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“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
John 15:18–19

I DON’T LIKE THIS

I don’t like the idea of being hated. I know some Christians who seem to relish this role. I feel sorry for them.

But this puts us in a juxtaposition. We can believe and blend in, or we can be bold and suffer the consequences. This we know: We cannot be true to the gospel and be neutral. A Christianity that is in perfect alignment with any institution of this world is most likely not the true gospel.

NECESSARY TENSION

The gospel creates tension. The gospel conflicts with culture. It is confrontational, divisive, demanding. It confronts sin. It challenges the status quo.

And yet…

We are called to love and serve a world that doesn’t understand us and will not always like us. We are called to be conduits of Christ’s love and His saving grace.

Our aim is not a palatable Christianity, but a truth-bearing Christianity that connects people to Him, not separates people from Him. It demands the believer serve—not to lift people up in the world, but to lift them out of the world.

AIM TO PLEASE?

So while we may be mocked, opposed, alienated, and even persecuted by some, we find joy in this: **We are loved by Christ.**

My aim is NOT to be hated. My aim is to please Christ and lead people to Him.

In this, I accept the consequences.

Copyright © 2026 by John Meriweather @ https://www.facebook.com/john.meriweather.3  No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org.