The church is the beautiful bride of Christ. But sometimes the church acts like the world. I’ve spent a good portion of my life responding to this with shock: “I can’t believe they did that! What were they thinking!?”

Jesus referred to the people of God as “the world” when they were persecuting him. He warned us this would happen to us as well:

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also…. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’ – John 15:19-20,25

Like a goldfish going around in a bowl, we’re surprised every time someone we think should be on our side does something that causes us pain. How many times around the bowl before we can almost predict what will happen if we step out in faith?

John tells us to respond not with shock, but love.

Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. – 1 John 3:13-14

The problem with being in perpetual shock is that we are paralyzed, powerless to do anything. Peter tells us that persecution is normal. And we can rejoice, not be indignant.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. – 1 Peter 4:12-14

Let’s agree to stop being in shock when face persecution, so that we can love our opponents and rejoice in suffering with Christ.