John 15:18-21 – I Don’t Belong Here
Today I’m straying off a schedule a little. I meant to continue working through the book Experiencing God, but due to the political events of the past week, I felt I needed to address them. I have more to say than time to say it in, but I’ll do my best to make the most of your time.
Two deep-impacting events for Canada happened this week in Ottawa. 1) On Tuesday, Stephen Harper, the leader of the Alliance Party, the official Opposition, made a motion identical to one introduced by the Alliance’s predecessor, the Reform Party, in 1999. It read: "That in the opinion of this House, it is necessary, in light of public debate around recent court decisions, to reaffirm that marriage is and should remain the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others, and that Parliament take all necessary steps within the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Canada to preserve this definition." This motion was passed in 1999 by a large margin. Parliament then voted on this motion and the result was 137 opposed and 132 in favor. What this means is that homosexual marriages are coming to Canada within a year.
And 2) On Wednesday Parliament voted on Bill C-250, which was the bill by the New Democrat Party’s Svend Robinson to amend the Criminal Code to include sexual orientation as a protected minority with regard to hate crimes legislation. This bill was passed by a narrow margin: 141-110. The bill will now proceed to the Senate for approval and then must receive Royal Assent before becoming law. What this means is that it’s possible that soon, you won’t be able to even speak out against homosexuality without being fined or jailed for it. You know I don’t stand up every Sunday and condemn gay people to hell. But it is scary to think that soon, I could lose my ministerial license if I were to mention the fact that it is sin.
So it has made me wonder about what to say to you good folks about it all. What should your pastor, your shepherd, say to lead you into this time of moral slipping here in Canada? Well, #1, I won’t stand here and complain all day. And, #2, I will share what I see the Word saying to us. You may agree or disagree, but I will share what I feel God’s perspective is on this thing. Turn with me to John 15:18-21. These are the words of Jesus, meant to comfort the early disciples in the times they would face within a few months. Read. Well, it takes no rocket scientist to see that the world is coming to hate those of us who hold traditional views. If you read the papers, anyone who opposes the gay lifestyle is outdated, narrow-minded, prejudiced, bigoted and “homophobic”. This is Jesus’ words coming true before our eyes.
You know, if Biblical events happened today, these would be the headlines written in the liberal, secular media. On Red Sea crossing:
WETLANDS TRAMPLED IN LABOR STRIKE - Pursuing Environmentalists Killed On Elijah on Mt. Carmel: FIRE SENDS RELIGIOUS RIGHT EXTREMIST INTO FRENZY - 400 Killed On healing the 10 lepers: LOCAL DOCTOR’S PRACTICE RUINED - "Faith Healer" Causes Bankruptcy On healing of the Gadarene demoniac: MADMAN’S FRIEND CAUSES STAMPEDE - Local Farmer’s Investment Lost On raising Lazarus from the dead: FUNDAMENTALIST PREACHER RAISES A STINK - Will Reading to be Delayed On David vs. Goliath: HATE CRIME KILLS BELOVED CHAMPION - Psychologist Questions Influence of Rock.
Why does the world delight in criticizing the church? For several reasons, I think. First, people don’t like when we say that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Those were His words, not ours, but again – John 15:18 says that people will hate us because of Him. Second, people don’t like to be told that what the Bible says is wrong applies to them too. People don’t like being told by a book they don’t believe that what they are doing is wrong. And third, well, Jesus said the world would hate the church. Even the brand new baby church only had a few months of enjoying the favor of all the people until Stephen was marytred. Then, they had to scatter. The church has been most of its life keeping a low profile. The church and the state were entirely separate, and it seemed to work best that way.
And because of that, Christians were able to understand some truths about themselves better than we can. They seemed to understand that God’s kingdom is not the kingdom of this world, and they seemed to understand that they were only passing through this one. Look at what the early Christians called themselves. Peter told the Christians to “live your lives as strangers” (1Pet.1:17). Actually, his whole letter was addressed to “strangers in the world” (1Pet.1:1). He continues in 2:11 and says this: “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” It’s as if the battles that aliens and strangers fight are the spiritual ones. Perhaps we are called to deal with sin in our own lives more than worrying about all the sin around us.
The writer of Hebrews takes this thought and compares it to some OT characters who lived by faith: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.” (Heb.11:13)
The writer continues: “People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” The writer knew that Christians are really not of this world. They were only travellers here, pilgrims living in a foreign country. Strangers, foreigners, aliens – not of this world.
And because we are citizens of heaven, that’s where our reward will come from. That’s where our pleasure is found. I’ve got news for you: Christians are not meant to fit in on earth. We are supposed to feel out of place. We are meant to feel like we don’t quite belong. We may not be lost, but we aren’t from these here parts either.
And as our society becomes less and less like God’s desired society, we will feel more and more out of place. We will begin to stand out. We will feel like people are noticing us, and thinking we are weird, or at least different. And that’s OK. Paul used these words in 1 Cor.4 to describe himself and his partners: “like men condemned to die in the arena”, “a spectacle to the whole universe”, “fools for Christ”, “the scum of the earth”, and “the refuse of the world.” It means we are supposed to look different from others. And if playground politics applies to grown-ups at all, different means getting picked on.
Folks, we as Christians in Canada are beginning to see what happens when we do not agree with others say. We will begin to face more and more persecution. You think tax-exempt status is a gift from God? No, it’s a gift from the government, and we will lose it when we continue to disagree with them. Well, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Likewise, the government gives and the government takes away.
Soon you won’t be able to count giving to churches on your tax returns. You will have to pay. Tell me, will you still give to God when the government doesn’t provide any incentive for it? Folks, the line in the sand, separating Christians from non-Christians, has been blurry for some time. It will get more clear soon. Soon Christians will not fit in with the status quo as well as we do now. Soon being a Christian will cost you money, convenience, pleasure, comfort. Tell me – will you still walk in His footsteps when it hurts your feet?
So what will happen to the church? As life gets harder and harder, some will leave. They won’t be able to stand up to the pressure. They will back off and pull away. So, in one aspect, the church will shrink.
But if you look at the persecuted church in countries where Christianity is outlawed, there are millions of true believers. I see that happening here. Those who remain will be strong and courageous. Others will see that and be drawn to people of principle. And the church will be as God meant it: unpopular with the masses, but filled with sincere saints.
But how do we live now? As the culture gets worse, and it will, how do we cope? How do we deal with those who persecute us? We rejoice! We get glad! We have fun! “Oh come on. You can’t tell me that.” No, I can’t. But Jesus did. He said these words in Luke 6:22-23: “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.” Our reward is great when we are insulted and mocked and made fun of because of our stand on morality, the Bible and faith. People will hate us because we take an unpopular stand, because we believe in one way to heaven, because we don’t believe that a person can do whatever he wants and not get punished for it. And Jesus is saying, “That’s OK! It’s OK to be persecuted for me. I will make it worth your while!”
You who get teased for your faith, be glad! You who get shunned because you are a person of faith, rejoice! We who are thoroughly angry that our culture is eroding, be happy! For it means that God rewards those who stand firm to the end. The early church did a lot more praying for their un-elected leaders, some of whom happened to be gay, than complaining about them. They made sure they didn’t curse the darkness – rather, they lit their lamps. They shone God’s light to those around them. Some people rejected it – many Christians did lose their lives, after all. But many saw in the Christians something different and wanted it.
Folks, friends, I know these are scary times for the church in Canada. I can’t say I haven’t been a little worried about my future, and the future of my kids. Things are going to get worse. But I know who holds the future. And I know that things are going according to God’s ultimate plans. And I know that even if I am the only one standing, God still wants me to remain faithful to Him. That’s all you can do too. Be strong. Keep the faith. Walk with Him. Know that you really don’t belong here. Know that they hated Jesus too. Don’t judge. Don’t complain. Love others who are your enemies. Remember who your real enemy is. Spiritual issues need to be dealt with spiritually. Be glad that God has given you enough light to see by. And always know that where there’s a shadow, there’s a light.
