For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles— when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 1 Peter 4:3-4
Has anyone ever pointed out how weird you are for not joining the world in its ways? It can be really hurtful to be mocked because you do not fit the mold the culture says everyone must fit. I have very few fond memories of my time in middle and high school because of this very thing. These incidents, however painful they were, have ultimately played a major role in shaping my character. So, in one sense, I suppose it was good for me to endure them as it taught me to respect everyone whether they are one of the “cool kids” or not.
If one is to live a godly life, he/she better be prepared for some ridicule (2 Timothy 3:12). Peter gave us a clue as to why when he penned 1 Peter 4:3-4 cited above. The point I want to make is that abstention from worldly ways looks strange to worldly people. They often take offense to such things. I experienced this very thing after my conversion.
In my youth, I was very much a child of the world. I participated in a great many sinful practices. Upon my conversion, not only did I have a responsibility to cast those things aside, but I also had a responsibility to attempt to convince my old running mates to join me. They did not take kindly to my new ways. At my place of work, this pressure was especially acute. It was not at all uncommon for people to try and make me stumble back into my old sinful ways. When these attempts failed, they began to make fun of me for being so weird.
I share all of this because we must decide on one path or the other. We cannot spend part of our time on one and part on the other. We cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). As James wrote, “…Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). For this reason, Paul said to, “…not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). This requires that we “…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11) and “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord…” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
It is difficult to put up with the mockery, but we must remember Jesus’ words when He promised blessings upon those who are mocked and persecuted for the sake of His name and His ways (Matthew 5:11-12). We would also do well to remember that a servant is not greater than his/her master, so if Jesus was not too good to endure, neither are we (John 15:20). Perhaps I am weird, but I would rather be one of those weirdos following Jesus down the narrow road to eternal life than to follow the “in-crowd” and be one of the “cool kids” meandering down that wide road to eternal punishment (Matthew 7:13-14). When they call us weirdos, we should be thankful to know that Christ living in us is obvious enough to evoke a response from the world around us. If they call you a weirdo for your Christian walk, you just might be doing it right. So, take heart fellow servant. You have many other weirdos ready to come to your aid in such times.