Misfits

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you (John 15:18).

The world has always considered followers of Jesus to be social misfits, cultural lowlifes, spiritual weirdos, and losers. Ever since the first century, Christians have been mocked and marginalized. At times they have been persecuted and even killed. Paul spoke of this sobering truth when he warned that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (II Tim. 3:12).

Just to be clear: I’m not talking about the world’s contempt for religious wackos, cross-burning supremacists, political zealots, hypocrites in church, or those who promote a Christian theocracy. I have trouble with those kinds of people too! I’m talking, rather, about humble followers of Jesus, who build strong families, love their neighbors, practice honesty in business, and live moral lives of integrity and kindness. I’m talking about those who do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God (see Micah 6:8).

You might be asking, “Why would anyone hate people like this?” When you pause to think about it, this is a really interesting question. In fact, answering it leads to some of the most profound insights into the human condition that you will ever discover. Think about the hatred Jesus received. And why? He wasn’t violent, greedy, or immoral. He loved everyone, healed the sick, fed the hungry, told great stories, and provided amazing beverage service at wedding receptions. And yet the world killed him! How do you explain such hatred?

When we examine Jesus’ life, we can discern at least four characteristics that were particularly offensive, causing many to hate him and want him dead. These same traits are found in his true followers and help to explain why Christians today are so often treated with contempt and cancelled.

The offense of moral goodness.

Cain’s murder of his brother Abel is the prototypical example of religious persecution (see Gen. 4:1-16). The Scriptures are crystal clear concerning the motive behind Cain’s violent deed. He was jealous because Abel’s sacrifice was pleasing to God. God had blessed his brother, and this made Cain want to kill him! (You might want to read that sentence again.) Yes, strange as it may sound, the provocation for Cain’s murderous deed was his brother’s goodness (see I Jn. 3:12). Welcome to human history!

Unbelievers hate Christians for the same reason, that cockroaches hate the light (see Jn. 3:19-21). When Jesus walked into a room, it was as if the lights were suddenly turned on. If you happened to be a cockroach, this was your worst nightmare! His moral integrity, selfless compassion, spiritual authenticity, and zeal for the truth caused many to scurry into the shadows. In his presence, people were painfully aware of their own sin and hypocrisy.

The fact that Christians attend church, read their Bibles, and volunteer at the local food pantry may cause the world to smile in condescension, but these activities do not typically provoke hatred or persecution. Christians are hated not so much because of what they do but because of who they are. It is their humble purity, selfless kindness, compassionate generosity, impartiality, and their refusal to bow to false gods and political ideologies that arouses such hostility from the world. Christians are hated because God has blessed them with happy families, wonderful friends, and the joy of finding significance in life. This makes cockroaches furious!

The offense of truth.

At his trial before Pilate, Jesus said that the very reason he had been born and come into the world was “to bear witness to the truth” (Jn. 18:37). This made him a hero to truth-lovers everywhere. For everyone else, he was a royal pain in the neck! People hated Jesus not because he spread lies but precisely because he told the truth. He had the audacity to expose lies and unmask hypocrisy. This caused many to want him dead. As he said on one occasion: “Because I tell the truth, you do not believe me” (Jn. 8:45).

Jesus sends his followers into the world to continue this ministry of truth-telling. Whether we are talking about marriage, gender, history, racism, politics, or salvation, Christians have no agenda except to tell the truth and to bear witness to the difference between good and evil. This explains why so many today want to silence Christians, even to kill them.

The offense of grace.

Grace can be defined as unmerited favor. As seen in the life of Jesus, it describes his goodness and love extended to those who don’t deserve it. He heals, provides, protects, and forgives those who have done nothing to merit it. When such grace is lavished on me, it describes a reality that is wonderful and good. But Jesus had the annoying habit of extending grace to all the wrong people. When he showed unmerited favor to tax collectors, prostitutes, and Gentiles, many turned away from him in disgust. Some thought the world would be better off without him.

Because Christians are those who have actually experienced God’s unmerited favor for themselves, they can only rejoice when such grace is extended to others. “We love because he first loved us” (I Jn. 4:19). Whether we are talking about compassion for the poor, welcome for the homeless, care for the sick, or kindness toward those on the other end of the political spectrum, extending grace to those who don’t deserve it is perhaps the most defining characteristic of the people of God. Some find this highly offensive.

The offense of the cross.

In the first century, the cross was the ultimate symbol of pain, weakness, shame, and defeat. To glory in the cross was an absurdity, similar to pretending that an electric chair or a hangman’s noose was something to brag about. The cross confronts the world with a wounded Savior whose power is displayed in weakness, whose wisdom is seen in folly, and whose glory is manifested in shame. It assaults our pride and disturbs our complacency. It reveals that all our claims to moral goodness and religious piety are nothing more than self-righteous hypocrisy.

There’s more. Jesus calls his followers to imitate his example. They too will have the privilege of taking up their cross and joining him in laying down their lives for others (cf. Lk. 9:23). They too are called to a life of status-renouncing self-denying, other-oriented love. Yes, Christians are those who model the power of weakness, the wealth of poverty, the joy of sorrow, and the wisdom of foolishness. This drives the world crazy!

Conclusion

It is important to recognize that the controversy created by Jesus is intentional. He means to divide people. This is the reason he came! This is not to suggest that he is some kind of trouble-maker. It simply recognizes the fact that his presence always has the effect of separating people into two camps: those who are for him and those who are against him. “Do you think I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Lk. 12:51). Your assignment today, my friend, is to be Christ to the world around you. I’ll pray for you and I hope you will pray for me.

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