Haters
This world is evil. Everyone knows that right? But why is it evil? Well there are differing opinions on that. As Christians we know it is because of sin & the devil. Sin entered the world through Adam and ever since then humans have disobeyed God. The devil is the opposite of God. Anything God wants us to do; the devil says we should do the opposite. Anything God says; the devil makes us question. Anything God shows us; the devil makes us doubt. So as Christians, we are supposed to be opposite of the world, sin, and the devil.
John 15:18-19
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 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.
When someone hates us we must ask, “Is there a reason for them to hate us? What is it? And what does God say about that?” Many times, there will be people who hate us for no reason. Or maybe they hate us for one specific reason. Possibly, they could hate us for a multitude of reasons. But if you look at God’s word and the reason they hate you is because of something God has ordained, then you have nothing to worry about. For example; Maybe you are in high school and your group of friends decide to go shoplifting, but you know it is wrong, a sin. You decide to obey God and tell them you won’t participate. Then they kick you out of their group. Well you did what was right. You know that God would not want you to do that. It stinks; it makes you feel bad. But eventually you will feel better, and be proud that you stood up for what you believe in. We shouldn’t hate the others,because they hate us. Instead we are called to love them, as hard as that might be.
1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
There are many times where we are in the wrong. We are sinners after all. Maybe someone hates you because you are being a “hypocrite”. (A word I hate to use because as sinners we are all hypocrites). But really look at God’s word and see what He says. Maybe you are disobeying Him and need to repent. It is hard to swallow our pride, but God’s word should always be the basis of everything we do. Conflict is hard, whether with a believer or with someone who does not believe. As Christians God’s word is the ultimate authority, so using it for correction of others and ourselves is a must.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Christ tells us to love everyone. Our friends AND our enemies. It’s as easy as that… but is it really? There is not one way to make everyone love you. Honestly, that will never happen. But Christ has given us scripture that can help us understand how to deal with people who hate us or who are our “enemies”. It is hard to love someone that has done harm to you. It is hard to forgive someone that does not want forgiveness. It is hard to pray for someone who doesn’t see their faults. But it is necessary. We can show love by treating them well even if they don’t treat us well. Helping them even if they tear us down. Forgiving them even if they don’t ask for it. It doesn’t mean we have to be their best friend, but it does mean that we still need to treat them like children of God, which they are. We shouldn’t expose ourselves to be hurt, but we should try to love them like God loves us.
Luke 6:27, 35-38
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you...But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
We must remember that we are not perfect. We are sinners and that makes us God’s enemies. Our sins put Christ on the cross. We do things every day that are not what God wants, they do not please Him and they make Him angry. And He has every right to be angry with us. Yet, Christ loved us, he forgave us, and He died for us; knowing that we would sin, knowing that we would betray him, and knowing that we would not always be thankful. God gave us endless forgiveness. He gave us eternal life. He forgives us day after day. So why shouldn’t we forgive others who have done much less to us.
Romans 5:6-9
When we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our need, Christ died for us, although we were living against God. Very few people will die to save the life of someone else. Although perhaps for a good person someone might possibly die. But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners. So, through Christ we will surely be saved from God's anger, because we have been made right with God by the blood of Christ's death.