John 7:7 - Jesus said:
"The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil."
This is the most hated Christian doctrine. Also known as the doctrine of total depravity. It seems that fallen man needs to spin a web of delusion about himself to dilute his wickedness in his own eyes. So, in John's gospel we have Jesus commenting on this issue with humanity. In fact John's gospel begins on this theme.
John 1:9-11
"The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him."
In spite of all his wonderful deeds they hated him because he said they were sinners, because he said they were operating under the power of the devil.
John 8:42-43
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word."
This is the most profound diagnosis of the human condition. And we can see that this has not changed even now.
In a poll of evangelical Christians, the question was asked whether this statement was true:
"Everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God."
U.S. Adult Finding:
71% agree vs. 21% disagree
The poll goes on to ask several other questions in the hopes of determining the state of theological beliefs in the U.S. among so called evangelicals.
Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church.” But what is the church?
In a poll question it was stated:
"Every Christian has an obligation to join a local church."
U.S. Adult Finding:
36% agree vs. 56% disagree
In another statement it was asked:
"The Bible, like all sacred writings, contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true."
U.S. Adult Finding:
2014: 41% agree
2016: 44% agree
2018: 47% agree
2020: 48% agree
2022: 53% agree
And in another statement it was asked:
"God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam."
U.S. Evangelical Finding:
2016: 48% agree
2018: 51% agree
2020: 42% agree
2022: 56% agree
The poll reveals that even among those who proclaim Christ as Lord, they cannot abide by the truth that Jesus brought to them. They cannot or will not?
Jesus said it:
John 8:45
"But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me."
This is why the doctrine of total depravity is the most hated Christian doctrine. Because if you cannot be, or do good, because you are born wicked, then you cannot love God unless you are chosen by God. Unless you are elected by God. Unless God loves you first. Unless you are "of God", you cannot be redeemed.
Look!
Jesus says as much:
John 8:47
"Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."
When the religious people heard this from Jesus, they said he had a demon inside him. They called the Son of God demon possessed.
What does it mean to be "of God"?
The apostle Paul tells us:
Romans 8:14
"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons [and daughters] of God"
They hear his voice and follow his instruction. The instruction that comes by way of The Spirit of God.
And Jesus doubled down on this theme:
John 8:51
"Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
And to that the religious people said:
John 8:52
The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon!"
Now how do you preach the good news to people like this? This is the human condition. Blind fools. Dead to the truth. Under the delusions of demonic authority. These religious people outright said go to hell Jesus. They hated the truth.
A teacher or preacher of the good news Must be willing to be hated. They must be willing to field the hatred of all those who are unwilling to accept Jesus' offer of life because its truth and they won't abide by that truth. You must be prepared to deal with the hatred.
Jesus is fully aware of this natural aversion to the truth. And so, Christ has prepared his kingdom in such a way as to make a way by invitation, by selection, by election. Not because they earned it, or worked to gain it. Not because the said and did the right things. Not because all people are born inherently good. Not because God loves all spiritual people.
John 6:44
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."
Everyone is profoundly incapable of doing the right thing, and making the right choices. So today the U.S. Christian community is trying to bypass this reality. They invent a Jesus who makes people happy and successful. A Jesus who accepts their depravity, but who goes further and affirms that deprivation. Their Jesus asks them to make a wish list and check it twice, and then speak it into existence in his name. Their Jesus came to satisfy their carnal desires.
And as the poll suggests, their Jesus isn't concerned at all about the truth or the total depravity of mankind. They hate ANY teaching about the Jesus that teaches otherwise. They want a cooperative Jesus who affirms their good deeds and nature. Their Jesus is forever drawing them through prevenient grace, but they never WANT to arrive at HIS destination. They never want to be saved, just affirmed. They choose instead to mingle Jesus' grace with their own works based religious beliefs.
So, the doctrine of total human depravity is the most hated of doctrines, and it is also the most distinctively Christian doctrine, which by the way is why it is hated so much. And it's the most contrary Christian doctrine. It's rejected by a majority of almost every culture. Nobody wants to believe they are naturally, essentially, and incurably wicked people. Nobody wants to believe that of themselves.
People just don't want to go beyond a sentimental notion about who God is and what the truth Jesus taught was. They blaspheme God by making their hybrid gods through their own self-absorbed religions. They break his command to have no other Gods before him. They try to improve upon Jesus by making Christ dance to their own tunes.
This is the state of theology in the U.S. and frankly everywhere on planet earth.
Isaiah 64:6
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
All means all, dead means dead. All are dead in their sins if they are not "of God". We are all naturally heading down the road of divine wrath when we are not "of God". This is the human condition.
Romans 8:6-8
"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
We are so unwilling to believe the truth that we can only HATE the truth. For from within our hearts is where evil and wickedness comes. What we believe comes from within our hearts. We are so depraved by nature that we cannot even abide by the truth. And we cannot change that.
Only One can resolve this situation.
Who?
John 1:10-11
"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
But how can we recognize him, how can we receive him?
John 1:12-13
"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."
You must be born again from above through the Spirit's grace. You contribute NOTHING because you CAN'T because you are COMPLETELY depraved!
It is the Spirit who makes you whole again by faith in the One, the Son, who sent Him to those whom the Father has drawn to Him. It is the prompting of the Holy Spirit who calls them out from their depravity. It is the Father who draws them out. It is the Son who meets them where they are. This is why Christ took on humanity for himself. He came as a human person to enter into that condition of total depravity. So that he can become for them the righteousness and glory of God as a propitiation for their sins.
In short, you are too depraved to do ANYTHING to make this happen. You must therefore believe in the grace of God. And no longer resist His truth. Cry out for forgiveness. Call upon His mercy. And obey the truth.
Amen and amen.