PRE-416-416. Why the World Hates Christians
416. Why the World Hates Christians
Why the World Hates Christians
by David Wilkerson
February 28, 2005
[May 19, 1931 '96 April 27, 2011]
Jesus told his disciples, '93I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit.'94 He then quickly added these solemn words: '93And that your fruit should remain'94 (Joh_15:16).
Christ'92s words here apply to all of his disciples, in every age. He is telling us, in essence, '93Be sure that your fruit will endure the Day of Judgment.'94
The word '93fruit'94 means doing the work and ministry of Christ here on earth. As a believer, I am chosen and ordained to go into all the world and preach the gospel of Christ. Moreover, as a minister of that gospel, I am called to make and train true disciples.
Now, there is such a thing as false conversion. Jesus warned the Pharisees, '93Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves'94 (Mat_23:15).
These are strong words, but they come from the Lord himself. And Jesus directed those words to zealous, proselytizing Jews. These were Bible scholars, men who knew the Scriptures.
You may wonder, '93How could what Jesus said here be possible? How could those who seek to convert cause the lost to be put in a worse condition?'94
Jesus answers this. When he cried, '93Hypocrisy!'94 he was stating to the Pharisees, '93Your fruit is evil.'94 And he warned them, '93Ye shall receive the greater damnation'94 (23:14).
The Pharisees that Jesus addressed were more concerned with numbers than with seeing a true work of conversion take place in people'92s hearts. Jesus said to them, in effect:
'93You'92re shutting up heaven to your so-called '91converts.'92 And it'92s happening because you have no word from God in your own life. You go to such extreme labors in planning to make converts. Yet, in truth, you'92re shutting up heaven to the people you reach.'94
Christ despised the hypocrisy of church leaders who were more concerned about head counts than about true conversions.
Tragically, we see the same spirit driving too many in the church today. I wonder if Jesus would say something similar to many of the shepherds in charge over God'92s house:
'93You roam sea and land for new concepts, ideas, programs. And it'92s all to get people into your church. You'92ve been bitten by the hypocrisy of numbers. You measure success by how many bodies fill your seats.'94
I can tell you that not everyone in our church who calls himself a Christian is a truly converted, saved believer. At the same time, I can assure you that if such people come here and end up being a twofold child of hell, it won'92t be because of what they heard from the pulpit. It won'92t be due to an incomplete gospel message. No, it will be because they rejected convicting, Holy Ghost truth.
Where are the John the Baptists of today?
I ask you: where are shepherds who won'92t soften their message for the high and mighty? Where are preachers who are so given to Christ, they preach the same message to kings that they do to the poor and despised?
I tremble to think that it'92s possible for me, or any other preacher of the gospel, to shut heaven and cause '93converts'94 to become twofold children of hell. Yet it'92s happening today, all because of some ministers'92 need to be loved and praised by others. They compromise truth in order to be accepted by the world.
Jesus addressed this. He called together his disciples, and '93in the audience'94 of all the people, he gave a scathing rebuke to the religious scribes:
'93Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts'94 (Luk_20:46).
In short, he was telling the people, '93Beware of shepherds who love the praises of men. Look out for Bible men who seek the affection and applause of the people. Be cautious of church leaders who want the approval of society.'94
A church that'92s accepted and approved by the world is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. It'92s an impossibility. According to Jesus, any church that'92s loved by the world is of the world, and not of Christ:
'93If 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'94 (Joh_15:19).
My life has been greatly influenced by the writings of George Bowen, a Presbyterian missionary who labored in India from 1838 to 1879. Bowen gave up all his missionary support to move into a slum and live as the natives there did. He led a very frugal existence, in near poverty. Yet because of that choice, he left behind a testimony of the true power of living in Christ.
This godly man warned of an antichrist spirit to come. He identified this antichrist spirit as being '93the spirit of modern society.'94 According to Bowen, this antichrist spirit would infiltrate the Protestant church with the mindset, methods and morals of the larger society.
The antichrist spirit would continue its influence until society and church couldn'92t be differentiated. Over time, the world would lose its hatred for Christ'92s church and true believers. It would stop its persecution, and the church would be loved and accepted by the world. Once that happened, Bowen wrote, this antichrist spirit would have taken the throne.
Several months ago, as the doors to Iraq were about to be opened to Christian relief organizations, the New York Times ran a derogatory article. That is to be expected from a liberal, secular press. They might applaud the distribution of food in Iraq, but certainly not the preaching of Christ.
Yet the article quoted an evangelical scholar, who was critical of the whole effort. He completely denounced it, saying the church should mind its own business. This Bible man was actually embarrassed that the church would be evangelizing. That is a worldly mindset!
The closer we get to the mission of Christ '97 to preaching the gospel that he has ordained '97 the more we will be hated and despised by the world.
We'92re going to find enemies everywhere '97 people who oppose us on our job, in our neighborhood, even in some churches '97 because we'92re fulfilling Christ'92s mission.
Again Jesus warns, '93Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets'94 (Luk_6:26). Let me ask you: is the world praising you? Are you the toast of the town? Are you given high praise at secular events? Are you politically correct in your interactions? Are mayors, dignitaries and the famous comfortable in your presence? Then hear Jesus'92 words to you: '93There is something false about your testimony.'94
Jesus himself makes it clear: if any church is moving in the power of the Holy Spirit and fulfilling its mission as he commanded, that church is going to be hated and persecuted by the world. Like Paul, the pastor will be considered the off-scouring of the earth. And the church will be hated by ungodly politicians and ungodly leaders of society. It will also be despised by homosexuals, pornographers, and most of all by backslidden religious leaders who are spiritually dead.
Yet, Jesus tells that church:
'93Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness'92 sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, 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'94 (Mat_5:10-12).
Why does the world hate the true church, its pastors and parishioners?
A true Christian is loving, peaceful, forgiving and caring. Those who obey Jesus'92 words are self-sacrificing, meek and kind.
Now, common wisdom tells us it'92s not natural to hate those who love you, bless you and pray for you. Rather, people hate only those who abuse, rob and curse them. So, why are Christians so hated?
Jesus says simply, '93If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you'85. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you'94 (Joh_15:18; Joh_15:20). Why is this so?
The church, and every minister and believer in it, is hated because of its mission. You see, our mission is much more than telling lost people, '93Jesus loves you.'94 It'92s more than trying to accommodate and appease people.
You may draw back in surprise when I remind you of what our mission is. Simply put, our mission as Christians is to take back from the ungodly what is most precious to them: self-righteousness. It is to translate them into a freedom they think is slavery. It is to separate them from damning sins, a blessing they see as only ending in boredom and sadness.
The most precious thing to a worldly person is his self-righteousness. Think about it: he has spent his whole life forming a good opinion of himself. He'92s built an idol to his good works. He praises himself that he'92s really good at heart and kind to others. Simply put, he'92s built his own Tower of Babel, a monument to his own goodness. He is sure that he'92s good enough for heaven, and too good for hell.
This ungodly man has spent years beating down his conscience and searing it. He has taught himself to still every voice of conviction that comes to him. And now he enjoys a false peace. He has become so deceived, he actually believes God admires him!
And now, just when he has shut down the voice of his conscience, you, a Christian, come along. And the truth you bring speaks more loudly than his dead conscience: '93Unless you'92re born again, you can'92t enter the kingdom of heaven.'94
Suddenly, you'92re a threat in this man'92s mind. You'92re someone who wants to deprive him of his assurance that all is well with his soul. All this time, he has thought he is okay. But now you'92re telling him that all his good works are as filthy rags.
I tell you, this man doesn'92t see you as someone who'92s bringing good news. No, in his eyes you'92re a tormenter, someone who'92s out to take away his peaceful sleep at night.
There are millions of this type of person, and many of them are filling church pews every Sunday.
Such people think they'92re in God'92s good graces simply because they show up at church. Yet they'92ve created their own concept of who Christ is. Their christ is someone just like themselves. And that christ isn'92t formed by God'92s Word, but by their own blindness.
Now you come along and tell them that without repentance and a true life-change, they'92re rebels. You tell them their self-made integrity is an abomination to God. And, rather than being in God'92s favor, they'92ll be under his wrath if they continue in their sins.
You'92ve come preaching the blood of Christ, a new birth, separation from the world, a walk of submission and obedience. Yet you'92re saying all of this to people who are convinced they'92re in need of nothing. They can'92t conceive how such changes could possibly bring peace and happiness. To them, it sounds like a dry, empty wilderness.
Some preachers reading this may object, '93That isn'92t my mission at all. I would never be that confrontational.'94 Others may claim, '93I'92m called to bring the gospel of love and grace. Therefore, I preach a non-controversial message.'94
I can'92t speak for other pastors; I can only speak what I know. And for fifty years now, I'92ve preached to some of the hardest, most wicked sinners on earth: drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes. Yet, I tell you, these sinners are much less resistant to gospel truth than many who sit in church pews and are blinded to their condition.
Thousands of so-called believers across America are more hardened than anyone on the streets. And no suave, soft-spoken, half-truth gospel is going to break down the walls of their wickedness.
Saul of Tarsus was just such a hardened religious man. A Pharisee among Pharisees, an upright figure in a highly religious society, Saul had it all together. So, did Jesus come to this man taking a poll, asking what he'92d like to see in a synagogue service?
No! Saul was struck to the ground by a blinding light, a full blast of the presence of Christ. It was a piercing, confrontational meeting that exposed Paul'92s heart, pinpointing his sin.
As a minister of the gospel of Christ, I am to do likewise. It'92s my business to convince men and women of their sin. I'92m to warn them of the danger that awaits them if they continue their ways. And no amount of flattery, or subtlety, or getting them to like me will change their condition.
In plain terms, I am called to lead people to forsake everything to follow a Christ whom they find unattractive. Only the Holy Ghost in me can accomplish that.
Don'92t mistake what I'92m saying here. I preach the mercy, grace and love of Christ to all people. And I do it through tears. But the only thing that'92s going to pierce the walls erected by hardened people is a blast of the presence of Jesus. And that has to come out of the mouths of contrite, praying pastors and parishioners.
Jesus said, '93I have chosen you out of this world'94 (Joh_15:19).
This verse strikes at the very heart of why we are hated. When we were saved, we got '93out of the world.'94 And we accepted our mission to insist that others '93get out of the world.'94
'93Ye are not of the world'85therefore [because of this], the world hateth you'94 (Joh_15:19). Christ is saying, in essence, '93The world hates you because I called you out of your condition. And that means I called you out of their fellowship. Yet, I didn'92t just call you out. I then sent you to call everyone else out.'94
The Protestant antichrist spirit works to hinder this separation of Christians from the world. It makes it seem possible for believers to stay in the world and yet still regard themselves as Christians.
You may ask, '93What exactly does Jesus mean when he says '91the world'92?'94
He isn'92t just speaking of ungodly lusts, pleasure madness, pornography or adultery. No, '93the world'94 Christ refers to isn'92t some list of evil practices. That'92s only a part of it. Many Muslims have '93come out'94 of all these things by sheer willpower and fear of destruction.
'93The world'94 that Jesus speaks of is an unwillingness to surrender to his Lordship. In short, worldliness is any attempt to co-mingle Christ with self-will.
You see, when we surrender to the Lordship of Christ, we cleave to Jesus. And we'92re led by the Holy Spirit, step by step, into a walk of purity and uprightness. We begin to appreciate godly reproof.
Nobody can come under Christ'92s Lordship until he faces the demands of the Cross.
I realize this truth every time I stand up to preach. As I gaze out from the pulpit into our congregation, scattered among the faithful believers I face non-believers each week who'92ve walked in for the first time. Some are successful business people, self-made and hard driving. Others come from all kinds of walks of life. Yet all are laden down with secret sins. These people are living as they please, not under any spiritual authority. But they'92re empty and disillusioned. They'92ve become sick of pursuing pleasures that never satisfy.
I could preach to them all kinds of sermons about principles and rules of behavior, or how to cope with stress, or how to deal with fear and guilt. But none of this kind of preaching gets anyone '93out of the world.'94 It doesn'92t change anybody'92s heart.
I simply have to tell the non-believer that his self-will, self-reliance and stubborn struggle to do everything his way will destroy him. And in the end, it will bring him everlasting torment.
If I don'92t give him this message, then I have forever shut up the heavens to him. And I have made him a twofold member of hell. His condition will be worse than before he came through our doors.
I have to bring that man face to face with the message of being crucified to his independence. I have to show him that he must come out of his deluded world of self-goodness. I have to tell him there'92s no way to peace in this life except through full surrender to King Jesus.
Otherwise, I have deceived this man. And I'92ve committed the horrible sin of the worst kind of pride: I have counted him as a '93convert'94 to make myself look good. May it never be!
As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I am obligated to speak his truth to everyone who truly repents: '93You will be hated and persecuted from now on.'94
Jesus once turned to some of his earthly relatives and said, '93The world cannot hate you'94 (Joh_7:7).
With these awful words, Jesus gives us the litmus test of a true church and a true disciple. I wonder how many churches and Christians these words could be spoken of today: '93The world cannot hate you.'94
Christ is saying, in essence, '93You have so brought the world into the church '97 you'92ve so diluted my gospel '97 that the world embraces you. You'92ve become a friend to the world.'94 James gives us this warning in his epistle: '93The friendship of the world is enmity with God'85whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God'94 (Jam_4:4).
Of course, Jesus was a friend to politicians and sinners. But it is also written that he was '93separate from sinners'94 (Heb_7:26). He ministered to sinners, yet as one under submission to his Father. Like him, we are called to be in the world, but not of it.
'93Remember the word that I said unto you'85 If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you'94 (Joh_15:20). You don'92t have to look for persecution. It won'92t come because of your job performance, or your race, or your appearance. No, it will come simply because you make Christ your Lord.
God have mercy on any Christian whom the world doesn'92t hate. And God help the politician who takes a stand for Christ; the world will hate him and demonize him.
Now let me give you a word of encouragement. Even though the world hates and persecutes Christ'92s true disciples, we find a growing love and godly affection among the members of his church. Indeed, that which causes the world to hate us causes our righteous brothers and sisters to embrace us all the more.
In the days ahead, the love in God'92s house is going to become more precious. We'92ll be hated by the whole world, mocked by the media, ridiculed by Hollywood, scoffed at by coworkers, made a laughingstock by society. But when we come into God'92s house, we'92ll be entering a place of incredible love, as we love one another as Christ loves us.
It won'92t matter what persecution we'92ve faced. We'92ll be received with these words: '93Welcome home, brother, welcome home, sister. Here is where you'92re loved.'94 We'92ll be built back up, to continue going out as our Lord commands us, with his true gospel.
By: David Wilkerson