If You have come to this realization in Your Christian journey...don't be too surpised. You could say being hated by the world is a rite of passage in striving for the Kingdom of Heaven. It is interesting to note that this passage is recorded
4 times in scripture
See Matt 10:22,. In America, (my temporary home), a once upon a time truly blessed country, has escaped the reality that is Christian persecution for centuries. She is now finally joining the
rest of the world in its true feelings for those who truly practice the Christian Faith as intended by Our Lord. Very soon America will join places such as China and North Korea, where many of Our Christian brothers and
sisters have to practice their Faith in underground Churches in order to avoid extreme persecution.
But Our Lord Jesus gave us this warning over two thousand years ago. Anyone who practices the Faith in an uncompromising fashion. Anyone who aspires to be like Jesus
will suffer persecution not only from Friend and Family but Yes...
even from our Own brothers and sisters (Our fellow Christians)...
But why the hate? You see the hate comes from a world system bent on persecuting those who choose to live by
every word of the living Father God. If You read the gospel for Yourself, You will come to realize that Jesus was hated by His Own Jewish People. If we see Jesus' story based on a world viewpoint, His ending is not a feel good story. His chief message of repentance to recieve the kingdom in the spirit was rejected with demonic passion.
The underlying cause of this rejection is that...His people was in love with their way of life...and therefore saw no desire to change.
The true Christian way is a difficult path paved by the payment of change. A message that a majority of His audience found offensive.
...And today, most Christians, especially those new to the faith, are exhibiting the same type of response as those who had first dibs to the gospel 2000 years ago. Business Churches have arisen en masse, to give the
people what they want. A feel good type of Christianity without "Change"...without sacrifice...without repentance...A lukewarm Christianity.
Every Christian that aspires to the higher levels of the faith has one thing in common. Progression towards perfection. Faith, like fine wine, comes at a steep price.
The closer You get to perfection in the Spirit
Luke 6:40 - A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher., You fill find Yourself more at odds with the world, and in like fashion...the world will find You at odds with its system of thought.
Laodicean Christians
Revelation 3:15-16 - 15†“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither kcold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.(The asleep and sunday morning only Christians) will hate You because it puts pressure on them to address hidden sins. Sins they have no true intention of giving up and therefore will avoid self examination because of it. They become convicted deep in their souls to live up to the example set by those pursuing Jesus to the fullest...the end result being... A hidden resentment and the "holier than thou" attitude that serious Christians will surely be accused of. Then...like some hidden cancer lurking...in possibly some twisted way...there is envy.
The word
"envy"
Mark 15:9-10 - But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.”
has an incredible irony attached to it because it is exactly the reason why Jesus was put to His death by His own People.
This envy ultimately leads to a division in the body of Christ...separating wheat from chaffe
...and thus...the invevitable destination of every Elect is summed up by the tragic and accurate prophecy by Our Lord Jesus Christ, that
..."You will be hated by all Nations for my name"
It all starts with this one Word