Why the World Hates Christians

John 15:18–27
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One of the worst cases of hatred I have ever come across is found in a will written in 1935 by a Mr. Donohoe. It says, “Unto my two daughters, Frances Marie and Denise Victoria, by reason of their bad attitude toward a doting father, ... I leave the sum of $1 to each and a f … More

Hate

Jesus turns from the subject of love to the subject of hate. It doesn’t seem logical that anyone would hate Jesus Christ and His followers, but that is exactly what happened in Jesus’ day, and is still happening today. Much of that hatred comes from religious people. Until the Lord comes back or until we die, we must live in this hostile world. The world does not like people whose lives are a condemnation of it. Perhaps you are wondering why the world system hates the Christian. Jesus gives several reasons:

1. We are identified with Christ (vv. 18, 20). When they hated Him, we can be sure they will also hate those of us who are identified with Him.

2. We do not belong to the world (v. 19). We are in the world physically, but not of the world spiritually. The world system operates on the basis of conformity, but the believer is told not to conform (Romans 12:2).

3. The world is spiritually ignorant and blind (v. 21). The religious leaders in Jerusalem knew a great deal about God, but they did not personally know God. Many religious leaders today claim to know God but refuse to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

4. The world will not be honest about its own sin (vv. 22-24). The people were not sinning in ignorance, but they were sinning against all kinds of evidence. The same is true today.

That is why the Scriptures are true when they say, “People hated me for no reason” (vv. 25-27).

Application

If I give a positive witness for Christ, I can expect the unsaved world to hate me. If the world has no hatred for the things I stand for, I need to be concerned about the way I am living. It is Jesus that they hate. They don’t even want us to pray in Jesus’ name.

John 15:18-27 (English Standard Version)

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