One of the most common excuses Christians give when they are called out for being unkind or harsh is: “Well, Jesus was also rejected. So if people hate us, we must be doing something right.”
But let’s pause and ask: Who rejected Jesus? The answer may not be what many think.
The Ones Who Loved Him
Read the Gospels carefully and you’ll notice something striking:
- The sinners, the broken, and the marginalized were drawn to Jesus.
Tax collectors, prostitutes, the poor, lepers, Samaritans, and Gentiles—people at the edges of society—found welcome at His table.
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” (Luke 15:1–2)
Why did they love Him? Because Jesus did not demand they clean themselves up before coming. He showed them the Father’s love right where they were, then called them into transformation.
The Ones Who Hated Him
The rejection came not from the lost, but from the religious.
- The Pharisees resented His compassion for sinners.
- The scribes were angered by His authority to forgive sins.
- The priests envied His popularity and feared losing control.
In the end, it was the religious establishment—those most confident in their own righteousness—that conspired with Rome to crucify Him.
Our Problem Today
Fast forward to today. Many Christians flip this script.
- Instead of being a refuge for the broken, we are often the ones the broken avoid.
- Instead of being hated by the self-righteous, we are applauded by them.
Why? Because many have traded radical inclusion for radical exclusion.
We defend our faith with political rhetoric rather than with Christlike love,
We weaponize religion to keep people out instead of extending the Kingdom’s invitation.
We confuse nationalism or cultural identity with discipleship.
This is not rejection for the sake of the Gospel—it’s rejection for the sake of pride.
Examples of Modern Exclusivism
- Nationalistic Christianity
- When Christianity is tied to a flag or party, it becomes about who belongs to the “nation” rather than who belongs to Christ.
- This rhetoric divides people by borders and bloodlines, not by faith.
- Over-spiritualized Superiority
- Some claim higher spiritual “levels,” “coverings,” or “anointings” as badges of superiority.
- Instead of building up the body, this creates insiders and outsiders.
- Exclusivity Disguised as Holiness
- Jesus touched lepers, dined with sinners, and ministered to Samaritans.
- Today, some Christians avoid the very people Jesus pursued, mistaking separation for holiness.
What True Rejection Looks Like
If we are hated because we are arrogant, divisive, or cruel—let’s not flatter ourselves by comparing that to Jesus.
But if we are rejected because we show too much love, extend too much grace, and welcome those others despise—that’s when we share in His rejection.
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18)
The “world” in this context wasn’t the broken sinners—it was the system of self-righteous religion.
A Better Way Forward
Jesus’ call is clear:
- Welcome the stranger.
- Love your enemies.
- Care for the poor.
- Resist the pride of self-righteousness.
The Church must recover the scandal of Christ’s radical inclusion. That’s not softening the truth—it’s living the truth. Jesus didn’t excuse sin, but He also didn’t use sin as a reason to exclude.
Final Word
So next time someone says, “Jesus was rejected, so I’m fine if people hate me,” we must ask: Who is rejecting you, and why?
If it is the broken, the unbelieving, and the marginalized—then maybe it’s not Christ they are rejecting, but the distortion of His message.
Let’s ensure that if we are rejected, it is for the same reason Jesus was: because we include too radically, love too deeply, and welcome too broadly.
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