The World’s Passion for the Church
The church’s naivete, in its relationship with the world, is the direct result of biblical illiteracy. With the very common misinterpretation of John 3:16, false teachers lead Christians to believe that God has a universal love for humanity. Of course, what is forgotten is Jesus’ unwillingness to pray for the world (Jn 17:9), and the Bible’s instruction to believers, “Do not love the world, nor the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 Jn 2:15).” They deny God’s hatred for those who do iniquity (Ps 5:5; 7:11; 11:5; Rom 9:13).
The world, according to Jesus, hates His followers (Jn 15:18–19, 24–25; 17:14), for they detect the difference (Rom 9:22–23). In His sermon on the Mount of Beatitudes, Jesus taught, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me (Mt 5:11).”
All nations, according to Jesus, share the passion to cause harm and suffering to come upon Jesus’ followers (Mt 24:9). The peoples’ hatred for Christ Jesus (Jn 7:7), who they crucified, has transferred to His body, the church (Col 1:24). Simply put, the passion of the nations is dead Christians (Mt 24:9). This is the reason our Good Shepherd warns us not to be friends, nor to yoke up with the unbelieving world. We do have a mission toward them, but not a partnership with them.
If a Christian speaks the Word of truth in this dark world of lies, she draws the bitter ire of reprobate worldlings. This is also why so many Christian ministers sell their souls to the devil, to serve his purposes, in diluting the Word of God. The world loves popular Christian preachers because of their messages of forgiveness without the Cross. Even when charlatans “offer” the “chance” to be saved by Christ, peddling the Lord of glory like a salesman, the world respects the fact it retains the power of free will choice. That is tolerable to the enemies of the church.
The true Gospel is different. It is a provocation to sinful humanity. It calls men, “totally depraved.” It claims that only God has free will to choose who is saved and who is damned. It states that Christ died for His church with an exclusive love. The world is outraged that only God’s irresistible grace can open the eyes of the spiritually blind. It laughs at the idea that sinful Christians can call God, “Father,” and that He has given them His kingdom, an eternal inheritance reserved for them in heaven (1 Pet 1:4).
Jesus prophesied of this hatred, as timeless truth, recorded for us as a major theme in Scripture. Suffering, at the hands of the wicked, has been there from the beginning, and it will persist until our King comes again at His glorious return, at the trumpet blast, when every eye shall behold Him whom they have pierced (Zech 12:10; Rev 19:11–21).
The passion to kill Christians happens when the United States teams up with its ally, Saudi Arabia, to destroy the Christian communities in Syria. It happens when an active shooter enters a church, or when the Christian students at a Colorado high school are isolated for execution. The hatred finds its way into families, where division is created by grace coming to some but not all members. When a Christian is present, there will be houses and nations divided.
When a Christian identifies herself, as belonging to King Jesus, she invites tribulation, affliction, suffering at the hands of bullies and terrorists alike. There is comfort in Christ Jesus’ warning that this is part of the cost of discipleship. Yet, persecution is an excellent test for the validity of one’s testimony. The wicked will often relent of their oppression if the Christian will simply deny Christ His proper acclaim.
God’s grace is always sufficient when his people suffer the passion of sinners. The imposters disappear in great numbers when the enemy’s wrath is directed in a fiery trial against them. History, and the future of the church, include voluminous defections (Jn 6). Many will fall away (Heb 6:4–6).
God is pleased to preserve His elect, through trials and sufferings brought by the Christ-haters. Each fearsome persecution results in the removal of dross, so that God’s people, Christ’s disciples, will shine as precious silver refined. Here is the evil passion of the nations, against Christians, for the glory of God, our Deliverer.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
December 2, 2021
