I Love Jesus but Hate my Fellow Believers

By Pastor Alex Ruelo

When people see you enter church and then they see you make a mistake, they call you a hypocrite. If it’s an unbeliever calling you that, it is somehow ok. But what if a fellow believer calls you a hypocrite? Then that is a different story. We say we love Jesus but we hate our neighbor.

1 Timothy 1:3-7 says, “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.”

They say that the bigger a tree gets, the more wind it catches. Over the years, we have encountered different kinds of people - some are for us, but some are against us. Some have come inside our doors and stayed, but some have left and become one of our critics too. God did not call us to manage critics. He called us to make disciples. Paul reminds us that the ultimate goal of our faith is not to keep score but to show sincere love and grow in our faith.

Guard against the consumer mindset. (V.6) The goal is to share Jesus with your immediate circle. Use the gifts you have received to serve others. Don’t remain a consumer. Strive to be a contributor. True faith does not ask to be catered to. It serves.

Refuse to fight the noise. (V.3-4) While the church grows, more people see its members and scrutinize them. The enemy will always try to steal, kill and destroy. Don’t join the drama. If it will not do anything to further your faith, do not entertain it anymore.

Own your flaws and stay authentic. Making mistakes because of human nature is not hypocrisy. If one comes to church and still struggles with sin, he is not a hypocrite; just human. Romans 7:19 says, “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” These are the Christians struggling in their faith. It is not hypocrisy but sanctification. The heart is the key.

Win hearts, not arguments. (v.5) If you do anything without love, it is useless. You may win the argument, but you have lost the war. Respond with love all the time.

APPLICATION

1. Serve. Don’t just sit. Shift from consumer to contributor. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Ask what you can do for the church and not what the church can do for you.

2. Respond with grace, bot defense. Posture over point scoring. 1 Peter 2:12,15 says, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”

3. Practice radical humility. Kill hypocrisy with honesty. James 4:6,10 says, “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Perfection does not exist. But what drives people away is hypocrisy, which thrives when we try to cover up our mistakes.

Nobody is worthy. Nobody will ever be able to reach the standard of God. Others may come close but is still not at par. As followers of Jesus, love Jesus and extend grace to your fellow believers. One day, they may disappoint you. Forgive them.