How to Be Hated in 3 Simple Steps — Friday
John 15:18
“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” (NLT)
Walking out of Nickell’s office, his parting words stuck with me: “Like I always say—if I can finish my ministry career someday with holes in my front and holes in my back, then I’ve probably done pretty well!”
What?
I knew Scott well enough to know he could be pretty intense, but that last part sounded like an interesting ministry goal—even for him.
Holes in the front, I could understand. Anytime you preach, you always run the risk of offending someone with truth or touching a nerve they weren’t expecting—even I knew that. But holes in the back? What was that supposed to mean?
A few weeks later, I got a call from an old friend of mine in Nashville. Over the course of our conversation, he mentioned that one of our mutual friends in ministry had made some negative comments about me after I’d moved back to Kentucky. I was a little shocked, especially since he and I had seemingly left things on good terms.
In his defense, a lot of his criticism was totally fair; I just wasn’t expecting it. We were good friends—close friends. Then, it suddenly made sense… holes in the back.
“Oh, now I get it…” I laughed quietly to myself.
When you follow Jesus, you can expect to take some shots to the face. In fact, the very message of Christianity is one our culture today finds very offensive. What we don’t often expect are the shots we sometimes take from other Christians—friendly fire.
I don’t share this so you will feel sorry for me; in fact, I still consider that person a friend. I share this because Jesus not only took shots from unbelievers offended by His truth—He often took unfair criticism from His own team: religious leaders who knew God but who were offended by Jesus’ ministry. You would think these would have been the last people who would have ever turned on Him. Instead, they had Him crucified.
When Jesus finished His ministry, He not only had holes in His front and back—He had holes in His hands. Both sides hated Him, and if we really want to become more like Jesus, we need to be prepared to be hated as well.
I have no doubts that Scott will finish his time in ministry someday exactly how he would want: holes in his front, and holes in his back. Because that will mean he followed Jesus.
And even though I may not be as bold as him, I hope I go out the same way.
Friday’s Reflection
Take some time to pray for boldness today as you follow Jesus.
