Hi Mike,

It’s been a while since I last wrote to you. Thanks again for all that you put onto your site. I see you have been very busy lately!
I just wanted to ask you about the “being hated of all men for my name’s sake”. I’ve been seeing the truth for about 3-4 years now and have during that time shared what I’ve learned with a few old friends who had left the church system and were generally disillusioned with the Pentecostal world.
I must admit none of them has been hostile to me but neither have they been open to learn more or shown any hunger. It seems they are happy to say “you’re probably right, yeah that makes sense” etc. Some of them seem to be thinking of going back to Catholic church or are even speaking favorably about the Jewish religion. I have made a point of not arguing with them as I know I’m to wait until they ask me about the hope I have within me. Surprise, surprise, they haven’t asked!
What I am coming to is this: even though they are not openly hostile to me I’ve noticed that they have stopped contacting me, and  I am very much alone as far as friends go. When Jesus said that men would hate us, do you think that those “men” even know that they hate us for His name’s sake? Or do you think that sometimes they are not even aware of what they are doing? I mean it’s not like I’m feeling persecuted or being spoken ill of (as far as I know!)
Anyhow if you get a chance to respond I’d love to hear from you. God bless you all and continue to use you so powerfully!

In Christ,
S____
P. S. It dawned on me that the number 3 symbolizes spiritual completion, and the planet Earth is the third planet from the Sun! Thought  I’d throw that in for free!

Hi S____,
Thank you for your words of encouragement and gratitude. They mean more to me than you know.

You ask if it is possible that the world is not aware that it hates us, and you say you have not been evil spoken of, as far as you are aware. The answer is, yes it is possible that you can be hated by people who don’t know exactly what it is they hate about you, but believe me when I tell you that if ever they become aware of the depth of your dedication to loving your enemies or of not resisting evil or not believing in eternal hell or not believing in a trinity or a thousand other truths of God’s word, then they will know why they hate you.
In time, if we are faithful to what we know to be true, then we become known for what we believe and how we live, because there in no way to be a child of light in a dark world and not be noticed and hated. But being hated is also being a witness, and loneliness and being separated from our brothers is our calling.

Gen 49:26  The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike