Today's passage is John 15:18-16:11.
Apparently I'm not PC. As I was growing up my parents would say things about how the world was changing and how Christianity was being attacked. I really didn't give it much thought then because being a Christian and going to church didn't seem to offend the people in my small home town. Well that was quite a few years ago and I have to say, I don't have that same sense today. All you have to do is turn on the television or the radio or pick up a couple of magazines to see Christians being freely and openly ridiculed and bashed. I've experienced it first hand as well. People are hostile towards Jesus and anything associated with Him. So when I read John 15 where Jesus is forewarning the disciples (and us) about being hated, I have to shake my head and say, "You're absolutely right, Lord."
So what do we do with these words from Jesus? How can we use them to our advantage? Tami W.
We're still going through the Book of John on the Back to the Bible program. So check it out...you can watch, read or listen...whatever you prefer!
I think the pagan elements of society are still reticent to attack Jesus and his church directly. They like the back door approach. One of Satan's greatest tools for them was to turn the doctrine of "separation of church and state" on it's head and use it as a mantra (the technique of The Big Lie). Most people think the statement, or at least the doctrine, is in the Constitution. Also, they promote the murder of abortion as the American freedom of "choice". They tell people to divorce "for the good of the children".
I could go on but the point I would make is that they do not attack Christianity or Christians directly (yet) but by oblique method. It is very clever and has the appearance of logic and "fairness" but is neither.
Lately they have become increasingly bold and lie without shame. Those who would counter them and stand for Jesus are given no (major media) voice. This lack of balance confers to the Church the appearance of acquiescence to the effect that even the elect might be fooled.
As I was reading this passage, this part got my attention "They hated me without a cause."
Jesus could say this for himself, but I don't think we can claim that for ourselves as christians. We should be honest to admit that christians are hated by some for some justified reasons, and it's hard to acklowdge that most of the time it's because of hypocrisy, sure we evangelicals aren't hypocrites, we don't say one thing and does the other, we don't have prejudices. I've been living here in Southern U.S. for more than 5 years now, i've met wonderful and sweet christian people and family and I couldn't understand how and why racism and christianity intertwined and lasted here for so long, I asked my closest friends at church how did the church back then justify being prejudice towards other people while claiming to be christians, and their answer to me was that they had no idea.
Going back to the topic Jesus tells us not to be surprised and discouraged when these things happen but I don't think Jesus said this to create a wedge between believers and non-believers.
Passages like this should be taken in the whole context of everything Jesus taught, and understand that inspite of this, we are to be salt of the earth and light of the world. That when these things happen we don't say "they hate me Lord there's nothing I can do about it.", but instead turn the other cheek, love those who persecute us, to fight evil with good, that they may see our good works, and praise our Father in Heaven.