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OLINESS PROVOKES HOSTILITYConsidering Why the Righteous are an Abomination to the Wicked
Do you sometimes feel like foreigner in this world? In a very real way Christians are (1 Pet. 2:11). But, even more than this, do you at times also feel like a hated foreigner? Jesus told us not to be surprised by this hatred: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (Jn. 15:18-19).
Proverbs 29:27 is a fascinating verse that speaks of the natural animosity that exists between the righteous and the unrighteous: “An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but the one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.” What accounts for this mutual abomination? Simply the way the other side lives. A righteous man looks at the sinful life style of the wicked man and finds it abominable, while the wicked man in turn looks at the holy life style of the righteous man and finds it abominable.
The very first example of the wicked despising the righteous is found in Genesis 4, where Cain rises up against his own brother, Abel, and stabs him to death (Gen. 4:8). Why did Cain kill Abel? Because he hated him. And why did he hate him? John provides us with a commentary that explains why: “We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you” (1 Jn. 3:12-13). Cain hated his brother, and killed him simply for being a righteous person. Abel did not preach at his brother —at least not verbally, though his life preached loudly. Nor did Abel behave in a selfrighteous manner that would have justifiably irritated and annoyed his brother. All Abel did was try to humbly live a life pleasing to God. But that was too much for Cain, so he killed his brother.
“A few years ago one of the leading golfers on the professional tour was invited to play in a foursome with Gerald Ford (then president of the United States, Jack Nicklaus, and Billy Graham. The golfer was especially in awe of playing with Ford and Billy Graham (he had played frequently with Nicklaus before).
After the round of golf was finished, one of the other pros came up to the golfer and asked, ‘Hey, what was it like playing with the president and with Billy Graham?’
The pro unleashed a torrent of cursing, and in a disgusted manner said, ‘I don’t need Billy Graham stuffing religion down my throat.’ With that he turned on his heel and stormed off, heading for the practice tee.
His friend followed the angry pro to the practice tee. The pro took out his driver and started to beat out balls in fury. His neck was crimson, and it looked as if steam was coming from his ears. His friend said nothing. He sat on a bench and watched. After a few minutes the anger of the pro was spent. He settled down. His friend said quietly, ‘Was Billy a little rough on you out there?’
The pro heaved an embarrassed sigh and said, ‘No, he didn’t even mention religion. I just had a bad round’” (R. C. Sproul, The Holiness of God, p. 66-67).
R. C. Sproul comments, “Astonishing. Billy Graham had said not a word about God, Jesus, or religion, yet the pro had stormed away after the game accusing Billy of trying to ram religion down his throat. How can we explain this? It’s really not difficult. Billy Graham is so identified with religion, so associated with the things of God, that his very presence is enough to smother the wicked person…Holiness provokes hatred. The greater the holiness, the greater the …hostility toward it. It seems insane” (Ibid., p. 67-68).
Sinful people repulsed by holy living may respond in a number of mean or violent ways. Christians, who are repulsed by ungodly living, must be careful not to respond in a similar manner. We are to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and “not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). Peter told his readers, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evil doers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Pet. 2:12). They glorify God on the day of visitation, because the holy life of the Christian eventually convinced the unbeliever that he was wrong. Therefore, he repented and put his faith in Christ. Now, the return of Christ causes him to glorify God instead of curse God. Never underestimate the power of a godly life.
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