Are You Peculiar or Is Your Reality Normal?

Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:13b-14

Jesus redeemed us, purified his followers from wickedness or “unto himself a peculiar people” (KJV).  We Christians are peculiar. … Offbeat, odd, eccentric, abnormal, unusual, or to be nice, Christ followers are unique individuals.  We’re definitely not of, nor should be, of the reality lived by everyone surrounding us in life.

The Bible speaks of us being a foreigner, a stranger; we’re not a local, our norms don’t match our community’s lifestyle – our accent: actions, dress, language is noticeable.  As a Christ follower our life is to reflect Jesus – that makes you different – absolutely peculiar – a weirdo in the reality of this world.    

 



Peculiar or Normal?

People shouldn’t understand you, because the Spirit of God is at work in you, molding your mind.  Allow the Spirit to effectively change, transform your mind to be like Christ.  Reality TV is not a Christian’s reality, Paul wrote, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2).  Your goal is to “have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16).  You and I are to have a train of thought guided by the Holy Spirit, and we work to keep it from being derailed through a mind that is void of the Holy Spirit.  In example, Paul teaches Christians differ from a nonbeliever, who “without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him …” (1 Cor 2:14).

Pastor and author Francis Chan sums it up very simply, he writes, “Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.”

Living Peculiar,

Owen <><