No One Likes Me

I was thinking the other day about this verse:

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4

It wasn't that I had read it recently or anything. It came to me after I had made some effort to fit into my peer social group. I've never really felt like I belonged, but would really like to be better friends with these guys because they are my peers.

I realized, though, that my goal should not be trying to belong. It should rather be an attitude of convicted love. That is how Christ lived. He loved others, but never sacrificed his convictions, which is why he got killed. People didn't like him. He was the ultimate social reject. Even his best friends left him when his convictions really mattered.

I've seen too much of an emphasis in the Christian sphere of trying to fit into the world. I think this is wrong. Sharing the gospel is good, and being "all things to all men so that by all possible means [we] might save some" is essential. But being rejected from social groups is a good thing too. It should be rejoiced.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Matt. 5:11