I'm odd, how about you?

I was talking with one of our church members, Joyce, the other day about the
church in general. She jokingly said, "The problem with the church is that
so many of the people are odd." To which I laughingly replied, "I know I'm
odd and I will be the first one to admit it". But that is one of the great
things about being a Christian. We can be a little "odd" and other
Christians love us and accept us anyway. The apostle Paul tells us that is
the way it should be in Romans 15:5-7. Notice what he wrote: "May the God
who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among
yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus so that with one heart and mouth you
may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another,
then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." (NIV)

That's why we can laugh about being "odd". We realize that is part of being
human and part of being Christian brothers and sisters. The world outside of
our Christian family, however doesn't understand that concept.

The word "odd" has several different usages, but the one I was thinking
about is: "not regular or expected, that which is unusual." A synonym for
this word; would be "Peculiar", which is defined as "being different from
the usual or ordinary or that which is generally accepted."

I don't have a problem with the fact that I and my life are "different" from
what the world finds as "usual" or what is "generally accepted." My values,
standards, opinions concerning morality and what is right and wrong in
general are different from many of those in our modern society. I believe
that we are held accountable to a higher standard than that which the world
generally accepts. Much of "the world" outside of Christianity rejects those
of us who are different from them, because we hold higher standards and
morals". They want us to "accept everyone" even if they choose to reject
God's standards. I choose to reject their standards and follow God's, I
choose to be odd.

Being "odd" or "different" from the world is not a bad thing, though it is
sometimes difficult to bear. The world not only rejects us, but sometimes
persecutes us because of our choice to live by God's standards. That's what
Peter is trying to help us understand and deal with in 1 Peter 4:1-4 where
he writes, "So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm
yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For
if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You
won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be
anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil
things that godless people enjoy their immorality and lust, their feasting
and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. Of
course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the
flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But
remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the
living and the dead." (NIV)

How about you, will you choose to be "Odd" for the cause of Christ?
Russ Lawson