Can those who love darkness love the light?
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| First page of the Gospel of Mark, by Sargis Pitsak, a Medieval Armenian scribe and miniaturist (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The portrait Jesus paints of the relationship between His disciples and the world is not a very encouraging one. The terms He uses to describe this relationship are very strong. Hatred and persecution are not only to be assumed but are a present reality. It’s not only that we are to expect the world to hate us but to realize that it actually and actively does hate us. It is a hatred born of sin, of rebellion against God Himself, of rejection of His Son. This was Jesus’ point when He said that the world would hate His followers. In a way, this should comfort and encourage us. When the world hates us for righteousness’ sake, we can be encouraged that we are in good company, for it hated our Lord as well.
Just as it was not Jesus’ purpose to befriend the world, it is not ours. We are greatly deceived indeed if we think we can befriend those who hate Christ. This is a point that Christians need to meditate on every day: the world hates us because it hates Christ. The world only loves the darkness and its own, who have put wickedness on the throne of their hearts and have despised the Son of God. Therefore, unbelievers only really love those who are like themselves. They cannot possibly love those who represent everything they have rejected. Jesus tells us this in His Word. So do not be deceived by the “friendliness,” the feigned “tolerance,” the apparent “acceptance” of the world, for at the heart of those who do not believe in Christ is hatred for everything He represents.
The outworking of that hatred is, of course, persecution. The world persecuted Christ, and it will persecute His followers. We should expect to undergo many trials for His sake. In fact, persecution is in itself evidence of our faith (see Matt. 5:11–12). If we find more comfort in the company of unbelievers than the church, if we are never persecuted for our beliefs, we have every reason to doubt the sincerity of our profession. Jesus states, not as a possibility but as a fact, that His followers will be persecuted.
The principle, therefore, is this: that the servant can expect the same treatment as his Lord. Consider the contempt with which the world treated Christ and do not be surprised when you are treated the same way.
Read 2 Corinthians 6:14–18. How does this passage describe the differences between believers and unbelievers? Who loves darkness? Can those who love darkness love the light? How cautious are you in attachments you form with unbelievers? Ask God to give you the desire to “come out from among them and be separate.”
Just as it was not Jesus’ purpose to befriend the world, it is not ours. We are greatly deceived indeed if we think we can befriend those who hate Christ. This is a point that Christians need to meditate on every day: the world hates us because it hates Christ. The world only loves the darkness and its own, who have put wickedness on the throne of their hearts and have despised the Son of God. Therefore, unbelievers only really love those who are like themselves. They cannot possibly love those who represent everything they have rejected. Jesus tells us this in His Word. So do not be deceived by the “friendliness,” the feigned “tolerance,” the apparent “acceptance” of the world, for at the heart of those who do not believe in Christ is hatred for everything He represents.
The outworking of that hatred is, of course, persecution. The world persecuted Christ, and it will persecute His followers. We should expect to undergo many trials for His sake. In fact, persecution is in itself evidence of our faith (see Matt. 5:11–12). If we find more comfort in the company of unbelievers than the church, if we are never persecuted for our beliefs, we have every reason to doubt the sincerity of our profession. Jesus states, not as a possibility but as a fact, that His followers will be persecuted.
The principle, therefore, is this: that the servant can expect the same treatment as his Lord. Consider the contempt with which the world treated Christ and do not be surprised when you are treated the same way.
Read 2 Corinthians 6:14–18. How does this passage describe the differences between believers and unbelievers? Who loves darkness? Can those who love darkness love the light? How cautious are you in attachments you form with unbelievers? Ask God to give you the desire to “come out from among them and be separate.”
