This is Why!

If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me." (John 15: 18, 21 NLT)

Sometimes, many believers feel the unusual thrust of hatred from those who don't believe in God or believe Him--it's one thing to not believe in His existence and another to not believe He meant what He says. But we should not marvel at the persecution we feel--Jesus warned us--the world will hate us, but the world (unbelievers) hated Him first.  And why do they hate? They reject the One who sent Him to redeem us.

Let's look at this way--if no one ever told us we were wrong in the things we do--would we continue to do them? Probably. But the minute someone points out our wrong-doing or shortcomings--we get angry and fight back--with false accusations and attempts to humiliate those who dared to tell us we were wrong. We scorn, make fun of and generally try to turn everyone we know against those who dared to tell us we were wrong. That's what the world--of unbelieving people--do.

Parents feel persecuted when teens rebel and the teens rebel because they don't like being told what they cannot do. They do not understand that correction is for their safety and long-life.

When people rebel against The Word and anyone preaching The Word--they do so because The Word convicts of sin and wrong-doing, but of course there would not be wrong-doing, unless there was wrong-thinking. Wrong-thinking--produces pedophiles, murderers, liars, thieves, molesters, hypocrisy, and opens the door to all sorts of evil acts--opposed to The Word of God.

If we want to see a change in what the world is doing--eliminating the violence and hatred--we must change the way we think and align our thoughts with The Word, developing the  mind of Christ. With the mind of Christ--we are able to love--not hate--all--regardless of ethnic origin, race, religion, gender or any other thing that the enemy attempts to use to lead us to hating--just because we know how to love.

We know how to change what is occurring in our society--we know because it is the enemy who plants seeds of doubt, unbelief and hatred in the minds of others. We can change the course we are taking, but we have to want to change it--all of us--not just some of us. When we learn how to love--we will see change, but remember--while we're loving people into a right-relationship with God, the enemy is still planting seeds of hatred and our love must be stronger.

For anyone who hates you--love them even more--and overcome the hatred with love--in spite of them and you. Love really is the key, but just because we love--expect "the haters" to hate, because they do not know Love or how to love.