THE INSPIRATION FOR ACTION is thought; underlying thought is worldview, or more accurately from a Christian perspective, belief. No matter how our expressed code of conduct is made manifest, it is founded upon our beliefs. Our core values are driven by what we inherently believe, and our conscious mind guides thoughts into actions, which are carried out by the members of our bodies. So, our feet carry our bodies into the arena of activity, our hands pick up either tools or weapons, and our mouths speak with conviction the words that engage us in dialogue with others as we either agree or disagree with them. The results that follow are predictable given our knowledge of whether we agree or disagree with the core values of those who become the recipients—or targets—of our activities. And they with us.
Jesus’ words become crystal clear in this context. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” (John 15:18-19) Let us make this even more clear, as we remember Jesus’ words in response to the questions of Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36) Jesus’ words speak to his overarching—and our underlying—worldview of his world. His kingdom is literally not of this world, and because of that, this world hates him. In hating him, the world has no option but to hate others like him. The result of Jesus’ conversation with Pilate led to his death on the cross, so we would be wise to consider his warning. “The time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.” (John 16:2) If this seems too harsh to consider, let us start instead with this: “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.” (John 15:20b, c-21)
When we are bold enough to express our opinions emphatically towards Jesus and his claims of exclusivity, we are showing openly that our worldview is different than the world around us. In fact, we are stating that our views are not just different, not just ‘better than,’ but that we are ‘right’ about Jesus, and they are ‘wrong’ about life. This is how exclusive Jesus’ claims are, and it raises the ire of those who oppose our views. Historically, their hands have picked up, not tools, but weapons. And, historically, Christians have been killed for their beliefs, so yes, we should perhaps fear for our lives. (Yes, yes, the Crusades. We argue against the political hijacking of Christ and his message.) Anecdotally, eleven of the final first twelve apostles died for expressing their belief in Jesus, and the twelfth was heavily persecuted. History records martyrdom as a last step on the testimonial pathway of many of those Christ-followers who preceded us; some of those in very recent history.
Those of a different worldview, and here we speak with specificity regarding the Jews of Jesus day, “hated Jesus without reason .” (John 15:25b) But those who hate us today will do so because of this reason: We believe that only Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Erudite students of philosophy and religion would agree that there are *eight possible worldviews, and they would discuss the merits of each one of those worldviews, with Christianity being one of the eight.
We might agree with them that there are eight views possible, but we would differ, and offer this explanation: There are eight possible worldviews by which mankind can attempt to make sense of our existence, but seven of them are false, and it is only Christianity that offers a true view and thus offers the only hope for mankind. It is this claim that sets the entire world against Jesus, and therefore anyone who makes this claim about him. And, if you and I are true Christ-followers, we must make this claim.
In making this claim, we make ourselves susceptible, hypothetically, to the same fate that Jesus suffered, that of an unjust death. But those who desire to kill us are not simply the Jews, and in fact, are probably not the Jews; it is the entire world that will rise up in such belief, thinking that they are “offering a service to God.” (John 16:2b)
In fact, Jesus’ dire warning is one of prophetic apocalyptic eschatological significance; that is, it is a prophecy of what will occur during the end times fulfillment of the woes that will befall the earth. And while some will be “snatched away” (cf. 1 Thess. 4:17) and escape such a fate, others will not. It is only a faith that is built-up in “patient endurance” (cf. Heb. 10:36) that will guide a remnant through these times, as they accomplish a very critical mission of witness during the most trying times the world will ever see. Remember this encouragement from the Lord: “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them.” (John 16:1, 4a) The one who spoke this also said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Jesus now dwells at the right-hand side of the Father, and we are already with him in that now-but-not-yet time. (cf. Eph. 2:6) We would do well to dwell on this thought, as did the prophet. “Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.” (Isa. 33:17)
Q. How accurate is my distance vision?
* James B. Sire, “The Universe Next Door” – 1976. (I prefer 2 nd Ed.)
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