Weird in a "Normal" World

I can't tell you how many people close to me have recently called me (or thought me) weird: not that I am personally weird, but that my actions (or lack of actions in some cases) are weird. Truth be told, it hurts my feelings. No one wants to be thought of as weird. No one wants the people closest to them to think they are "extremists" or that they cannot easily identify with people. After all, Jesus could identify with the sinner and the saint.

But, as I prayed and sought God in His Word, I realized that Jesus has not only called us to be extreme in His Word, but He has called us to be weird...at least from the perspective of what the world would say is weird. You see, for those around me, being weird is characterized by not attending movies with sexually ilicit scenes or ones that glorify sin, like the Hangover 2. Being weird means that I wear a modest one-piece to the beach instead of a two-piece. And being weird means that I abstain from a sexual relationship before marriage. Sometimes, being weird means that I hang out with a homeless man or spend my Saturday night evangelizing, rather than with friends.

Don't get me wrong, I don't say these things to make myself look good to anyone, especially people in the faith community. I say it to encourage the other weird people in the world who are made to feel bad because they engage in Kingdom activities that do not conform to the way the world lives. We have been bought with a price, therefore we honor God with our bodies and conduct ourselves in holiness, and make the most of the time we have been given here on earth.

The bottom line is this...don't let anyone make you feel bad for being "weird" in a worldy sense. Recognize it as persecution and pray for them. Jesus said that even those closest to us would persecute us, and such they do.

"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy because I am holy'. Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:14-19