The thought that much of the modern version of Christianity may actually be a reflection of the hatred of the heart for God is not pleasant, but it does explain many things. Not only has most (seems as if virtually all) seem to have left the biblical truth of a high and sovereign God, but there also seems to be a mad dash to deny that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. The denial of that, by the way, is an utter rejection of the Gospel of God and of Jesus Christ. It is okay at times to offer general prayers to a general deity at sporting and political events, but there is outrage when the Lord Jesus Christ is prayed through and to. It is thought to be arrogant when Jesus Christ is taught as the only way. It is thought to be repugnant to think that Jesus actually died for the sins of others and God is accused of cosmic child abuse if in fact He sent Jesus to die on the cross. Why are these things so?
John 15:23 “He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.
The text above explains why there is a wholesale attack on the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. It is because men and women hate God. The meek (modern thought of it) and mild Jesus that never utters a harsh word and gives us good moral teachings is not a threat, but the living God who manifests His glory in Jesus Christ is. When people see the glory of God in Christ, they respond with hatred because they hate both the Father and the Son. Religious leaders in the days of His early sojourn hated Jesus because He pointed to God and not them. He was the truth and He spoke the truth. The religious leaders of that day hated Him because they saw a true holiness and love and their positions of power and very religion itself were threatened. The same is true today in many ways.
If Jesus Christ is preached as He really is, then people would see a glimpse of His true glory and many would hate Him. We have people today wanting the teaching watered down, they say, in order to make it more understandable. That may be true in many cases, but in a lot of cases it is just the fact that people don’t like what they hear. If they hear the truth of God, they hate it and the revulsion they feel for it is transferred to the minister or someone else so that they won’t have to deal with their own hearts. So ministers, in order to keep their jobs, try to keep the peace and unity of a place by speaking soothing words. The Gospel is turned into a message of how much God loves people and desires to have a love relationship with them both now and for eternity. All that does is speak to and move the latent self-love of the heart. God is in a relationship with every human being on the planet. It is one of wrath or one of love through His Son. Fallen human beings desire and long to hear of God’s love for them apart from Jesus Christ, but the truth of Christ tells us that God only loves human being on behalf of the Son. Human beings must know that they are under the wrath of God and that they hate Him in order that they may be reconciled to Him. They must see the depths of the sin of their hearts in order that they may truly repent.
The truth of Jesus Christ is not in demand today because the human heart hates Him and His Father. When Jesus Christ walked on this planet He was hated more than anyone in history and He was the very truth, love and grace of God incarnate and the very shining forth of the glory of God. But He was hated and rejected in order that a true criminal could go free and then was sent to the cross to be shamed and executed. He was hated because He was truth and love. He was hated because of the Father and the Father was hated too. One could make the charge that the ecumenical movement today gets its real impetus from the hatred of the human heart toward God. The ecumenical movement is known for its outright denial of Christ as the only way and for trying to take off the rough edges of the truth about God. That movement is nothing but people getting together and expressing their disdain and disgust (hatred somewhat in disguise) for who God is in Christ.
When Jesus did miracles the self-love of people were moved at the thought of free food and healing, but others hated Him because those miracles revealed the truth of who He was. It is one thing to receive free food, but it is quite another to have that one make absolute demands upon you and claim to be the only real bread of life. It is one thing to be healed, but it is quite another for that one to reveal that all of your own righteousness is a mass of sores in need of the great Physician. As long as Jesus gave people what they wanted, they would flock around Him. But when He told them the truth, they would leave. Their hearts hated His teaching and Him. The same is true today. Give people free things and they come. Proclaim the truth of Christ and people will hate Him and the Father. The truth is, however, we need to see our hearts in order that we can seek Him who alone can change them.
God Loves... Himself 
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