Being a Christian in the world today is not something that most non-Christian people look fondly upon. They have preset opinions about what Christians think, do and say. Generally, it is not a religion that is well thought of these days.
In some ways, it is somewhat understandable. That is because the media, schools and other areas of public life where opinions are swayed have been busy representing the worst of the worst about Christians. In many cases, they have identified individuals who have committed horrible crimes or whose actions or words are reprehensible, as Christians when, in fact, they are anything but Christian.
The media rarely goes back and makes a correction when they have made such a false statement. Even the few times that they do, the public’s opinion has already been formed. First impressions are difficult to change even when the impression is based on false information.
Christians are the same as other people. They are sinners. The difference is that true born-again Christians have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Jesus has instructed his followers to love one another. He has also told them to forgive those who sin against them. He tells us to do so because he forgave us.
Honestly? It is hard to forgive others. If it were easy, it would be something that everyone does. And yet, very few people are capable, on their own, of offering forgiveness when they have been horribly wronged or hurt.
It seems like, when I read the news, that if a victim is working with the individual(s) who hurt them, it is almost always a Christian who is showing forgiveness and love. Not always, of course, but most of the time.
There are also Christians who have risked and given up their lives to save others who are not Christians. Again, this is a hard thing to do. But Christ followers see the example in that Jesus gave up his life for us while we were his enemies.
We are also called upon to spread the good news of Jesus’ salvation gift. We are to see that the word of this message are spread throughout the world. He tells us to do so because he forgave us. He also warned us that it would not be easy; he told us to pick up our cross daily and to follow him.
At one time, spreading the gospel (good news of salvation) meant traveling to far away places where no one had spoken to the inhabitants about God the father, let alone Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Those who travelled and spread the word often put their lives in peril. Many were martyred for their faith. But the good news is that the Word has been spread throughout the world.
Still there are small strongholds of native population who have never heard the message of salvation. Interestingly, the governments of the lands these small groups inhabit, will not allow missionaries to speak to the native population.
Where Christians are now called to spread the gospel is to their own countries, their own cities, even to their own neighborhoods. So many people have heard about Christians (mostly from the media), but they have not heard the real history of Jesus. It is as if we are now called as missionaries back to the countries that first sent missionaries out to other lands.
Many countries consider themselves post-Christianity. They have moved beyond Jesus Christ. The ones that are not are those where there is real and present persecution of the citizens. Those are the places where people are still actively looking for and finding their Jesus as their savior.
They learn that being saved is not of the flesh but of the spirit. While the government or leaders of other faiths may torture you or put you to death, a Christ follower is assured of eternity in heaven and companionship with God forever.
That is true freedom. That is what Christianity is all about. The media may represent Christ followers as something evil, judgmental and distorted but that is not what Christians are called to do. Nor is it what most Christian are. Most Christians are trying to do what Jesus asked them to do. They fail, of course, from time to time. That is to be expected. Being Christian doesn’t mean you are not still a sinner, it means that Jesus died for your sins and you accepted his gift of pardon.
In most cases, when a true Christian discovers that they have been sinful, for whatever reason, they repent and try to do better and learn not to commit that sin again.
So, Christians, be aware that the world will continue to hate you. The hate is growing. The world doesn’t want to know that they are sinners. They want to believe that they can be their own judges of what is right and wrong based on their own thoughts.
The world will never love Christians. We are still called to love them and to spread the salvation message. While the world will not love Jesus, there will come a day when every knee will bow and they will acknowledge the Jesus Christ is the true King forever and ever. Sadly, for most of them, it will be too late. They will be condemned to an eternity of being separated from God.
It is up to us Christians to spread the news so that even one more individual accepts Jesus as their savior before it is no longer an option.
Matthew 16:24-25
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.