Scripture Introduction
Dale Carnegie pioneered work in public speaking and was famous for helping others become successful. In 1936 he published How to Win Friends and Influence People; since then it has sold more than 15 million copies. Two of his most famous maxims are, “Believe that you will succeed, and you will,” and “Learn to love, respect and enjoy other people.”
Today’s sermon title plays on the title of Carnegie’s book. He teaches how to “win friends and influence people”; Jesus seems to tell his disciples how to lose friends and anger people! Of course, the Lord says no such thing; he does, however, warn the eleven, and with them, us, that those who follow him often end up hated. So that we will be prepared and persevere, let us give our attention to Jesus’ teaching in John 15.18-16.4.
[Read John 15.18-16.4a. Pray.]
Introduction
Back in 2001, Pastor Doug Wilson made a bit of a splash when he wrote: “Within the Reformed world, a phrase which more of us should be aware of is ‘cage stage.’ Whenever someone comes into new-found truth (and this often happens with those first coming to embrace Reformed theology), there is a period of time where the new (and usually young) convert should be locked up in a cage. That period of time is usually about two years…. Ironically, they do much to make the theology they profess to love obnoxious to outsiders. Paul did teach, unambiguously, the doctrine of election. But he also told the Colossians, as the elect of God, to put on tender mercies” (Credenda/Agenda, “Hither and Yon,” vol. 13, issue 5, 2001.)
I was especially interested to find those comments in an issue defending C. S. Lewis. Wilson explains why he writes positively about Lewis: “This is said so that our TRs, the ‘truly reformed’ among us, might be encouraged to learn something they really need to learn…. Someone once made a wonderful point about Lewis: he made righteousness readable. In the same way, he made the doctrines of predestination and justification wash over a sinner with sweet relief….
“This is not to endorse every single thing C. S. Lewis may have written…. But the funny thing was that he was a gracious and edifying writer, even when he is busy arguing some of his errors…. The truths Lewis presents are readable, understandable, and altogether lovely, even when he is wrong. He loved the truths he presented, and was a man of such giftedness that he made what he loved lovely. And in this, many pastors in the orthodox Reformed tradition need to learn this particular lesson. More beauty in word-smithing does not lessen the amount of truth that words carry, but rather increases it drastically. A pearl necklace on a beautiful woman is not extraneous.” (Credenda/Agenda, “A Reformed Appreciation of C. S. Lewis” vol. 13, issue 5, 2001.)
I tell you all of that because I once attended a church with a tract on the literature table with this title: “Did C. S. Lewis go to Heaven?” (John Robbins, The Trinity Review, no. 226, November, December 2003.) The last line of that tract read: “And our answer must be: Not if he believed what he wrote in his books and letters.” In my opinion, that answer demonstrates exactly what Wilson warns of: intentionally making the theology we love offensive.
So before we consider the hatred of those who do not know God for faithful followers of Jesus, let us be aware of the temptation to make the theology we love “obnoxious to outsiders.” There is no honor in offending for the sake of offense. There is no glory in being odious to those less knowledgeable than you. Sometimes Christians seem to wear, as a badge of honor, their ability to stir up anger and ill-will; but such is not condoned by Christ. With that in mind, and in order to understand this passage of Scripture, first notice…
1. We Cannot Avoid Persecution When We Serve the Suffering Servant (John 15.18-25)
Church history has certainly proven this warning true! The men to whom Jesus spoke were exiled, stoned, beaten, burned, cruelly mistreated – in a word, “hated” on account of his name. Nor did the persecution end with these apostles.
Around 1550, John Foxe wrote his Book of Martyrs, testimonies of men and women who found Christ worthy of their devotion, who “loved not their lives even unto death” (Revelation 12.11).
Foxe tells of Ignatius of Antioch’s martyrdom in the Roman Coliseum by wild beasts in the year 107. In 155, Polycarp of Smyrna was burned at the stake. In 165, Justin was beheaded. Later Telemachus was run through with the sword while protesting the bloody violence of the gladiatorial fights. From the death of John (the author of the book we are studying) to the present day, Christians have lived the truth of Hebrews 11: “Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated – of whom the world was not worthy – wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”
So how does this apply to us?
First, beware avoiding the world’s hatred by avoiding identification with Jesus. Verse 19b: “because you are not of the world, therefore the world hates you…. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me [and they did], they will also persecute you.”
Now the promise of Jesus is not always fulfilled with the sword or stones. Some of you will know the hatred of the world through the gossip which steals your reputation at work. I remember well the pressure I felt to give to the United Way campaign when I worked as an engineer. Our company president was honorary chairman for United Way that year, and he so longed for every employee to pledge. We were even urged to give a small amount, just join in. But a group of us, committed to Christ, investigated the support for abortion that the United Way contributed to through Planned Parenthood. So we made a stand. What we did was little; but the hatred was real.
Maybe you feel the scorn when you ask a co-worker not to take the Lord’s name in vain or not to make crude comments about a member of the opposite sex. Maybe you hear the whisperings behind your back when you refuse to join in with the behaviors of the popular students at school, or you make friends with those rejected by the important people. Maybe you have spit at or cursed when you stood for what was right. When I worked as an assistant pastor in Omaha, we placed an advertisement in the Escort section of the Yellow Pages. “Escort-service” is the cleaned-up word for prostitution. We offered free counseling for sexual addiction. The church received dozens of obscene calls, cursing and mocking us and blaspheming the name of Jesus.
We could have accepted release from that. I did not have to remind the sales lady that her company was participating in prostitution. I was not forced to request a free ad for our church to combat the evil. I did not need to place our phone number as a tiny light in the midst of darkness. I could have avoided the stress and pain of having people call and curse me. But only if I avoided identifying with Jesus.
Persecution is a cup of which your Lord drank because he chose to be identified with sinners. He was hated for no good reason. His tongue never slipped; he never lost control of his temper; he never judged unjustly or condemned unfairly. “They hated Christ without a cause.” And we are not above the Master. So, while no Scripture suggests we invite persecution, there is this reminder that we must not avoid it by avoiding identifying with the name of Jesus.
A second application to us is that we should be filled with pity, even toward those who mistreat us. Notice what motivates such rage: John 15.21b: “they do not know him who sent me.” They do not know God; they are strangers to the promises of grace and eternal life; they have no hope; they are blind and deceived.
I think that helps explain Jesus’ words in Luke 6.27-28: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”
This does not excuse sin. The Lord reminds us that his presence and his words convict, so all are without excuse. In fact, it is guilt which angers them. And yet, a few hours after he says these words, Jesus will pray from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23.34).
First, do not avoid persecution by avoiding identity with Jesus. Second, replace bitterness toward those who mistreat you with pity for their sad condition. Then, third, be encouraged that you share in the sufferings of your Master and Lord. 1Peter 4.12-14: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”
It is no fun to be hated. But when you are hated for the name of Jesus, remember two blessings: first, you wear the mark of the Master – persecution is a sure sign of adoption. And the second blessing is that your reward will be exceedingly great in heaven – for there is your true heart’s desire. We cannot avoid persecution when we serve the suffering servant.
2. We Can Count on the Spirit When We Serve the Suffering Servant (John 15.26-27)
It must have been a frightful moment when Jesus finished verse 25: you will be hated and persecuted. Eleven cowardly men against a world angered by their own guilt. Hating the holy Messiah, they will lash out at everyone associated with him. These men must have felt like crawling in a hole and dying.
On top of that, he is leaving. Not that Jesus has made everything easy, but he has helped them out of several scrapes. It will definitely be worse without him. How wonderfully encouraging is the promise of the Spirit.
And not just any Spirit! The world is wrapped in darkness; sin hides in the cover of night. That is why the adulteress of Proverbs 9 calls out: “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But Jesus sends, from the Father, the Spirit of truth. Truth! Here is a power greater than any and every evil. Here is a hope to shine in every dark corner. Here is the answer for any objection. These men are not alone without the Christ; the Spirit of God goes with them.
But aren’t these words only for the chosen apostles? After all, they had a task greater than we could fathom, for in their day the number of true disciples was its fewest. They would give testimony against overwhelming odds, in the face of terrible persecution, and in front of completely antagonistic governments. And the success of the mission was totally in their hands because…well…theirs were the only hands.
But do not doubt that this same promise applies to you. Sure, our challenges are fewer, the opposition we face is less vicious, the problems we confront are smaller. But the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, the same Spirit sent by the Son, the same Spirit who proceeds from the Father, the Spirit of truth who bears witness about Jesus – he helps you.
You are not alone when you witness to your faith in Jesus. You are not without help when stand for truth. You are not left without strength when you walk in the footsteps of the Master. Yes, those who do not know God may hate your testimony; but God the Spirit helps those who serve the suffering servant.
3. We Can Remain Faithful When We Serve the Suffering Servant (John 16.1-4a)
That is a bit of a dark prophecy, is it not? Paul said something similar to his ministerial protégé, Timothy: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2Timothy 3.12). And the tradition continues. Earlier I mentioned Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. He wrote in 1550. This beautiful volume was updated in 2007 by Tom White with testimonies of faithfulness since then. In fact, those who studies these kinds of things, say that more Christians are martyred today for their faith than ever in the history of the church.
Human nature does not change; grace remains unpopular; sin and guilt stoke a burning rage; the ways of God offend and rebuke. And so the hatred remains, and God’s people are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered, proving every day that even though life here is precious, there is a life forever with God that is worth dying for. You have been told in advance, so that when the hour comes you will remain faithful and not fall away.
Few things are harder to handle than unmet expectations. So the saying, “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”
After Paul was stoned at Lystra and then his body dumped outside the city walls (for they thought he was dead), he rose up and “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14.22). Thus the saying, “we must carry the cross if we would wear the crown.”
4. Conclusion
Anytime we think about suffering for the Gospel, we are bound to wonder why God allows this. Billy Graham tells of a friend of his who lost pretty much everything in the Great Depression: his job, his fortune, his home, even his wife left him. But he was a believer, and so he held tenaciously to his faith, even though he was depressed by the circumstances.
One day he was walking around town and saw some stonework being done for a church. One man in particular was intensely chiseling and shaping a large, triangular stone. The friend saw no purpose for the stone, so he asked, “Hey what are you making there.” The worker pointed high up near the top of the spire and said, “See that little opening near the top? I’m shaping this piece down here so it will fit up there.”
As his friend walked away he began to weep as he realized that God was using his difficulties down here to shape him for a space he has prepared up there. You see, he has said these things to you beforehand to keep you from falling when trials and tests of your faith come. You think about that. Amen.
