The World - Not My Friend

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’ [John 15.18-25]

Well, so much for being loved by everyone! 

Jesus did not give us much hope of being loved by the world, its systems, or its ways. In fact, He gave us no hope for being loved by the world. In fact, the only way we will be loved by the world is if we abandon Jesus.

Now, this is not to say that those who believe in Christ will hate us. Jesus, not long before this discourse, clearly instructed His followers to love one another.

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. [John 14.12]

And,

This is my command: Love each other. [John 14.17]

The Church is no more the friend of the world than Jesus was a friend to the world. The Church is not commissioned to be friends with the world but the Church is commissioned with telling the world about Jesus and the forgiveness of God found in Him and Him alone.

Does the world hate the Church today? Eh, not so much. I mean, why would the world hate the Church today? The Church looks like the world. The Church sounds like the world. The Church dresses like the world. The Church's worship of God looks very much like the world's worship of musicians. The Church hasn't fought the world over abortion, homosexuality, divorce, and greed. The Church gets its healing in the same place the world gets it healing. The Church uses the same financial systems and practices of the world. Truthfully, the Church and the world have much in common today. Too much.

When the Church decides to separate from the world, there will be suffering. The sheep and goats will quickly be recognizable. Those involved in Church for 'religion' will separate from those involved in Church for 'relationship with God'. They will be divided like oil and water. They will finally not be seen as the same.

Then, when the Church decides it does not belong to the world, there will be power from God, as there was with Jesus, to confirm God's blessing. This power from God (miraculous signs) will only further serve to divide the Church from the world. God's power evident in the Church will only further frustrate and infuriate the world.

But, in the midst of all the hate the world can administer, the Church will have peace...

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” [John 16.33]

 So, until the world starts really hating the Church, we can conclude that the Church is not doing its job. And what is the Church's job? To look and act like Jesus.

Father, forgive me for not looking and acting like Jesus.