12th May 2012 John 15:18-21

The World Hates the Disciples
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

This is very sad but true in many ways still today; being a Christian is not always understood or accepted and we can feel persecuted even if we are quite liberal. The thing to remember though is that this is all due to lack of understanding rather than hatred. The challenge then is to make sure we don't hate those who are opposed to us and our beliefs; this is where we ask for God's help.