WWJS about hate?

By far the most famous of Jesus' words on hate are from the Sermon on the Mount:

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. 

Matthew 5:43-44

Any follower of Jesus takes those words seriously—which means we live by them. But in the political arena, with the hurly-burly of debate and disagreement, a Christian... still has to live by Jesus' words. No exceptions.

Given that the enemies of Christ are familiar with scripture, a Christian is likely to have those famous words of the Lord thrown in her face from time to time. So does this mean a Christian is disallowed from criticizing public officials or urging others to oppose certain philosophies, policies and candidates? I don't believe so.

Jesus said a lot more on the subject—some of which are truly "hard" things to hear: 

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, 

lest his deeds should be reproved. 

John 3:20

The world...hateth [me], because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. 

John 7:7

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife,

 and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, 

and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:26

Hating the light (ie: the truth, the gospel, Christ himself) is evidence of evil. And Jesus categorically states that the world hates him because He revealed its evil deeds. The really tricky one is about hating one's own family members—although when placed alongside Jesus' other teachings, this passage is plainly an instruction about loving Christ supremely. 

But Jesus most numerous statements on the matter of hate are like these:

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

John 15:18

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: 

but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, 

therefore the world hateth you.

John 15:19

I have given them Thy word; and the world hated them, 

because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world.

John 17:14

The world hates Christians. Yet Jesus told us to do good and show love so that people would be inclined to "glorify God" as a result. Reconciling those two concepts tells me fruitful Christians living out their faith will  prompt some people to turn toward Christ. But not every person will respond favorably. In fact, scripture and history indicate that most people will react as described in John 3:20.

If you are a Christ-follower whose spiritual gifts are expressed in service and mercy, you may not experience much overt hatred. But if your gifts are in areas of proclamation and teaching, you'd best get a thick skin. 

Speaking the truth—even speaking it in love—will bring down the hatred of the world and the hatred of wicked people like night follows day. But don't be deterred from shining the light. Just don't return evil for evil; instead you will overcome evil with good.