In this 24th webcast on the Gospel of John, Tim King considers why the world hates Christians. Is it because Jesus said in John 15 "that the world will hate you"? Before you prematurely decide, catch this inspiring talk, what you can do to "bear much fruit."

Today we want to speak about an issue that we've all no doubt heard many lessons on and that is, "As Christians, don't be surprised that the world hates you. Because Jesus said it would." This "we" versus "they" theme has been played out between believers and non-believers so often that it is almost impossible to watch TV without seeing some form of it appear before our eyes. Ironically the text most often sited by Christians affirming such an antagonistic relationship with the world is none other than John 15:18ff.

John records the words of Jesus this way: "If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world-the world hates you."

Here, for many believers, is the clear reason why "the world" often is closed to the message and ministry of "faithful believers." How much clearer could Jesus be? We are not part of the world, we are separate, different, "other than." Therefore, the world rejects us. We shouldn't be shocked by this, he says. Make sense? But is this really what Jesus is talking about?

Earlier I said that it was 'ironic' that believers use this passage as reason for their being mocked and rejected by society at large. I say this because just a few verses later we read why the world hated the followers of Christ: verse 25 says, "It was to fulfill the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without cause.'" Stunning, isn't it? The "world" that hated the followers of Jesus was the contemporary religious world of his day. It was the hatred of people professing to be followers and children of God against those following Christ.

The rejection of Jesus was seen and predicted by the prophets of Israel. This hatred and rejection, according to Jesus, should come as no surprise to his disciples for it was written in the law of Israel that they would hate Jesus without cause. It had "nothing" to do with the unbelieving world at all. It had "nothing" to do with the followers of Jesus being so righteous that those 'not' following him felt convicted of their sin and turned against believers.

When religious leaders cite this verse as modern-day evidence of the reason why Christians are hated by the world, they miss more than the point of the original story found here in John. Now to be sure, they do miss what Jesus is saying but in missing this, they confuse the issue with society playing out before our eyes.

Christians are often hated today not for their righteousness, but for their SELF-righteousness. They are hated today because they are so adept at making others perceive a horrendous gap between themselves and God. They are hated today because they put more effort into legislating morality than just modeling it. Christians are hated today because their social agendas often worship at the feet of a free market system that sometimes seems callous to leaving the less fortunate left beaten and lying in the ditch.

Non-believing society is at odds with Christians today because of Christendom's escapist mentality that breeds a contempt for an earth they see as having days that are numbered and is soon to be destroyed-therefore the Christian community is not always much in tune with matters of ecology and environment. The secular world today hates believers because its leaders often are more concerned with cartoon characters than larger societal issues that extend far beyond the borders of the United States.

The secular world today hates believers because of their judgmental attitude that keeps them from crying out against the genocide, starvation, lack of medical supplies or education in third world countries. No, the hatred of Christ-followers today is not the subject of Jesus in John 15 and is not to be so easily excused as such. As a matter of fact, this hatred of believers stands in direct conflict with the words Jesus speaks just a few verses earlier in John 15.

He says, "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit…[and] abide in my love." Perhaps if we would search out the wisdom of how this abiding love is to play itself out in our world today, we'd spend less time trying to convince the community of believers exactly why the world today holds so much animosity toward us. But then again, do we even have enough believers walking in fellowship together to even spread this message across the globe?

With all of the factions and divisions of Christ-followers, it is justifiable to ask if the hatred within is even stronger than the hatred from without. And when we start asking that question, then we find ourselves right in the middle of what Jesus was talking about in John 15. Lots to think about isn't it? Abide in love; embrace the world, work to make it a better place.

This webcast is the 24th program in a series on "The Gospel of John." Listeners are encourage to read along in the Gospel as a way to delve deeper into this study. The "Presence Today" show premiered in 2004 and has become the leading webcast of the fulfilled world. Shows are archived, so viewers can watch them anytime. See full story and instructions.

Viewers with slower modems may also download the program to their computer, rather than view the program online. This will help prevent the audio/video from spooling, if you watch it "offline." Either way, viewers need the RealOne Player, a free browser plug-in. Click here to learn how to get the latest player. Click the "Real Media" button below to view our Feb. 23rd program.

The Gospel of John, Pt 24, Feb 23, 2005