Jesus Christ was unjustly demeaned, rebuked, insulted, and reviled ... not only by the atheists of His day, but religious leaders.
The Lord told His followers what to expect - 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. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)
The verbal abuse aimed at the Christian faith today is simply a foretaste of what's to come. As the world defiantly turns its back on God in these, 'the end times' ... hatred for His people will increase exponentially.
1. We see it intensifying in certain sectors of the Muslim religion. Christians and Jews alike are subjected to extreme persecution. They must convert to Islam, flee, or die.
2. In our modern-day Western civilization, Christianity is being mocked and ridiculed by a reprobate society that glorifies the narcissistic ideology of the rich and famous.
3. A Christian's trust in the inerrancy of Scripture is condemned. Our belief that homosexuality is sinful according to the Word of God is presented as 'hatred for gays'. The belief that abortion is wrong is portrayed as 'hatred for women'.
4. Proclaiming Jesus as the only Way of salvation is seen as intolerant and hostile toward other belief systems. Christians desiring to train their children with a biblical worldview are considered guilty of brainwashing.
Satan hates God and His followers. Thankfully, we have nothing to fear ...
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part, He is blasphemed, but on your part, He is glorified. 1 Peter 4:14
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12
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