Some Christians Just Don’t Like Me

Posted on September 10, 2019 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

“But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” 1 John 2:11 (NKJV)

People pleasing isn’t one of my strong suits and, in a way, I’m okay with that. It helps me put my head in the pillow at night, however it is a little disturbing to know that some Christians just don’t like me. It’s that classic line I hear being played out, “I gotta love ’em but I ain’t gotta like ’em.” Well, if hindsight is 20/20, and you’re forcing yourself to love in this manner, how about not bothering at all? Guess I’m gonna have to be okay with you totally giving me the cold shoulder while we all shuffle through the church lobby after service. Sorta sad, sorta true.

Now if you’re all wondering why this edition of Freedom Fighters is starting off this way, it is because I’ve had a recent run in with a someone who is a ministry leader, like myself, who almost bit my face off when they found out I was “invading their ministry space” with my ministry space. Now, I’m blaming the lack of communication between the two of us, and if I’ve read this right, he’s blaming the fact I exist. Details are still sketchy at this point but the experience has me thinking what the apostle John wrote in his epistle about what it takes to enter into eternal life.

In his book, “The Tests of Life”, Robert Law argued that John has presented to us three tests by which we may judge whether we possess eternal life or not. Those tests are theological, moral and social ones. Now if you wanna find out if you pass any of tests just put something out there on your Facebook or Instagram accounts and I’m sure you’ll get some interesting replies, I know I have. But in all honesty, social media really shouldn’t be used as a gauge to see if anyone recognizes Jesus’ pre-existent divinity or His historical incarnation. It can’t gauge whether we practice and keep the two commandments He gave us, and most importantly, it can’t test whether or not we love others. It’s really about walking the walk and not talking the talk.

And I also think all three tests can be summed up in just one question…” Who is my brother?” In Luke 10:25-37, a religious lawyer will “test” Jesus with a question, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Naturally, Jesus will give a Hebrew answer by referring to the Law (Duet 6:5) and this will lead to yet another question because this lawyer seeks to justify himself, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus will give us that example in the parable He tells about the Good Samaritan, which I think is the final answer in the test on whether someone can pass the theological, moral and social challenge presented to us in 1 John 2: 7-11.

The challenge is to have the ability to actually love the unlovable and rest in being a Christian doing it. I also know I got my times that I find it hard to love the ones that I should always be lovin’ on. My wife, kids, and my fellow Christians should be the easiest to love but because I still suffer from the affliction of “being offended.” I’ll find my tongue spewing out phrases like, “Why, I oughta…” or the infamous, “Man, I could just kill (fill in the blank).” What a wretched man I am!! Why is it easier to love the stranger in Secularland than a Kingdom resident? To be honest, it all lies in the way I actually love Jesus and not the eloquently ways I say I love. Maybe I oughta start living out the Freedom Fighters that I write…hmm.

So, I ain’t a people pleaser, but I sure better get this God-pleasing stuff down way better. 1 John 4:20 states, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” This puts that theological, moral and social test in a “this is where the rubber the meets the road” mentality I hear other Christian brothers say when they find out that some Christians just don’t like them. You know who you are.

But if you don’t ask yourself, Are you a child of God? Have you been born of God? Do you know God? If you’ve answered yes to all these three questions then loving your brother should follow right along. I look forward to your reply out there on the social media web. Amen?

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) has been married for 25+ years (Kathy), has a married son (Kevin) and a daughter in college (Karen). He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.

Think About This: “But the sons of this world have not God; they have only each other, and they walk holding to each other and looking to one another for assurance like frightened children.” — Aiden Wilson Tozer

The Daily Bible Reading: Judges 9-10, John 4:1-30 | You can download our 2019 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! – Psalm 139:17

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.