Worldly Religious People

Ah... I am now in Winnipeg, enjoying the legendary hospitality of Brother Maynard, and the ever-lovely Mrs. Maynard, just a week or so after they pitched a tent at our little commune in Kelowna. And the Clan Maynard has allowed me the privilege of sleeping in their version of the Holy of Holies: Brother Maynard's enviable library. Book envy is potent, and Maynard has only half-jokingly suggested that he will be searching my luggage and frisking me before I leave later this week.

A Scripture passage that I hear mentioned a lot in debates surrounding the emerging church is parts of John 15. You know, the one that says that the world will hate us because it hates Jesus. The argument usually suggests that if the world doesn't hate us, then "obviously" we're not preaching or living a truly Christian gospel.

The passage in question is John 15:18-16:4. It begins with Jesus telling His disciples that the world would hate them because of Jesus. He bluntly warns them that they will be persecuted for being His witnesses. It's not an uplifting thought.

The word translated "world" is kosmos, which means the world system that is opposed to Christ. Yet if you read the passage carefully, there are some surprising things mentioned about how the "world" will hate and persecute Jesus' apprentices:

• I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (15:19)
  
• If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. (15:20)

Okay, no surprises so far.

• If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles... (15:24)
  
• this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.' (15:25)

Wait a second here. Jesus' ministry wasn't to the "world" in general. It was to the Jewish nation. With only a few rare exceptions, Jesus confined His ministry to the Israelites. God's people. He even refers to the Law of Moses as THEIR law. Jesus is talking about the religious leaders of the chosen people of God -- the Pharisees -- persecuting His disciples because they don't know God or their own law.

• They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. (16:2)

Who could put Jesus' followers out of synagogues? Only other Jewish people. God's people. Specifically, the Pharisees. And we all know the story of Saul (later Paul) persecuting the church as an uber-zealous Pharisee, imprisoning and putting them to death. And believing that he was doing God a favour (Acts 8:3, Acts 9:1-2)

So, according to the Scriptures, who exactly is "the world" that will hate us for being followers of Jesus?