Being "Strange" in a Culture of "Fitting In"

Last night, I stayed up quite late talking (or rather facebook chatting) with an old friend with whom I had not spoken in some time. Our conversation spanned a surprising number of subjects, most of which led us into rather deep discussions, usually regarding Biblical womanhood/girlhood. At one point, my friend mentioned that she has always felt "strange" and "unusual". I understand this comment completely as I have often felt the same way, and also know someone else who has expressed similar opinions of herself. Yet I know what is "strange" about my friend - she is very mature, she loves to read books, she thinks about and discusses deep issues, she respects and loves her parents, she adores her siblings, she has a high standard of modesty, she stands for courtship (rather than dating), and she worships God with her heart, mind, and soul. These are several reasons why she has always felt "strange". Ironically, these are the very things that endeared her to me from the moment I met her. My response to her comment was to remind her that God made each of us completely unique, whether we like it or not. This is the way we were created and the way we were meant to be. It is culture that desires to mold us into one entity, with one way of speaking, thinking, dressing, and acting. As much as individuality is championed in the public arena, it is quickly being crushed through peer pressure, advertising, and other mediums in which culture's persuasive influence is pervading. Christians have been influenced in this manner just as much as unbelievers, to the point where it can be found blatantly in the church worldwide, much to its discredit. I remarked to my friend that the fact that she found herself to be "strange" was a testimony to the fact that she had not allowed culture to mold her, but had kept the unique and wonderful traits that God has specially instilled in her at birth. This might make her appear "strange" in a culture where we are all encouraged (even demanded) to be one type of person (most often embodied by Hollywood stars and other celebrities), but in the same way as she is, all Christians ought to be "strange". 1 Peter 2:11 says, "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul." We are not of this world, therefore we should act differently than those who are. Just as you would instantly recognize someone from a foreign country (because of the way they speak, act, and dress), so an unbeliever should instantly recognize us for who/what we are for the same reasons. I once heard my pastor quote a friend as saying, "Don't tell [your neighbors] that you are a Christian, but when they find out, don't let them be surprised." If we act just like unbelievers do, when they find out that we are Christians, they will definitely be surprised. We need to act as foreigners and citizens of another land (the Celestial City, if you will) so that when they find out we are Christians, it will make sense and answer the question that has been in their minds about why we act the way we do.

Referencing back to my conversation...My friend responded to my earlier comments by telling me about a realization she recently had: that being who God has made each of us to be is hands down one of the best ways in which we can worship and honor Him. Even though I had heard this general concept many times before, I had never heard it exactly in these words. It struck me as truly insightful as well as truly freeing - that in simply allowing ourselves to be who God created us to be and growing in His grace, we are worshipping and honoring Him! We are acknowledging that He is the best craftsman and that He created us exactly as we should be. Whenever we try to mold into what culture wants us to be, we are in essence saying to God that we know better than He does about who/what we need to be. This is anything but honoring to God.

Likewise, my friend said that she feels closer to God when she's allowing herself to be "strange" than when she is worrying about what others think and trying to change. This makes sense because when we allow ourselves to simply be who God created us to be, we are closest to His design and more open to His will. When we want to change and mold ourselves into who culture wants to be, we are fighting against God and as a result, we will always find ourselves farther from Him.

As I write this post, I feel more and more convicted, knowing that I am one who struggles greatly with wanting to mold to who culture wants me to be more than to who God created me to be. Yet it is my constant prayer that God will create in me a spirit that desires Him above all else and that all of earth's temptations and fascinations will melt away in comparison. I guess I need to work on being more "strange" here on earth, because only then will I be able to truly "fit in" in Heaven!