Whoever hates me

John 15:23-24

Whoever hates me hates my Father also.

If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.

No common ground:

There is one thing that you can’t call the Messiah and that is subtle. He didn’t hide His light and He didn’t mince His words. Two things that the Church is excellent at, but not called to! In our pluralistic world we certainly have to learn to navigate through the intricacies of political correctness, but subtlety can often be an excuse for compromise.

Today there is a desire to find the common ground with other religions. Islam has come into the midst of our communities and called for equal opportunity – something the West only meets with open arms. The rise and spread of militant Islam has certainly thrown a spanner in the wheel and Europe and the USA are reeling under the pressure of how to handle the situations of terrorist attacks.

In this confusion, the desire to embrace other cultures in order to understand them can also lead to a softening of the stance of orthodoxy. Why can’t we believe that all roads lead to the mountain? Shouldn’t we just leave and let be and trust that there is enough truth within other religions to lead them to God? But even within God’s covenant people, there was enough waywardness that seemed to warrant YaHWeH sending His Son in order to be the Great Shepherd to gather the scattered sheep and bring them – and others – into His flock. If YaHWeH practised tolerance, He would have simply left us to our own devices.

But love doesn’t leave things to chance. Love intervenes. Love comes to expose sin and error and to convict guilty hearts. Love judges and holds the truth to make it plain. And Unconditional Love was hated because He would not let go until He was nailed to the cross to keep His hands from reaching out. He did more miracles than Moses, Elijah and all the prophets put together. He also did all His works by His own power and authority. This was to show the extent of the Father’s love, but He was hated for it. And so the most unpolitical statement of all – if they hate me, they hate YaHWeH.

I am sorry but you cannot converse with a Moslem and find the common ground on God. You cannot expect an easy meeting place on divinity with a Hindu. You can talk about YaHWeH with a Jew, but we are not representing our King if He remains out the picture. We are not called to tolerate the world, but to reach it with the truth of the Gospel. We who love the Father, as we witness about the Son, find a world who hates both no matter what they call Him. They are alienated from God in their minds. Love will judge that belief, but also show them the Way.

Father, what a mess the world is in because of their rejection of Y’shua. They have also rejected You. Please pour out Your grace for the nations to find mercy. Amen