness hates you. The light of the holiness of your life, and the light of the words of scripture you speak will be upsetting to those who are hiding in the darkness of sin.
Those of us who are in Christ repented because our sin was exposed by the light. Jesus Christ is the light of the world and when we draw close to him, his light exposes the sin of our life. When this happens there are only two options: let the conviction that comes from the awareness of your sin draw you to repentance that leads to salvation, or, run away back into the dark like a roach or a rat that quickly flees when you flip on a light switch in a room.
“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:19-21 (ESV)
Christian persecution has always been normative throughout the history of the church. Although it may not seem that way to many Christians in our culture today because we are inundated with churches that teach the exact opposite and have created a demonic gospel of personal accommodation, that instead of saying come and die, it says you can have it your way.
Honestly, that is why very often when trial comes we are caught off guard because many have been taught that if you follow Christ you should always be happy, healthy and wealthy in this life. Some times throughout history have been worse than others, but in personal evangelism it has been the same from the start: We preach the truth, the world hates the truth, so the world persecutes us.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” 1 Peter 4:12-14 (ESV)
As the church we are united with Christ in his sufferings, his death and his resurrection. We will be tested with fire in this life, but for those who endure the test they will be purified like silver or gold refined in the fire and set apart for his glory.
We will rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed because we are part of that glory as sons and daughters of God and co-heirs with Christ.
Ultimately, we are blessed because, despite persecution and a season of worldly suffering, the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you like an unquenchable fire, like a radiant light in the darkness, like a sinner though whose sins were once red as scarlet have now been washed white as snow.
In Christ,
Pastor Joshua
Joshua West is a pastor, evangelist, and author. he is also director of the World Challenge Pastors Network.
