Why did Jesus Christ say his true followers would be hated by the world?

Would Christianity then be an unpopular religion?Why did Jesus Christ say his true followers would be hated by the world?
Because he expected his followers to follow his example and be no part of the world. Because they would be no part of the world, the world in turn would hate them (John 15:18-19; 17:16).





Yes TRUE Christianity would then be an unpopular religion (Luke 6:22, 23, Acts 28:22). This begs these questions: Was the form of Christianity adopted by the Roman state as the state's religion - which became popular back then - TRUE Christianity? Are the forms of Christianity practised in the world today and viewed by the world as normal and acceptable - by its standards - TRUE Christianity? (Luke 6:26; James 4:4)Why did Jesus Christ say his true followers would be hated by the world?
ANY new religion tends to be rejected and despised by the dominant one. Mormonism is an example of this: It is passionately hated by many (conservative) sects of the mainstream Christian faiths.





Being disliked has nothing to do with whether or not you are right. Christians just don't seem to get this. It never occurs to them that they might be wrong about anything, and this particular line in the Bible gives them an excuse to simply dismiss any criticism.





EDIT: As so many answers here have demonstrated.
It's a physiological trick he used, kind of like reverse psychology.


It is fairly easy to predict whether people will like something or not.


Jesus knew that the Jews wouldn't like how he claimed to be god's son etc..


Obviously there will be people who will hate Christians because they tell you that you will go to hell if you don't believe in their religion.


Most people do not hate Buddhists because their religion is not one that sentences non-believers to burn in hell fire. That is just not endearing.


I'll put an example of this in my sources..
';The world's largest religion is Christianity, making up about 33% of the world population according to a 2005 survey by the Encyclopedia Britannica. That is approximately two billion people.';





So what exactly is the ';world';? They are mostly Christians. Jesus Christ was a rebel and criminal during his time. He didn't name his religion, Christianity, nor did he compile the bible for his followers. So who exactly are his true followers? Even Muslims (Jesus is mentioned in the Quran - you can read more following the link below) and Buddhists (Jesus is a Buddhist Boddhisatva just like Siddharta Gautama) follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. We usually only see the differences but not the similarities in the religions. In Christianity, there are true followers of Jesus Christ but so are there in other religions. Think about it.
think about it,,,wasn't Jesus hated back then? it's because the society is made to believe norms which is of the world and not of God. Satan was thrown here on earth, this is his domain, and he will cheat us unto following norms which is in truth against God. So, if we want to be with God and be His true followers, we must be prepared not to be part of the world, though physically we are living on the world.
Ah ha! It is according to how you interpret ';true followers';. Does that mean those who take on the name or those that live the teachings of Jesus, which includes no judgement, no prejudice, loving thy neighbour and doing unto others.





I pick the last one. Who has the truth? You? Me? This can be seen in many ways.





Christians are hated by many in the world, aren't they, (which of course does not make it right)so does that make Christians the true followers?
The world is ruled by Satan.





Satan wants to put an end to the Kingdom. Those who uphold the Kingdom will be hated by the world because that is what Satan wants.





And we know he rules the world because he offered all the kingdoms of the world to Jesus in exchange for one act of worship.
Very Good Question!!





Jesus Christ is refering to NOW and later on in the future! ... People are spreading the word of the Gospel ... and as you know .. people are getting tired of Christians for doing that .. they are even starting to hate Christians for spreading the good news. People are getting very ennoyed of Christ followers. Thats what Jesus means. People hate the truth! This is nothing compared to the future .. they will hate Christians more in the future.
Because Satan is the uber-enemy of truth and righteousness. As long as Satan hates us, those who belong to him will hate us, no matter what we do. If we didn't preach, they would hate us, if we accepted blood, they would hate us, if we celebrated holidays, they would hate us. If we served in the military, they would hate us. Witnesses, in times past, have done these things, before we knew better, and they hated us then! What more proof does anyone need that WE are the goup Jesus referred to when he said ';They hated me, they will hate you also.';?


Bring it on. Touch the eyeball of our God.
The world loves to hide in darkness, in sin.





God came to rescue anyone who no longer wishes to be a slave in the kingdom of darkness.
no its the same reason the Holocaust is used by Jews who want something, Slavery by African Americans who want something...





basically its getting free **** by using pity
See also: Persecution Complex.
Because his true followers are generally pricks.
Unitarian Christians are hated by the Majority of the Religion ';Trinitarians'; or Pagans.
Every huckster that ever tried to sell snake oil has said that.
He knew what obnoxious jerks they would be, and how much evil they would do in his name.
cos Jesus was hated in his time.





People love darkness and when you speak against it people get mad.
jesus was a great prophet of ALLAH not god.and yes muslims are deeply hated by the world.people dont even wana employ us woman because we wear the hea scarf thats how much we hated