Some Things Should Never Be Normal
Normal. It’s a word that so many of us have said in the last few months. We just want things to return to normal. As so many things have changed, many have altered that statement a bit and said that they hope things return to normal, whatever that may look like.
We like normal. We like routine. We like knowing–as best we can–what to expect. There’s nothing wrong with that.
However, there are certain things, if we are going to be children of light in a world of darkness, that should never be normal about us. If we are being honest, the biggest things about our lives are not going to be normal to the world around us.
Here are a few.
Our absolute commitment to truth is not normal. The world wants truth to change and to be pliable. They want society or opinion polls or just what feels good to determine truth. That is normal in our world. We, however, have a firmly fixed and unchanging standard–the Word of God–that we will not move from one inch. That is not normal to our world.
How we parent our children is not normal. We do not let society tell us what the standards are for our children. We still “make” them go to church even if they don’t feel like it. We still lead our household–our kids don’t. We still punish our children instead of just threatening them. We do not let our kids think the world revolves around them. That’s not normal.
Our dedication to marriage is not normal. Christians fiercely guard their marriage vows. “Forsaking all others” does not just mean avoiding adultery for the Christian; it means that we do not even come close to putting ourselves in compromising positions. The world thinks we have a “ball and chain” or a “restrictive relationship.” Christians realize they are reflecting the glory of the relationship between Christ and His Church, and there is no question about the devotion of that relationship.
Our definition of “love” is not normal. To our world, love means acceptance and celebration. It means that I allow someone to do whatever they want and love them enough to accept anything they do. To the Christian, love implies a godly standard and a willingness to love someone enough to tell them when they are wrong. It also means I love God enough to uphold His will no matter what another person says or does.
We could go on, but the fact is, Christians are not normal to the world around us. We are, as Peter put it, “a peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9), and we often stand in stark contrast to the world around us.
So, as we dream of getting back to normal, let’s not allow ourselves to be too normal. Instead, let’s realize that, in some of the largest ways imaginable, we will never be normal to those around us, but we will be known as faithful to God, and that’s all that matters.
To Receive Every Article from A Legacy of Faith through Email for Free, Click Here
AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
