I must admit I have foolishly gauged the truth of what I have written by the venom that I receive back in e-mails. It seems I would question myself if what I wrote was palatable to the flesh or not. I pray that by the grace of God I ignore that foolishness and preach Christ and Christ alone. If the world hates me it is His message that offends them and it is He that weighed it to their hearts. May He open ears and hearts to His message and offend those that need offended and bless those that are His.
Extra credit: Persecution for the proclaiming of His truth is of course timeless and not exclusive to any person or group of people. In the words of William Tiptaft (Nature is not changed, the gospel is not changed, and Christ is not changed.) With that we have today a letter from William Tiptaft written in 1830 dealing with the hatred He faced.
Jhn 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.
Jhn 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Jhn 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Jhn 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
What does the world hate about a true Christian?
Unfortunately I see many professing Christians use there personal persecution in this world as a badge of honor. They weep not for the lost but use confrontation and rejection as a conformation of their beliefs. How quick they would seemly loose sight of the author and the commandment of love. But instead they view the hatred of this world personally and pride themselves in exclusivity. Oh dear brother the same God that chose you, the same God that redeemed you, the same God that called you, is the same God whose message they now reject. And it is by the same will of that sovereign God that you are not a Pharisee of Pharisees trusting in your own will and knowledge and hating that same message and those who proclaim it. As much as you had no part in your election, redemption, and calling, here to He has chosen you out of this world, therefore the world hates you. What part in that shall you pride yourself? What part of this do you find joy and honor? Oh look now through the eyes of love and humble yourself for these things they do to you they do in His name sake for they know Him not. Weep for them for they shall face the wrath of an angry God. See yourself that you yourself deserve no mercy. But rest here also that the God that chose you and loves you has His restraining hand on this world and He shall kept you for His glory.
