A light on a hill. In the world, but not of it. Salt of the earth.
The concept is there in the Bible: distinction, difference, disparity . . . weird. When a person stands out from the rest in some way, when he/she refuses to do something the way everyone else does, we take notice. And let’s face it . . . anything different from me is “weird”.
How weird are you?
Pastor and author Craig Groeschel has recently released a book by that name: Weird: Because Normal Isn’t Working. The premise? As Christ-followers, we should be living in such a way that others take notice. (Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwLkbB_gMEA) Our approach to life should reflect the values and priorities of Jesus, and when we dig into what that looks like, we find “weird”.
Love your enemies. Turn the other cheek. Find forgiveness through faith, not perfect living.
And people took notice. Tax collectors, prostitutes, and other riffraff flocked to Jesus. Religious leaders and churchy people kept their distance, found his ways distasteful and offensive. Regardless, Jesus didn’t blend in.
So I ask again: How weird are you? Do you stand apart from the rest . . . in the way you manage your time? In the ways you spend your money? In your interactions with your friends and family? In your dating relationships? In the way you respond to those who hold different opinions than you?
Until next time, be weird, my friends.