Peculiar People

Have you ever found yourself amazed at sports fans? I know I am. The extent that they will go to unashamedly display their devotion and loyalty to their favorite team. It's pretty remarkable. Body paint, costumes, poor weather - and off they go unhindered; telling the world whose banner they wear.

It's not at all expected that these fans should try and blend in a little more with everyone else. Or that their attitude should be "you have your team I'll have mine, but let's be quiet about it". No, actually we can all imagine a stereotype of what we expect from the hardcore sports fan.

So what about our loyalty and devotion to Christ? Should we be any less eager to let the world know whom we belong to? To be clear, I don't think we should be set apart by body paint, costumes, bumper stickers, and other such stuff - but we should be set apart, and it should be displayed with our lives.

And what about a stereotype. Is this what we fear that keeps us from opening our mouth in obedience to the Great Commission? If it is, we already have a stereotype; the world thinks of Christians and the stereotype of hypocrisy comes to their mind. There is also the televangelist image and hunger for money, health, wealth. There is the stereotype of being full of religion, but no love. We shouldn't fear having a stereotype; we should work to fix the stereotypes we have created already. Let's live like we should - as Jesus commanded. Yes it means we will be a peculiar people, but lets live as peculiar people surrendered to Christ - so that when the world thinks of Christians, the stereotype that comes to mind is the Gospel on their lips, and proved with their lives.

Titus 2:14
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.