Accused of Being A Jesus Follower

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me [Jesus] before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also.” – John 15:18-23

A dear friend of ours recently posted on Facebook that her granddaughter told her she was too Christian. Sadly, I think for most of us it would be easier to be found guilty of not being Christian enough. The post reminded me of John 15 (see above). Since the time I was born again in 1976, I have watched the shift in our country from – it is cool, even respectable, to be a Christian – to it is OK to be a Christian just keep it to yourself – to if you are a Christian there is something wrong with you and you are an inherently bad person because of it. 

So what has changed? Well God has not – Jesus has not – the Spirit has not – the world we live in has. It has become darker through rampant sin and the Light is hurtful to a sinners eyes. Have you ever been in a dark room and someone comes in and turns the lights on? You might have said – “turn the lights off!” Your pupils are dilated to allow you to see in the darkness and the shock of the light hurts your eyes. In a similar way – being around Christians – those who may be silent witnesses – they are not sharing the plan of salvation with you, but are living in a way that is obviously different from the way most other – normal – people live and speak and do.  “He who hates Me hates My Father also” That is at the root of it all. Because people reject God – they reject those who represent the Father – that means the Son – and the Children of God.  (that is you and me).  

Being too Christian is not the problem – God in us is the problem.

“I [Jesus] have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.’” – John 17:14-16

If it bothers us that the world finds our faith and belief in the Word as contemptible remember that it is not us but who we represent that is the source of the rejection.  If you can keep your light hidden and live like the world – embracing its truth (with a little “t”) then you can get along quite nicely. If you hide your light under a basket so you can get along with your lost friends, family, and neighbors then you can do that. But know that we have not been called to that way of living – that is not our purpose on this planet. If we consider ourselves natural first and Christian second then our struggle with sin will be compounded. I want to end this thought by reminding you of Peter.

“And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, ‘This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ But again he denied with an oath, ‘I do not know the Man!’ And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, ‘Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.’ Then he began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the Man!’” – Matthew 26: 71-74

When confronted by a culture that he born in to Peter denied his association with Jesus.

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’” – John 21:15

If we love God then we can show it by being faithful to our calling. I know the pressure to conform to this world – it is real – it is full of emotion and fear of rejection. It will happen – it probably already has – the question for each of us is “How will we respond?” One last scripture reference.

“I urge you therefore, [brothers and sisters], by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone