John 15:18-27

 John 15:18-27

At the end of World War II the US began an economic boom unparalleled in history.  The incredible production effort of war became an engine for peacetime prosperity.  The middle class grew dramatically and enjoyed wealth that a generation before was reserved only for the rich.  The contrast of wealth from the second half of the 20th century to the second half of the 19th century is astonishing.    This gave rise to one of the core values of our culture: Personal peace and affluence.  Without ever being written into law this value permeates and colors every aspect of our lives.  Like the air we breathe we don’t think of it unless something threatens it.  Both conscientiously and subconsciously we shape our lives around the ideals that protect our undisturbed life and our stuff.  

The call of Jesus into our lives comes and bursts this cozy cocoon like I pin bursting a balloon.   Jesus is emphatic that the hate of the world for the disciples is to be expected. If the core reality of the kingdom of God is love the core reality of the world is hate. The world's hate is directed at anything that challenges its autonomy. The word of Christ is in direct conflict with the world. The world says, “Have a good time and have a strong self-esteem”. The Lord says, “Weep and mourn because your righteousness is like filthy rags”. The world says, “Accumulate all you can”. The Lord says: “How miserable you rich are”. The world says, “Pursue your greatest goal”. The Lord says, “Unless you repent you will be destroyed”. The world says “We are the apex of evolution and the masters of our own fate”. The Lord says, “You are only dust”. 

When the message of the Lord comes through His disciples to the world the world responds by hate. Persecution is the norm for the disciple. The absence of persecution may be attributed to the culture being thoroughly reshaped by the gospel message. Or it may reflect that the disciple has, in order to protect their own personal peace and affluence, toned down or adjusted their message. 

As disciples, we are not called to go looking for persecution. Rather we will find it coming to us when we offer the message of repentance and the world is offended. May it never be that our own personal peace and affluence perverts us and the fear of losing it causes us to soften or silence our message.

“Lord, grant me courage to be faithful in the face of a world of hate.  AMEN”