“Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13 ESV)
No matter how sanctified you become, experiencing hatred from others is never pleasant. Even when you are hated for the “right reasons,” there is still an emotional pain that comes with knowing that another human being harbors deep-seated hostility toward you. This pain often causes professing believers to cave on biblical convictions and compromise on the gospel, because doing so appeases, if only for a moment, the vitriol of the world.
As difficult as it is to receive hatred for our faith, it should not be surprising. Those who are in Christ are not friends with the world. We are unknown to the world because we are known to Christ. This truth is so easy to forget. We need to be reminded over and over and over again that if we bear the name of Christ in the world, we will be hated. This hatred can take many forms, from the disapproving looks of coworkers to the martyrdom of those who preach the gospel. When we face hatred of any kind, believers have one source of consolation: we can run to Christ, who was hated first (John 15:18).
John’s reminder is critical for any who desire to enter into ministry, particularly the ministry of evangelism. The idea of taking the gospel to the lost often generates excitement and passion—as it should. But that excitement and passion must coincide with the realization that such an endeavor will bring upon us the hatred of the world. John’s words remind us that, for all the joy and blessing that come with giving our lives wholly to the service of the Lord, such service does not include the charity and well-wishes of the world.
This reminder is certainly not intended to dissuade anyone from the work of missions, but to prevent an idealized vision of missions. The Christian walk is incredibly difficult because this life is preparing us for the life to come. We will never feel at home in this world because we do not belong to it. To be a Christian is to be a perpetual stranger.
In our earthly lives, almost everyone we know was a stranger to us at one point, but the longer we knew them, and the more time we spent with them, the deeper our relationship grew with them. But such is not the case with the world. No matter how many years we spend on this earth, the world will never truly embrace us. Yet, it is still often surprising when we are treated as outsiders. We want to be known, loved, and appreciated, but all we will ever get from the world is a cold hand of hostility.
This is one of the practical reasons why the command to “love one another” as the body of Christ is such an important aspect of the Christian life and a powerful testimony to the world. We may not be friends with the world, but that does not mean the Christian life is one of isolation. In God’s goodness, he has given us the church to bolster our faith and strengthen our hands. He has given us fellow laborers alongside whom we can confidently engage the hostile and hateful environment of the world with the gospel.
Despite the experiential hardship of being hated by the world for the sake of Christ, it is evidence of the presence of the Spirit in us. Take it as a badge of a heavenly identity. When rejection comes, allow it to drive you into the arms of the one whose name you bear.
The world will hate those who are Christ’s, and that hatred will manifest itself in human and demonic opposition to the advance of the gospel. Even if that hatred goes to such an extent that our lives are required of us, let us remember that our lives already belong to another, and we are in his hands. To know that we are known and loved by Christ will help us overcome even the most extreme hatred of the world and embolden us to make him known to the farthest corners of the earth.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We love to be loved. We long for approval and affection. May such natural propensities never cause us to abandon or compromise on the truths we hold most dear. Help us, as your people, to love one another and build one another up, so that we may unapologetically proclaim the excellencies of Christ to a people who are far from him.
In his name, amen.
Prayer Requests:
- Tuesday: Pray for missionaries serving those with special needs.
- Wednesday: Pray for missionaries serving through counseling as they promote spiritually healthy souls and flourishing, effective ministries.
- Thursday: Pray for medical missionaries working with International Healthcare Ministries.
- Friday: Pray for missionaries in East Asia serving with Kerusso Media as they provide free resources for the local church and a Bible institute.
- Saturday: Pray for the Center for Youth Ministry in Ukraine.
- Sunday: Pray for missionaries in the Mediterranean and Middle East.
- Monday: Pray for missionaries serving in women’s ministry.
Featured Opportunity to Serve:
Healthcare Personnel
Location: Bangladesh
A variety of medical personnel, including physicians, surgeons, nurses, and physical therapists are urgently needed to serve at our partner hospital, Memorial Christian Hospital, in South Asia. Both short-term and long-term opportunities are available.
