Being hated is a hopeless feeling. Few things discourage us more than rejection from someone we want to accept us.
We’re tempted to put our hope in the affirmation of others–to find our moods, our peace of mind, our joy–sort of fixed to how others esteem us, what they think about us.
Walking the way of Jesus in the world can feel lonely. Perhaps the problem with the road less traveled is the apparent lack of fellow travelers. Pressure to get off that path.
Ideologically, we just don’t fit neatly into the socio-political camps of the day. Many of us fear not being seen as conservative enough. Others of us fear not being seen as progressive enough. Some of you cannot stand the thought of being hated by conservatives, of not having the bona fides necessary to toe the party line. Some of you cannot stand the thought of being hated by progressives, by dissenting in any way from popular progressive ideology.
The only thing that the Pharisees (conservatives) and Sadducees (progressives) could agree on is that they hated Jesus.
If this is your grid, trying to prove yourself to some ideological group, you will never live a faithful Christian life–you will always be looking for the affirmation of some group of people, a tribe to belong to, friends that will accept you. We are accepted by God into the family through the blood of Jesus Christ. We belong to him.
We are fools for Christ; we are not fawning sycophants of any man.
James 4:4, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Our hope is not in how the world responds to us, how others perceive us, or how many friends we get; our hope is in Jesus who calls us his friend.
Rejoice not in how others esteem you. Rejoice in the God of your salvation.
If we live for the world’s affirmation, we will die from their hatred. But if we live in God’s affirmation, we will live in his love. We endure hatred as those with great hope.
We are friends of God. We are becoming like God. Our sorrow will turn to joy (John 16:20).
The hatred of the world is an opportunity to display the grace of God, the truth of God, and the love of God.