It's important to share God's truths graciously, but that doesn't mean we'll be well-received (Colossians 4:6).(1)
When the message offends, the messenger gets caught in the crossfire. Jesus, the greatest Messenger of all time (Hebrews 1:1-3), warned us this would happen (John 15:18-20).
Jesus spoke a message of repentance and redemption, warning men and women of sins that damage their souls. And He was hated.
People who haven't studied Scripture sometimes portray Christ as popular and permissive. Not true.
In John 7:7 Jesus told his unbelieving brothers: "The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil."
Because we love Christ we follow His example, sharing the gospel unashamedly (2 Corinthians 5:14; Romans 1:16-17). We know that many will reject the message and hate us as the messengers, but some will listen and follow Jesus!
That makes it all worthwhile.
As Paul so aptly explained: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
Additional Notes and Scriptures:
Read about an area where Christians are being challenged: Will You Stand with Jesus?
Speaking to believers, Jesus said:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” John 15:18-20
"You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22
Paul could have made his life easier by denying the Gospel, but in Romans 1:16-17, he said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”
And Paul told his converts: “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
1 Corinthians 16:13-14: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love."
I have been thinking about this a lot of late. I did a quick search and came upon this article which differentiates between 'love is god' & 'God is Love': https://world.wng.org/content/god_is_love_vs_love_is_god. It also came to mind how 'Venus' was considered the 'goddess of love' and hence worshiped as an idol. The enemy is a great counterfeiter. He cannot create because there is only one Creator. Often, folks consider idolatry as something of the past, something only 'heathen' & 'pagans' succumbed to, but it is very much 'alive & well' today. We often will look in 'all the wrong places' for love, and by doing so, fall prey. To explain to folks that love can be a 'bad' thing is difficult to do. I am of the renowned 'hippie age' in which 'peace & love' were the objective. 'Free love' was indulged because of the innate desire to love and be loved. Perhaps, God placed that within us so that we would seek Him. However, we 'settle' for less. In today's culture, 'love' is still being sought and politicians have begun 'preaching' it as the means to 'world peace'. To 'argue' against 'loving' makes one an outcast. Love, 'Agape love' needs to be more clearly defined from the 'pulpit' to differentiate between our Lord, Who in fact is Love..and the counterfeit being promoted by the world's definition of love which is an 'angel of light'. Truly, the deception is growing in strength. May our Lord Jesus the Christ have mercy so that our love does not 'wax cold' in the process. PS. 123. (((HUGS)))
ReplyDeleteI find by my operating in my gift and calling. The greatest push back I receive comes from fellow believers.
ReplyDeleteI also get a great deal of push back from professing believers. The key word is "professing." Many of them do not believe Scripture and you can't be a Christian while denying the truths of God's Word.
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