Persecution…………. (Part II)

There are many main reasons why the world hates Christians but we will look at a few of them:

 We are no longer identified with the world.

In John 15:19 Jesus said, “The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

Jesus insists that His disciples are no longer “of the world.”  They may be “in the world,” but they are not “of the world.”  Those who are “of the world” are loved by the world.  But the world’s love is fleeting.  You can be “loved” one moment and rejected the next.

The world’s love is also conditional.

 If you want to be “loved” by the world, you need to do what the world does. You must compromise to fit in and go along with crowd.  You use manipulation, charm and flattery to be popular and sacrifice others feelings for your own personal gain. 

The world is all about “me”!  “I” come first, my feelings are more important and do not tell me “NO” otherwise you will suffer the consequences of emotional manipulation!  The world is all about control, manipulation, pride and greed.

But the reality is the world wants to watch Christians falter and sin.  When we participate in their behavior, it makes them feel better about their sin. 

Do I love Christ more than the opinions of men?

When was the last time I chose to blend in with the crowd rather than follow Christ?

Jesus insists that He chose us out of the world for the purpose of salvation and service.   It’s better to be loved than liked. 

Sadly, this message not only describes the world but it also describes the hatred within the body of Christ.   So many profess to be “Christians”…… Christ-like and are filled with hatred for others.

They hate out of jealousy, greed, selfishness and the loss of control over “you”.

The world has slipped into the Church and has found a comfortable place to reside. 

I am amazed at the hatred, jealousy, rejection, greed, arrogance and pride that have been allowed to control the churches today.  It seems that these traits have become a standard, a lifestyle of the Church.   

It is one thing to write about the persecution that we all experience from the world but I have found it to a greater degree in the Church.  

Why is that?  

God is love and He is suppose to be the center of the Church, how did hatred, greed, jealousy, lust, control, manipulation and pride get rooted in the church today?

As I wrote this message I began to think about the contrast between the world and the Church.  I heard in my spirit that there really is not a contrast or conflict because the world has invaded the Church.  

We are persecuted among the brethren because the world lives within the Church.  The key to this statement is found in John 19:6 where the Jews, Jesus’ own people, yelled in agreement for His crucifixion.  His own people, “Christians” persecuted Him and crucified Him. 

Why should we be so surprised that it is happening in our churches today?  This attitude has become the norm for most “Christians” today.

We claim to be Christ-like yet we mistreat, reject, ignore and allow sin to remain in the Church.   That is not the true love of Christ nor is it the way He would treat others.

How can I prepare myself to encounter hate and rejection?