It is undoubted that it hurts to be rejected by anyone. We are all sensitive to wanting to be included and accepted by others. Each and every one of us has been rejected at some point in our life. Getting our feelings hurt is just a part of life that we have to experience because we live in a world full of sin.
How does being rejected as a Christian differ from being personally attacked? The way I look at being dismissed as a Christian is a form of empowerment. When someone doesn't like me because I am a Christian, it creates a perfect opportunity for me to witness to them. A hostel person automatically has it out for any Christian because of something that happened in their life.
The hostel person could have been raised to hate Christians. This person also could have had a negative experience with a Christian in their past. We may never know for sure what their reasoning is, but we just have to accept their hostility at face value. What I mean is that we do not have to know the reason why they are acting the way they are. What we do need to do is show them God's love. It is hard to hate someone if they are non-threatening and show kindness. What eggs someone is on is when we hit confrontation with confrontation.
What does God want us to do when we are faced with being rejected?
One of my favorite verses that encourages me is John 15:18.
John 15:18 NASB “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.”
When Jesus said that the world hated him before us, he was preparing us to deal with rejection. If we are truly followers of Jesus, we will embrace the same hate that he felt when he was here on earth. The way I look at the hate and vile directed towards Christians is an opportunity. When we are faced with evil, a situation has been created for us to shine. When we shine for God, we become the salt and the light of the world. Being the salt and the light gives us an opportunity to share the gospel with those who desperately need it.
Luke 10:16 NASB “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”