Jesus Warns: You Shall Be Hated

     This is last week of lent.  Most of us have spent most of lent in quarantine.  This time has given me a lot of time to think, pray, study, read, and meditate.  I’ve set a schedule because I don’t want to spend all day in bed.  I get us early to pray and meditate on scripture.  I exercise.  I try to arrange time in the mornings to watch CBS Morning News.  I like Gayle King.  News watching is limited to one hour.  You know, too much of anything makes a dull mind.  Each week I’ve scheduled three to four hours on three days to work in yard.  After three weeks, there isn’t much left to do but a little maintenance.  Yesterday, I cleaned my pantry.  There were way too many empty jars and plastic containers.  After clearing out the clutter, I have plenty of space in the pantry.  Yes, I recycle.  The jars and plastics are in separate containers.  I live in rural America, so I will take these to recycling area on Wednesday.  In the evenings with the yard manicured and house clean, I like to watch a good movie or read a book.  Some evenings, I may search for news stories on NBC, CBS, CNN, and FOX, but again, I limit the time.  What bothers me is that NBC and CNN ridicule Christians and say negative things about our president and Christians.  This is a special week for Christians all over the world.  As I pray and worship, I wonder just how this week will conclude with the pandemic and media’s negative views on our country’s leaders and Christianity.

     Christians are warned that they shall “deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and you shall be hated of all nations for my names sake.”  This is in Matthew 24 where the disciples ask Jesus, “what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (3)  Then, in verse 9 Jesus tells them that they will be hated.  This has happened to Christians and Jews around the world for centuries.  In many countries, religion of any kind is banned.  In Muslim countries, Christians are persecuted and killed.  Our country has always been different.  In all my years, I’ve been respected for my faith.  I’ve been shown respect for my love of God.  In my younger days, people did not curse or use foul and defaming words around a Christian.  Today, it is different.  Christians are called haters.  Those who consider Christians people of hate don’t understand what Christianity is.  Unfortunately, some people who call themselves Christians don’t understand Christianity.  Open the Bible and read it.  Read the gospels.  When I wanted to understand Islam, I didn’t trust what I heard.  I studied the Koran.  By the way, those who praise Islam don’t know Islam.  Some people who are Muslims never read the Koran and don’t know what is in their holy book.  Unfortunately, many who call themselves Christians have never read the Bible and misrepresent Christianity.  God is a Spirit and God is love.  God is not a vengeful God.  God is patient.  The gospels tell us to love and not judge.  Christians are to help the needy and give to those in need.  Do Christians fall short?  Yes.  We are human.  We don’t hate the sinner, but we pray for the sinner.  We don’t judge the sinner, because we fall short and sin too.  Do we hate homosexuals?  No, we don’t.  To the Christian, homosexuality is just as bad as sex out of marriage, stealing, lying, murder, and falling short of doing God’s will.  If I feel God calls me to help my neighbor and I don’t, it is a sin, because I failed to serve and love my neighbor.  I repent of this sin and help my neighbor.  If I disapprove of the president’s behavior, I don’t hate him like some.  I pray for him.  As I scroll through social media, I pray for those posting hateful and negative words.  I don’t hate them for their view.  They are all part of God’s creation.  Christians are commanded to love everyone. (Matthew 22:37-40) So, if you made it this far in this paragraph, Christianity is about love, and we love and pray for those who afflict us, seek to kill us, and hate us.

     With the negative reporting and views about Christians, I’m concerned for my children and grandchildren.  I wonder if they will be able to withstand the abuse, lies, affliction, and persecution to come.  Without abiding in Christ and the Holy Spirit, many will turn from their faith.  Without standing in the gospel of God, many will give up and fall away.  Christians will stand strong because we know that we have a difficult walk.  The Bible does not promise us riches and glory on earth.  We have a greater promise: “Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:11,12 KJV) Now, as we face another week of the pandemic and negative media, I pray for those suffering, losing lives, and our leaders.  I love them.  Most of all, I pray for all Christians this week.  May we be committed to showing God’s love in these difficult times.