Bella Vista Church of Christ
LIFELINES
December 5, 2001 Randall Caselman
Proud To Be Peculiar
Peter describes children of God as chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people who belong to God. Many of us resist being called peculiar, right? The word peculiar has come to mean one who is strange and unusual. But when we consult Webster we find that indeed we are peculiar and can be proud of the fact. Webster says:
- Peculiar means belonging exclusively to another. Indeed we do! "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price." (1 Corinthians 6.19-20)
- Peculiar means being distinctively different. Indeed we are. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12.2).
- Peculiar means adhering exclusively to the character of another. Indeed we should. Paul tells us in Philippians 2.5 that we should have the heart, the mind, the attitude, the disposition of Jesus.
- Peculiar refers to one whose interest is singularly focused. Indeed ours ought to be. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)
Sometimes, we go to great lengths to blend into the crowd and become neutral, conforming to the mold of this world in order to be anything but peculiar. However, Paul declares that "Jesus came to redeem us, and to purify for Himself a peculiar people, eager and zealous to do what is good." What are some characteristics of peculiar people?
Peculiar people place people before things.
What counts in this life is what we do for others. The good Samaritan gained permanence in history because he was willing to place people before his money. The treasures we lay up in heaven are those given in service to others--not what we grudgingly use to serve ourselves, and not what we hold onto for our future. Folk, the future is now; live for today. When Jesus comes, what will we do with the money in the church treasury, or things we have accumulated, or those things we hold so dear? C.S. Lewis said, "We have become a nation that loves things and uses people." This is not Jesus in us, but the world in us. Let us be peculiar by loving people and using things.
Peculiar people deal with their prejudice.
When we speak of the character of God, we usually mention His holiness, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, and sovereign nature. But when Moses wanted to show the Israelites what God was like he pointed to His impartiality! "For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows not partiality." Prejudice is simply pre-judging people based upon their riches, education, color, social status, etc.,--rather than seeing them as one made in the image of God, one who can be saved by the blood of Christ. Prejudice cannot be justified as a mere cultural misunderstanding; it cannot be excused as the way we were taught. Prejudice is a sin! God calls us to be different than those around us by willfully rising above prejudice. Let us be peculiar by our lack of prejudice.
Peculiar people are always forgiving.
Jesus taught that our forgiveness is contingent upon our willingness to forgive others. Later, He put His own teaching into practice. Hear the words as they tumbled from his lips: "Father forgive them; they know not what they do." Revenge and retaliation is the order of the day in our society, but not in God's economy. Jesus taught that we are to forgive those who have offended us, seventy times seven. Limitless forgiveness! He also taught that we are to pursue the forgiveness of those we have offended. Leave your offering and first be reconciled to your brother. Let us be peculiar in our quickness to forgive.
Peculiar people cultivate meaningful relationships.
God created us for relationships. Nothing is more important than our relationship with Him and others. Our happiness depends upon it. Sometimes we sing
Blest Be The Tie and then allow the slightest offense to sever it. I recently read a list of the Ten Commandments of Human Relations. Let me share them with you:
- Speak to people with a cheerful word.
- Smile often.
- Call people by their name.
- Be friendly and helpful.
- Be cordial.
- Be generous with praise and cautious with criticism.
- Be considerate of the feelings and interests of others.
- Be thoughtful of the opinions of others.
- Be alert and ready to serve those in need - Any in need.
- Be ready to forgive; hold no grudges.
Remember, nothing, NO THING is more important than relationships in this life. Things are temporary, relationships are eternal. Let us be peculiar in our cultivation of our relationships! The next time someone refers to us as being peculiar, smile and say, I hope so!
Randall Caselman
