The Church of "Haters" (Santosh Poonen)

When a telescope’s focus is sharpened to view a distant, higher object clearly, nearer, lower objects become more blurry. In order to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives we must have a “one thing” mentality toward Jesus (Matthew 13:46, Luke 10:42). Purity of heart is purity of devotion to Jesus, which means that we don’t have room in our heart for anything else besides Jesus. We only see God (Matthew 5:8) and only do His Will (Acts 13:22). To be a true disciple and to experience true discipleship is to “hate”. A disciple of Jesus is one who hates: all rights to himself; wanting to be remembered; his own desires, interests, and conveniences; bringing Self into the picture; his selfish ways. True fellowship is in having the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose, with the same attitude that Christ had.Fellowship is built by hating: all selfishness and empty conceit; anything that does not come from humility of mind; thinking of yourself as more important than anyone else; looking out for your own interests, rather than for others’ interests. The kind of church we want to see God establish here is one in which we come here not thinking, “Is this the church that will best meet my needs?” but rather: “Is this the church where God can use me to best meet the needs of others?” When we waters others, God will water us (Proverbs 11:25). That’s why it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).