Weird. I would imagine to the average person that would be the primary word used to describe the devoted Christian. To them it’s a turn off. Conformity is in and different is bad. And because we don’t want to be labeled as weird so often the Christian who would otherwise be devoted gives in to pressure and does things just like everybody else.
But that is exactly what God told us to do. Be different. Passages like Romans 12:1-2 and 1 Peter 2:9 come to mind, both of which emphasize the Christian’s inherent need to be different. In fact, Peter went so far as to use the word “peculiar” in describing how the Christian is to interact with the world around them. But as much as we don’t like to be considered weird or different, peculiar might even be worse. In many ways it is a psychological issue – the perception that people have about us. But the two must be reconciled somehow. If not our willingness to function as a Christian should is going to be severely compromised. So how can it happen?
I think the deciding factor is what I’m going to call “owning the different.” What I mean by that is being unashamedly and proudly different. No, not to the point of being puffed up or haughty about it. But wear is like a badge of honor. Look at it as something to be admired instead something of which to be ashamed. Why?
- Because the world is lost in its sin. The New Testament makes a very clear distinction between God’s children and the world. Peter spoke about Christians being “called out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). That darkness is a representation of sin, which will clearly cause those living in it to be lost. So if we are no different from the world now why should we believe that we will experience a different eternity than them? We must learn to own the different because we attain to a greater destiny – heaven.
- Because of what the different can do. Living a different life is about more than just our own spiritual well-being. Living a different life can cause a pointed difference in the lives of others. The more people see the impact of the gospel in our lives the more likely they will be willing to allow the same impact in theirs. Jesus illustrated that in John 17 by referring to the unity that is to define us (possible only by being different according to God’s terms) as being the way the world would know we are people of God (vs. 23). We must learn to be different, not only for our own sake, but for the sake of those around us.
- Because God said so. Ultimately our reason for being different requires no more rational than our reason for doing anything else required of us as Christians. We do it because God said so. His authority is sovereign. It requires no additional reason. Around ten times through the book of Leviticus God claimed that sovereign authority by issuing certain commands and following up by telling them they were to do it because He was the Lord their God (Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2,10,34; 20:7; 24:22’ 25:17,55). That authority is unchanged. It is just as sovereign as it ever has been and so we must learn to be different for the simple reason that God said to.
How different are you? Do you dress differently than the world? Do you talk differently than the world? Do you do things differently than the world? If so be proud! No, don’t gloat or lord is over those around you. But glory in the life that God has allowed you to have and the impact that you can have on those around you by owning the different.
-Andy