There is a reason why Christianity is targeted for mockery and ridicule more than any other religion. This can be a bit confusing because of the misconception that Christianity is simply about loving other people.
However, one of the things Jesus tells His disciples in John 15 is, “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you.” He explains that if you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world, and I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. The apostle John provides further clarity in his letter of 1 John: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
At its core, Christianity is not about merely having warm feelings toward others, being tolerant, or doing good deeds like feeding the homeless. Referring back to Jesus’ words, the call of God for Christians is to come out of the world, to avoid participating in its unrighteousness and sin. This theme of being chosen out of the world is reiterated from Genesis to Revelation. For instance, in Revelation 18, after the destruction of Babylon the Great, a voice from heaven calls out, “Come out of her, my people,” so that you will not share in her sins or receive any of her plagues.
Christianity has always taught that humanity is fundamentally corrupt and does things against the law of God. Jesus highlighted this in the Sermon on the Mount, explaining that murder stems from hatred in the heart and adultery from lust. As a person coming to Christ, one realizes that to follow God’s commands and be pleasing in His sight, a transformation is needed because the heart and flesh are corrupted. This is why God, in the person of Jesus Christ, came into the world—to die for our sins and rise from the dead three days later.
The purpose of the cross was not merely to demonstrate God’s love but to provide an atoning sacrifice for our sins so that our sins would not be held against us. The shame, guilt, and condemnation of sin are erased, freeing us to live righteous lives empowered by the Holy Spirit. This empowerment enables us to love others genuinely, which starts with loving God and following His commands. True love for others is impossible without first loving God, which requires the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
This is what we preach, and it is offensive to the world because we are not just presenting a set of rules to follow. We are declaring that at a fundamental level, humanity is corrupted, desiring to love oneself rather than God or others. The message is that unless one repents, turns away from sin, and believes in Jesus Christ, they remain condemned. This truth is often met with hatred and vitriol because it challenges the core of human pride and self-indulgence.
Nevertheless, we preach this message out of love, not wanting anyone to perish. True Christians strive to live by the Spirit and follow Jesus, despite the ridicule and offense they encounter. This struggle includes dealing with those who call themselves Christians but do not live according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even when presented gently and lovingly, the message can still provoke strong negative reactions. Yet, this does not deter us, for we have hope in the resurrection. The worst the world can do is end our earthly lives, but we will be resurrected in glory in eternity.
Hopefully, this helps you understand why Christianity often seems like the most targeted religion.
