The World Doesn't Get Us

On this season of Survivor, Matt Elrod has spoken unashamedly about our Lord and living a life of faith. 

In last night's episode there was a classic example of how the world reacts to Christians. 

Simply put, they don't get us.

For those of you who didn't see the show, Matt chose to be upfront and honest about how he was approached by members from the opposing team, and how he'd decided to stay true to his word and maintain his loyalty to the people who hadn't been loyal to him.  Unfortunately, Matt expressed all these sentiments to a guy--and one with considerable influence and power--who didn't understand and viewed Matt's honesty as threatening. Subsequently, Matt was once again sent to Redemption Island by the same back-stabbing crew that sent him there the first time.

Why does it come as a surprise to us that the world not only doesn't get us, but is opposed to us? Jesus told us it would be this way.

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'" (John 15:18-25, NIV) "All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God." (John 16:1-2, NIV) Praise God, the story doesn't end there!

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33, NIV)