To be totally honest, I really can’t think about any strange events in my life. There have been twists and turns, ups and downs, but all in all things have been pretty ordinary.
Now don’t get me wrong, there have been some very special events in my life, many of which could qualify as extraordinary, some even strange! Today is September 21, 2022. I am well into my 69th year of life and I am in my 5th year of retirement. Once again, I wouldn’t say there’s been anything strange about my life, but it has certainly been filled with a lot of unexpected blessings. I am at the age I now have time to reflect on my life and it has been a great blend of expected and unexcepted blessings. Actually the unexpected blessings are probably the best!
One of Jesus’ disciples, Simon Peter, reflected on his life and the impact of following Jesus and being a witness to Jesus’ resurrection. 1 Peter 2:9 King James Version 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light,..Peter describes those who follow Jesus as peculiar, we might substitute strange.
When I was young, I had a fear of being thought of as strange. I had heard people whisper, even sometimes talk loudly about the strange person in my class, grade, school, church group, team or whatever social circle that mattered to me or to which I wanted to belong. As much as possible I avoided those conversations because I was pretty sure once I was out of listening range I could be the next topic of strange or weird! Don’t get me wrong, belonging matters, but as I gained more confidence in who I was and could embrace what others thought was strange about me, I worked to make my circle as large and as inclusive as possible. It was a great life experience that certainly helped me as God called me to be a pastor.
It was a bit liberating, but also convicting when I read Peter’s words. Would following Jesus actually require me to be peculiar, strange. It was liberating to know that Jesus wasn’t whispering behind my back that I was strange. It was convicting because I was committing to follow the leader of a bunch of peculiar people. The bad news is the church is a body of peculiar people, the good news is I am one them!
As I read the letters of the Apostle Paul, I discovered another attribute of those who follow Jesus! 1 Corinthians 4:9-11 New International Version 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
Wow, not only was I joining a group of strange people, I was also going to be thought of as a fool. Yes, I have done some foolish things, but I was not taught to be a fool. I was encouraged not to be foolish. What kind of a commitment was I making.
Let’s go back to Peter. The translation which I quoted describes the believer as Peculiar. The word can also be translated “to describe something or someone that “belongs exclusively to some person, group, or thing” or to refer to “a property or privilege belonging exclusively or characteristically to a person.” (Got questions.org)
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 NIV. Maybe what makes us peculiar, strange; is as a follower of Jesus Christ we are God’s possession. We have given God the ownership of our lives. We live in a world where people think that is strange. Most people live as if they own their lives. It is peculiar, strange, maybe even foolish to confess that God is acutally the owner. It requires us to seek God’s will first, and not our own desires. Sometimes those will align, but I have learned that when they don’t, seeking God’s will and kingdom first is always more satisfying and fulfilling.
A friend once told me, we are all fools for something, whose fool are you? I committed to be a fool for Christ and as strange as that has been, there is nothing else that could have produced the wonderful fruits in my life i have enjoyed. My relationship with Jesus Christ has sometimes made me feel a bit strange and peculiar. There are some social circles where being a follower makes you strange and people will think you are foolish to surrender your life. By the time you are reading and comprehending this, the culture may even be more antagonist towards those who embrace a Biblical world view and believe in the resurrected Jesus as Savior and Lord. My prayer is that you will embrace the words of Paul : 1 Corinthians 4:9-11 New International Version 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
So I guess the strangest thing that has happened to me was deciding to join this group of Peculiar People! I hope and pray that one day you will join!
This is good company!
Gee Sprague, September 23, 2022