Loved By The World!
Luke 6:26 Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.How should the world and its wisdom react to Christians? If all people speak well of you and the secular world approves of you, then Jesus makes it clear that you have a problem and even compares such a situation to the Israelites of old speaking well of false prophets.
Recently on an emergent church blog, I witnessed a video of the liberal Christian activist Jim Wallis on the Comedy Central Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Mr. Wallis takes every opportunity to impugn orthodox Christianity and what is often called the religious fundamentalist right. He received a warm friendly reception from Jon Stewart as well as from the audience on this appearance. I have seen him on Larry King live and other television talk shows. He always seems to receive agreeable and favorable response from both the hosts as well as the audiences in all the times that I have seen him. I am sure his approval would be great on Oprah and her audience. You can go right down the list of television talk shows and be certain his interpretation of Christianity will not offend either the host or the audience. He is well received and loved by the world.
However, when Christian leaders like Dr. Al Mohler, Dr. John MacArthur, and other Biblical truth tellers appear on television shows, the response is hostile and the questions are meant to challenge the exclusive truth claims of Jesus and the Bible. These Biblical teachers are painted as intolerant and narrow minded, and the audience insults them, which brings applause and approval. The world hates these religious leaders and the message they bring.
Christians do not be dismayed, troubled or doubt your Christian beliefs when you see this occur. Be courageous and rest in the fact that the Bible very clearly tells us this will happen. We should not be surprised and in fact should rejoice that the world does not approve of our beliefs because when the world approves, Jesus does not!
More Scripture on the subject:
1 John 3:13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
Luke 6:22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!
John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
John 17:14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
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.
posted by jazzycat at 9:42 AM
13 Comments:
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
We should not be intimidated by the secular PC police of this world into conforming to worldly standards. Let us take the gospel to the world and not adapt the gospel to suit the world.
We will be called rigid, intolerant, fundamentalists that take the Bible too literally. Get used to it......
February 02, 2008 10:07 AM
Amen Jazz!
Well said! The world hates what we represent...Christ and the more and more we stand firm the more we are hated.
Cristina
February 02, 2008 2:16 PM
Why are you so hung up on the world hating you? It sounds as though you relish the thought. No one hates you.
February 02, 2008 5:02 PM
More than 10 years ago, Nina Shea penned these words in her book In the Lion's Den:
"...more Christians have died in this century simply for being Christians than in the first nineteen centuries after the birth of Christ. They have been persecuted and martyred before an unknowing, indifferent world and a largest silent Christian community."
In September 2007, Muslim attacks against Christians in a town in Nigeria were reported to have left 10 Christians dead, nine churches destroyed, 61 people injured and some 500 people displaced from their homes. In October 2007, Muslim extremists killed many Christians in Nigeria simply for their faith.
Hundreds of these same kinds of reports pour in from manifold parts of the world every week and you can read about them all here:
http://www.persecution.com/
A few months ago, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was busted for owning, financing, and participating in a heinous dog-fighting operation. outraged animal lovers lobbied for hard time and severe penalties - while the persecution of Christians worldwide garners no media attention.
Why? The answer is in Scripture, which Jazzy reminds us.
Although we live in a free country in the United States thankfully free of this kind of persecution and physical harm, there is hostility, antagonism, and disdain for Christians in general among the media and also in the public school system. I think anyone who is a true believing practicing Christian would probably affirm this.
February 02, 2008 6:00 PM
I might add that sarcasm, mockery, and comments like "Fundamentalist Christians think this or that...", etc. only add to the feeling of general disdain for and intolerance of Christians.
February 02, 2008 6:31 PM
Susan,
Thank you for your comments.
Cristina
February 02, 2008 6:38 PM
Amen, so true...
February 02, 2008 7:56 PM
"We should not be surprised and in fact should rejoice"
To tell you the truth, I'm surprised when it happens most times, and almost never rejoice.
But I'm believing I'll get there one day. By His grace working in my heart through His Spirit, and by hearing the Word, as I have here. But if i don't, the Gospel burns in my stomach, and even my bones, and i have to speak it.
Good post Wayne.
February 02, 2008 8:09 PM
donsands,
It can be a surprise at times, mostly to those close to us like family that are lost. When they get upset with what we say even in the gentlest fashion, it can throw you off a bit, but then you realize their hearts are just like the rest of the world, hardened. And we pray...
Cristina
February 02, 2008 8:38 PM
Amen and thanks my sister in Christ.
May you have a beautiful Lord's day in His sovereign grace.
February 02, 2008 8:44 PM
Cristina,
That is so true. And when it happens, I have to remind myself to look to Christ and not to my lost loved one. And to pray... again... and again...
Don,
Like you, my emotions run more toward deep sadness when misunderstanding or dislike or disdain (or name other sentiment here) occur. I am deeply, deeply grieved and not rejoicing, but I hope some day I will be fashioned more in the likeness of Christ and respond in a manner pleasing to God.
Likewise, I continue to place my hope in Him and not what I see or hear. Perhaps, in some way, these experiences draw me/us closer to Him in this regard.
February 02, 2008 9:48 PM
I collect Lighthouses, whether in sculpture, picture, postcard etc. They remind me of Jesus, the light of the world, who is a beacon, who guides us to a safe refuge. But it also is a warning as you state and the world needs to take heed to the warnings that the Bible gives. If our message is being readily accepted by the world (and by the New York Times best seller list ie: The Purpose Driven Life) then we have the wrong message. Robert Ketchum, formerly of Regular Baptist Press said thisk, "You either have a limited message or you have a limited audience." How true he was!
February 05, 2008 6:10 AM
James,
Very good quote....
February 05, 2008 8:42 AM
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