Sometimes we are hated by some because they are embarrassed at the shameful way they have treated us. They must believe we are a bad person who deserves ill-treatment in order to abate the feelings of guilt they feel in their own soul.
Those who will not repent from the way they treat others remain in an angry state even while they are laughing or smiling. The anger lurks just below the surface ready to emerge at the slightest perceived provocation.
This is the reason so many unsaved people hate the born-again believer. Those who have not been transformed by Christ are intimidated by those who have been cleansed and saved by Christ, and yet they are stubborn and refuse to have the same forgiveness through repentance. They want to do their own will even when it will cause hatred in themselves and destroy their own lives leading them to hell.
I have witnessed for myself the destruction of the lives of many unsaved people. They would rather have the freedom to destroy their own lives than to submit to a Holy God Who will bring them eternal good.
I have known people who would deliberately ruin their own lives to spite their parents. Once I asked a young man, "so you are willing to throw away your life because you know it makes your parents grieve over you?" His answer was, "I like to fool people", and "it's my life I do what I want."
In discussing this matter with the young man I realized it was time for me to move on leaving him to God. When we encounter this mentality there is nothing more we can do. No discipline, no talking and no indulging them in God's love will cause them to think or act any differently. When I realized my job was done and there was nothing more I could do is when I no longer had hurt feelings and I no longer grieved.
In my opinion, it is foolish to grieve over someone who is making their choice deliberately to ruin their lives in defiance of God. In my life, God comes first always and those who hate Him and us are not a loss when they go away, perhaps even relief that they are no longer around to torment those who love God.
Jesus Christ never remained in the lives of those who rejected Him and neither should we, His example is best to follow. Anyone who pressures you to hang around people who have rejected Christ and you, are not thinking Biblically and perhaps should also be avoided.
Christ comes above all things and all people. He will tell us when to remain and when to go, and His principles in the Bible guide our decisions. Do we believe Him or do we believe a sick and dying culture?
