Did the title get your attention? It is quite deceiving because this article does not deal with the problem of hate. This article deals with the challenge of Jesus' context and how it relates with modern day discipleship.
Jesus addresses his followers and tells them that they must hate their family, spouse, children and themselves in order to be a true follower of Christ. That seems kind of harsh and modern day Bible teachers will interpret that as saying we need to put those relationships as second priority to a relationship with Jesus. This brings up the second challenge...how do we make this relevant to the American cross bearer?
Back in New Testament times family was the influence of your life, the direction of your destiny and the way your thoughts were impacted. Mom, dad, brother and sister were the main deciding factors of how you lived. Today...family reliance and impact is much lesser. Because of the way culture is positioned today's youth have family impact on a much lesser scale. We have internet, tv, teachers, friends, school and role models to worry about. In fact, some teens might be willing to take Jesus on his offer to hate their parents. But the purpose of Jesus' "hate thy family" qualifier was meant to prepare, rattle and convict his would-be followers into taking the next step. How can it still have that impact if so many growing young adults find it mandatory to leave their family and declare freedom from them?
Perhaps we are looking at the wrong "brother," "sister," and "mother." When Jesus told his followers that they must hate their families in order to follow him he was literally saying, "remove your culture's grip on your decision making process in order to follow me." The follower would have to deeply consider not following the family business, choosing to marry or living close to the family as custom dictated. That's why it was so difficult.
We have similar pressures that tell us what to do and how to live in culture. The "brother" I believe we need to hate is the voice that tells us to tolerate everyone no matter what the consequence, fit in with others, don't speak out to be more liked, follow your dream as an end goal, keep God to yourself to not make waves, leave people alone, treat all lifestyles as equally good, accept yourself. This is the "family" that shapes our lives and gets in the way of following Christ.
If Jesus had to speak to today's culture would he really have to tell us to move out of our parent's house and not get attached to our siblings to spend life with him? Or would he tell us to hate the culture, customs, suburban pressures, cheap love slogans, false expectations, priorities on money that are shaping our destiny and the politics of being a first world citizen. Discipleship does not stop till we love like Jesus and if we are honest with ourselves our world cringes at that.
So I ask you, what is interfering with Jesus controlling your future? How can you hate it?
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