“Hate” is such an ugly word. And yet I use it all too often. “I hate this traffic.” “I hate coconut!” ( I really don’t like coconut. I think it’s the texture.) “I hate that music.” You get the idea. But, sometimes, dark times, weak times I have even used that word about another person! Horrible! Lord, forgive me!
And I’ve had that word used about me. It was a shock and it hurt deeply. Someone “hates” me? Really?
Nowadays it seems that the word “hate” is used in all kinds of context. It seems that some think that every disagreement is based on hatred. And great shame is brought on those who are accused of hating, so much so that “hating haters” is acceptable!
The Lord Jesus promised us that we Christians would be hated by those who hate Him. Not one of the “promises” we like to recall, but there it is!
Look at Matthew 10:16-22:
The Lord said to his disciples, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Jesus lays out a troubling picture for His disciples after He’s gone. He promises them that they will be mistreated, dragged before the courts, and even betrayed by their own families. And He promised them that they would be hated! Wow, talk about a dose of unpleasant reality!
So, what is our reaction to being “hated?” Pain, disappointment, fear? Sure, and even more emotions as well. But there is a promise to us that salvation will be ours IF we “endure to the end.” And endurance is based on exercise, focus, daily practice, and confidence! Notice endurance isn’t helped by returning hatred for hatred. Endurance isn’t made possible when we shrink away from the negative aspects of others hating us. No, endurance is made possible when we don’t return evil for evil, when we refuse to hate those who hate us, when we actually love those who hate us. That’s what makes endurance possible and takes all the power of hate away!
Today, it matter why you are hated! If you’re hated because you are selfish, mean spirited, disagreeable, and hard hearted, then that’s not so surprising. But, those who follow Christ will be hated because their lives expose the spiritual poverty of those who also hate Christ. That hatred is both promised and unsurprising. But you never fail until you allow one who hates you to have you hate him in return! And the debilitating and de-energizing emotions of returning hatred for hatred makes it impossible to endure! So, let us exercise our faith, focus on Christ, practice the disciplines of the faith, and have confidence that God will give us His strength and we will endure to the end and be Orthodox on Purpose!
P.S. Our campaign to create a video series that will introduce the Orthodox Faith to the average person continues. I am so grateful to many of you who have not only seen the demo video, but have shared it with others, and many of you have been generous in your giving! Thank you! But I still need your help. Keep up with the progress of our work at “A Journey to Fullness” funding site!
5 Comments
Peter Mielke
I’ve noticed at times (say for example today) the gospel reading used is different from designated gospel reading from the OCA website: http://oca.org/readings/daily/2015/09/15/2 Is there a reason for this? Could you explain? Thank you. I appreciate your work.
Fr. Barnabas Powell
Dear Peter,
I use to know the answer for this, but now I can’t find it. I’ll keep looking!
Adriann Giovanni
I am confused .. As when I click on Mr. Meilke’s link it brings me to a verse from Mark 7:5-16 .. Which has nothing to do with this Verse posted ..
While on this site OCA , I tried to find the full Scripture that Mr. Meilke is referring to and found that we may only pull up one verse at a time .. Also the site refers to the Russian Orthodoxy ..
As we all are Orthodox and I follow from the Orthodox Study Bible I will post what I found Matthew 10:16-21 .. Also may be found under Luke 9:1-6 and Mark 6-7 ..
Persecution and Martyrdom
“Behold , I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake , as a testimony to them and Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in the hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes .”
Hopefully this somehow helps … Since we have come together and I realize this , the Ancient E. Orthodox are different in that we believe in only the E. Orthodoxy .. And I love my faith and I love all people’s who truly are filled with the Spirit , but I also regret that some of those who proclaim Orthodoxy leave out the Catholic ..
There has been a huge rewriting of the E. Orthodoxy .. I stay “True” to my roots .. My name is not reflective .. My heritage is of Asia Minor – Pontus and Cyprian .. My Bapou was a Hajji-Loukas .. Savas Iouannou Hajji-Loukas .. The name got changed while entering America ..
I hold no “hate” toward any people .. I have learned that you must forgive .. That our Lord and God is the only rightful judge .. I worry not about death , though I have Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis .. It has brought me even closer to God ..
I stand up for my Religion however .. I am comfortable when I see our brethren trying to re-write our history , our ideals and make Catholicism seem as if it were before the E. Orthodoxy and all it stood for ..
I read from books of all kinds and in the end no matter the case or Religion all point to Peace , Love , Compassion and being one with all that surrounds us .. Ultimately , reading also from “Wounded by Love” by the Elder Porphryios , who had so much of the Spirit in him ..
I know this is not about who is the better , but I also know that to be “True” is what the Orthodoxy is about and not being Best or Better or First !! But as I research online , and I do , finding that the terms like “The meaning of the word Orthodox” will bring up so many meanings and “firsts” like the French first coined this word, or in the Latin language this word was first written and of course and always last mentioned is the E. Orthodoxy in passing as if we are a “dead” religion ..
So as to “Hate” we are not to hate but to forgive , I even giggle as God will judge them , stay True to what you are and witness to others the Proverbs of our Ancient Monks and sayings of the Past to truly Glorify the Lord .. Thank you
Adriann Giovanni
Ooops 10: 16-23
Adriann Giovanni
Looking again through the OCA site I found the Version of Mat. 10: 16-13
Certainly there is little difference here as there is from the one posted from the Orthodox Study Bible …
16Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.17But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.18You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.19But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.21Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.22And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.23When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.