WHY DOES THE WORLD HATE AND PERSECUTE CHRISTIANS?

For you get enough hate from the world! But then, it hated Me before it hated you. The world would love you if you belonged to it; but you don’t, for I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave isn’t greater than his master!’ So since they persecuted Me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to Me, they would listen to you!
John 15:18-21 (TLB)

Yes, and those who decide to please Christ Jesus by living godly lives will suffer at the hands of those who hate Him.
II Timothy 3:12 (TLB)