My conversation with a number of friends on the state of Christianity in the world of today has always ended with a consciousness that Christianity and Christian values are hated and discriminated in today’s world. Wait a minute. I do not wish to take glory in such an assertion, after all, Christians could be hated for being hypocritical. Yes, Christianity or Christians could be hated for the reason of failure to uphold the basic teachings of Christ and its implication in concrete human experience. But the case in today’s gospel presents a different situation. As Jesus told his disciples in today’s Gospel (Jn 15, 18-21), living the Christian life, which includes loving others and keeping God’s commandments, does not guarantee their being loved in return. Indeed, Jesus argues that if the world hated him so bitterly, his disciples cannot expect to be treated differently.
Differing Values
How then should we explain the reality that Christian discipleship sometimes entails persecution and opposition? One of the reasons Christians will be hated is because they will order their life in accordance with the Christian values and refuse to identify themselves with the values and priorities of the mainstream ideology. Christianity commands, among others, the love of neighbour as Christ loves us. This one value stands in a great contradiction to the secular and capitalist mindset. Christianity rejects materialistic greed, selfishness, the scramble for status and power, and the hatred, anger, violence and revenge which mark so many people’s lives. Moreover, Christian discipleship implies sometimes making unpopular choices: humility in place of pride, selflessness in place of selfishness, and putting the other first instead of oneself. Serving others, love of neighbour and even our enemies (Matt 5, 43-45). These qualities are the parameters for true Christian discipleship which could be summarized as putting God and others first in our actions.
Challenges
The question is: Could one be a true Christian without encountering challenges ranging from overcoming oneself to oppositions from those to whom our life seems to contradict and challenge, and who perhaps fail to understand our choices and the reasons behind them? That the Christian lifestyle stands in total difference with the worldly lifestyle is a reason for opposition from the world. Some put themselves above God and others, and exploit others to their own benefits. These reject Christianity and Christians due to the message and praxis of putting God, his kingdom and others first before self. Moreover, Christian values seem to indicate weakness in a world were power and the ability to instil fear in others seem to thrive.
The worse that could happen to a Christian is a loss of purpose or failure to live out the message of Christ out of fear of those who live contrary to the Christian values. On the one hand, one’s life as a Christian could illuminate, enlighten, challenge and consequently influence that of others for good. On the other hand, the experience of rejection and opposition could be an opportunity to deepen one’s Christian life and to share in Jesus’ passion and death.
Love Above All
The good news is that Jesus did not leave us without clues on how to manage the hatred of the world. In one of his admonitions to his disciples he says:
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous (Matt 5, 43-45).
The kind of love presented to us in the gospel is that which we understand as God’s love for us. The meaning of God’s love as it is manifested in the life of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is that God loved us beyond the boundaries of our status as friends or enemies, as sinners or righteous people. He teaches us that our perfection lies in transcending and transforming the divisions that limit our love.
