"Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for My Name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

   - Matthew 10.21, 22

Why look on these things with the eyes of your souls asleep? Why listen to such things with the ears of your senses dulled? Scatter, I beg you, the black shadowy fog of the faintness of your hearts, that you may see the radiant light of truth and humility. A Christian not middling but perfect, a priest not worthless but outstanding, a martyr not lazy but pre-eminent, says: “It is now that I am beginning to be a disciple of Christ.”

  - Gildas, The Ruin of Britain, British, 6th century

Gildas had just quoted an excerpt from a letter by Ignatius, the second-century bishop of Antioch, who declared his resolve to face martyrdom in Rome as a badge of honor for the Name of Christ. He represented a quality of Christian faith unknown to the comfortable and complacent pastors in Britain, concerning whom Gildas addressed his remarks. 

The Church in Britain and Europe had grown fat and lazy by the time the first Irish peregrini began showing up in their parishes. It was a ruin of its former glory, and had lost that martyr’s outlook that was willing, if it were necessary, to be hated by all for the sake of the Gospel. Those who came from Ireland proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom were hated by those whose comfort was disturbed by their uncompromising preaching and exemplary lives. Nevertheless, they prevailed to bring revival, renewal, and awakening to the ruined churches of Europe. 

Are we willing to be hated for the sake of the Gospel? We hear so much talk these days about being mindful of the sensitivities of lost people, making our churches places where unbelievers can feel welcome and right at home, and toning down the rhetoric of our preaching so as not to offend anyone with our uncompromising language of sin, repentance, and dying to self. Gildas impugned the faith of the ministers of his day when he said they were not true disciples of Christ if they were not willing, for the sake of the Gospel, to be hated by all men. I wonder what he would say about us? 

The true disciple loves the Gospel more than the world. Let the world hate us if it will, but let us not shrink back from proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the people we meet each day. Some will hate you, some will simply roll their eyes. 

But there will be a few, at least, who will be eternally grateful to God that you cared enough to take the risk. 

Psalm 57.9-11 (Faben – “Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him”)
Praise and thanks among the nations I will sing with all my might!
For Your truth and love are stationed far above the highest height!
Be exalted o’er the heavens, let Your glory fill the earth!
To Your Name all praise be given, let all men proclaim Your worth!