News, views and devotional thoughts by Pastor Mark

 In recent days I have been more aware of the world's hatred for Christ, His word, and those who follow Him. There are many incidences of the world leveling its sights and taking aim at the things of Christ. Whether it is trying to abolish Christian Holidays, instituting hate speech laws, or the insistence of evolution over creation, the point is clearthe world (in the west) is becoming increasingly more intolerant to that which is truly holy.

This turn of events should not surprise us. The Lord Himself warned His disciples about the world's attitude to toward His person and work: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I choose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18 & 19).

But why does the world hate Christ and His followers? One of the primary reasons for the world's angst is because believers are fundamentally different in nature (vs.19). As new creatures in Christ believers are to be distinct and unique to the sinful world around us. We are in the world, yet we are not to be of the world. The world by definition is simply society divorced from the God of the Bible. The world is man setting himself against Christ and His kingdom. This opposition demonstrates itself the world's secular plans, organizations, activities, philosophies, values, pleasures, priorities, and aspirations.
 

In contrast, the believer's direction and aim should be diametrically
opposed to that of the world's. For this reason Bible-believing
Christians are commanded not to love the world (1John 2:15 & 16).
Their standard of sensual wisdom through such dogmas as evolution is
not divine revelation. When we accommodate such none-sense, we do so to
our peril. We are not to be conformed (molded or patterned) to the
world's ways, but rather transformed through the renewing of our minds
by the word of God (Romans 12:2)! When this happens the world will hate
us for the differences and lack of conformity. It is this essential
cleavage that ignites the world's hatred.

This humanistic rejection and hostility is not always patently obvious
as it is in Islamic countries. In the west, the world's venom is
expressed more discreetly through apathy, indifference, or the
malignment of one's character. One only needs to read today's paper to
see how Christians are misrepresented, ridiculed by the bakkie load,
and disinformation is spread all under the banner of journalistic
integrity.

Mark it down, if you truly dare to live for Christ and speak for Him,
don't expect the world to applaud. Don't indulge in false expectations,
so don't go looking for the pat on the back. The place to find
encouragement and hope for the journey is with other Believers of like
precious faith. The question is, are you availing yourself to the many
opportunities we have for corporate fellowship and worship? The day may
well come when our liberties are curbed, will you be prepared if that
day comes?