Jesus said in John 15:18-25 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me."
This truth is becoming more evident to me every day. Thankfully, I haven't been experiencing this hatred that Jesus talks about first-hand. I have, however, been noticing it in the media as of late. I read an article recently from a sports writer who is desperately wanting Tim Tebow to fail at football and leave the sport forever because his religious views are "dangerous". It's eye-opening to see the hatred the man has for Tebow's conviction to bring his Christianity into football. I watched the documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (it's about the squelching of Intelligent Design being taught in schools or held to by its professors) and saw the attitudes that these Atheist Evolutionists had towards Intelligent Design and specifically religion. There was hatred towards religion on the part of some and there was patronizing of religion on the part of others. This is only two of the many evidences of the world's hatred toward religion and Christianity that I've seen.
However, the tough part is to know how to respond to their hatred. When I saw the interview of Richard Dawkins on the film--having already watched several other films featuring the man--I started to feel a lot of anger towards him. I hope it wasn't hatred, but I couldn't help but think of where this guy is going after he dies, and, that once he's there, he'll realize what a huge mistake he's made. At first I felt happy about this--that men like these, these enemies of God, will be punished for all eternity--but should I really feel that way? Though we're told that we will be hated by the world, but that doesn't mean we should hate them back--or even joyfully expect their torment forever in hell.
I realize that I have been given a great gift by God--the gift of eternal life with Him, free from suffering and full of joy. This gift enables me to freely love enemies such as these men. What do I mean when I say love them, though? I don't mean what a lot of people do. I don't mean we should feel nice, warm feelings towards them. No. They are evil people who are enemies of God. They blaspheme His name. They hate Him and they hate His people. God does not call us to think nicely of them or over-look their faults. But just because they are enemies doesn't give me the right to look forward their destruction in hell either. What it does give me the right to do is pray for them. Desperately pray for the salvation of their souls and the defeat of their arguments. They are humans, made in the image of God, who have been blinded by sin and need, by the grace of God, to be given sight. They are spiritually dead beings who need, by the grace of God, to be given new life that is only found through faith in Christ's death on the cross for their sins. So I encourage you to pray for those who persecute you and the name of Christ. Love your enemies. And thank God that He has pulled you out of the darkness that so many people are lost in right now.
I'd love to hear any thoughts that you guys have about this. Feedback would be great!
This truth is becoming more evident to me every day. Thankfully, I haven't been experiencing this hatred that Jesus talks about first-hand. I have, however, been noticing it in the media as of late. I read an article recently from a sports writer who is desperately wanting Tim Tebow to fail at football and leave the sport forever because his religious views are "dangerous". It's eye-opening to see the hatred the man has for Tebow's conviction to bring his Christianity into football. I watched the documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (it's about the squelching of Intelligent Design being taught in schools or held to by its professors) and saw the attitudes that these Atheist Evolutionists had towards Intelligent Design and specifically religion. There was hatred towards religion on the part of some and there was patronizing of religion on the part of others. This is only two of the many evidences of the world's hatred toward religion and Christianity that I've seen.
However, the tough part is to know how to respond to their hatred. When I saw the interview of Richard Dawkins on the film--having already watched several other films featuring the man--I started to feel a lot of anger towards him. I hope it wasn't hatred, but I couldn't help but think of where this guy is going after he dies, and, that once he's there, he'll realize what a huge mistake he's made. At first I felt happy about this--that men like these, these enemies of God, will be punished for all eternity--but should I really feel that way? Though we're told that we will be hated by the world, but that doesn't mean we should hate them back--or even joyfully expect their torment forever in hell.
I realize that I have been given a great gift by God--the gift of eternal life with Him, free from suffering and full of joy. This gift enables me to freely love enemies such as these men. What do I mean when I say love them, though? I don't mean what a lot of people do. I don't mean we should feel nice, warm feelings towards them. No. They are evil people who are enemies of God. They blaspheme His name. They hate Him and they hate His people. God does not call us to think nicely of them or over-look their faults. But just because they are enemies doesn't give me the right to look forward their destruction in hell either. What it does give me the right to do is pray for them. Desperately pray for the salvation of their souls and the defeat of their arguments. They are humans, made in the image of God, who have been blinded by sin and need, by the grace of God, to be given sight. They are spiritually dead beings who need, by the grace of God, to be given new life that is only found through faith in Christ's death on the cross for their sins. So I encourage you to pray for those who persecute you and the name of Christ. Love your enemies. And thank God that He has pulled you out of the darkness that so many people are lost in right now.
I'd love to hear any thoughts that you guys have about this. Feedback would be great!
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