How Strange Are You?

A few weeks ago my friend and preaching colleague, Leland Ping who lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, posted a short piece on his facebook page that is worthy of your consideration.

How strange are you?

You may think that that’s a really odd question! But before you think the question is out of line, consider these words from the apostle Peter some 2,000 years ago:

“In regards to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.” (1 Peter 4:4)

It helps to know that the previous statement in Peter’s letter outlined a number of sordid behaviors that we as saints are to refrain from participating in. Peter, through the Holy Spirit, is making the argument that, as baptized believers who are identified with Christ, we are to leave the old ways and old man and adopt new habits in service to the Lord.

When we no longer drink, nor use bad language, nor act in ways of the world in any way, some of our non-Christian friends, family members, and colleagues will certainly think us to be different, odd, and even strange. Some will even voice their frustration with our refusal to walk in the old ways and participate in the old and sinful ways. But, we must remain faithful to our Lord and His royal cause.

To refuse to run in the flood of dissipation will cause others to speak evil of us or, as translated elsewhere, to malign us. But, better to be maligned by a sinful world than to be punished by our just Lord! We must make the choice to live righteously, to speak as Christ spoke, and to be examples of good so that Christ Jesus and His name are glorified. In doing so, we’ll save ourselves through God’s grace and do great things in teaching others about the salvation He offers.

The passage from Peter and Leland’s point reminds me of Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:2. “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

The Message, a contemporary paraphrase renders this “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.”

My favorite is the J. B. Phillips translations which reads “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within.”

When we don’t fit in with the world’s politically correct agenda or allow ourselves to be moulded after its liberal lifestyle, people will think we’re strange.

So, how strange are you?

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman