Because of Him

All men will hate you because of me. (Matthew 10:21–22, NIV 1984).

My Musings – Being hated for taking a stand for a cause we believe in does not always mean the cause is wrong. Even if all are against us. Especially if the cause is because of Him.

It was that way in the beginning. when these words were spoken to the Apostles. “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.” (Matthew 10:17, NIV 1984). Some Scripture, tradition and extra-Biblical sources tells us that all the Apostles but one (John) died as martyrs. And the hatred did not end with them. Persecution of the saints and the Church has a long sordid history.

Then, the Church became “mainstream,” at least in the western world. Christianity became the norm, widespread persecution declined dramatically, and the saints grew softer and softer. And in many quarters of the Church, so did adherence to the Gospel and the truth of the Scriptures. This brought confusion to an entire generation who are asking the same question that Pontius Pileate asked: “What is truth?” (John 18:38, NIV 1984).

We cannot tell from the text if his question was rhetorical, sarcasm or earnest. But it did come in response to Jesus stating “for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37, NIV 1984). And if Pilate kept his finger on the pulse of the people he was supposed to be governing, he should have known a thing or two about this teacher from Galilee and His claim that “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV 1984). But apparently, the only truth that mattered to Pilate at that particular time was the tide of popular opinion of the crowd. So, “Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.” (John 19:16, NIV 1984).

My Advice – So what is the popular opinion of the “crowd” today? Increasingly like it was in the days of the Apostles. Seeking truth but turning their backs on “what is truth.” Becoming more and more antagonistic to the saints and the Church in general, but to the truth of the Gospel in particular. Once again “men will hate [us] because of [Him].” We’ve already seen the beginning of this, with a realization that the hatred did not end with the Apostles.

The question we will all face is will we continue to “testify to the truth” as He commissioned us to do. To “be [His] witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NIV 1984). Or will we, like Pilate bow to the pressure of the crowds. No, let’s “speak of [His] faithfulness and salvation. [Let’s] not conceal [His] love and [His] truth from the great [multitudes].” (Psalm 40:10, NIV 1984). Even if we are “[handed] you over to the local councils and [flogged] in their synagogues.”