Normal...it's so--well, it's normal.
According to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, the defininition for normal is: conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern.
That sounds nice. It's somewhat comforting...to be normal. Everything fitting according to the standard fare that we've come to recognize as normal.
There's nothing inherrently wrong with normal. Your friends are normal (most of them anyway). You came from a normal family (maybe). You have a normal job, a normal home, a normal life--and you like it that way.
The problem with normal is that if we're not careful, normal starts to determine who we are--and that's a problem. Because the truth is that if you're a Christian, you're really not normal. So, if you allow anything other than God to define who you are, or how you live your life--that's not a good place to be.
The working definition of normal is that you don't stand out; that you fit in and that nothing 'abnormal' occurs to disrupt what is commonly normal in your world.
But did you know that trying to fit in, trying to be normal actually goes against what Christ has called us to do?
In the Bible, John 8:23 says that although we're originally from this planet, as followers of Christ, we should aspire to reach for a higher place--one that is "...not of this world." In Romans 8:12 the apostle Paul encourages Jesus followers to not get hung up on being normal in this life. That's right. Paul tells us that as Christians, we're to actually shun the idea of 'fitting in' to the things of this life, so that we can identify more completely with Him.
What does this have to do with being normal? I think it connects perfectly.
For me, in 2008, I'm going to try more than ever to not be normal (my kids are thrilled with this idea!). That's not to say that I'm going to dress any differently than I normally do, or that I'm going to act any differently than I normally do. But I AM going to think differently. I'm not going to go out of my way to be normal anymore--at least as this culture has defined it.
Wanna join me?
1 comment:
I wanna join you. I want God's glory to shine through me, as a reflection of service and love towards others. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that I believe comes through trials and life-lessons learned. My prayer is that Christ draws Faith Venture and Wildwood ministries towards Self-less service of one another in this journey of life. May we invest our time and talents into glorifying Christ through taking our "church-life" to the next level...our everyday walk.
This is abnormal and scary to the lost.
Volunteer.
Step out of our comfort-zones.
Lift up the name and life of Jesus through our actions.
I never again want to be a mere spectator playing "church."
I want to abnormally step out of the boat, take the hand of the master, and get my feet wet.
-michael
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