Thou Shalt Be Strange

Are Christians supposed to be “peculiar people?” At first blush this might seem true, and it is in some ways (1). However, it is false if one means that we have to be "strange",  “weird”, or “peculiar.” Biblical exegesis seems to be the issue here, the Bible passages are being confused on who is doing the "peculiaring".

One usually hears it expressed in such terms as we need to dress different, act different or have something on our person that is a different from non-believers. Usually this is not referencing to just dressing modestly, but rather "different", or maybe how I perceive it, "queer" (in the traditional sense of the word).

Proper exegesis

The Bible presents a much more robust and full understanding of peculiarity. One of the first steps in exegesis of any writing or conversation is to read or listen to the context. In other words, when reading the Bible, understand the concept within its context to find the full meaning. Second, it is to have correct definitions.

Peculiar in the Old Testament

The authorized translators used the word “peculiar” five times in the Old Testament (OT). Each time it is referring to a treasure. Four of those times, it was God who was the one who made his people peculiar (or treasured in our modern-day language) unto himself. Only once in the OT do we see a person using this word, it is a king gathering kingly treasure unto himself.

Set aside

In the New Testament, which is where most pull this phrase from, we see the word appear twice Titus 2:14 and 1 Peter 2:9.

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:14).

“Peculiar,” in the book of Titus, means to set aside or make a special people. Take a look at the verse again, this is God's doing, not ours. He has made us special, we are now his. However, this verse does have a job for us. It is not saying we should try to look different, strange, or weird, but rather be “zealous of good works.” That's is our job. In other words, God made us special, we are his, our job is to serve him by doing good works.

Purchased

As stated, the second time "peculiar" shows up is 1 Peter 2:9.

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 (1 Peter 2:9)

The time the word shows up in 1 Peter, it is talking about a purchased or acquired people (2). Again God is doing the “peculiar,” not us. He bought us, we are now his. However, again like the other verse, the writer gives us a responsibility, we are to show praise to God since he called us out from sin. We know of a number of ways we can praise God. This includes by loving him and keeping his commands, by song, faithfulness, and verbally expressing our praise to him. It is done by pointing the lost to the Kingdom of God and helping others.

Looking different 

We do not need to try to be peculiar nor look, act, or be different or strange. As Christians, our nature will be intrinsically different than the parts of society that are sinful. Differences will come quite fast if we are a Christian. We are given commands for actions that set us apart. Following Jesus puts us on a different path from the rest of society. That path includes praising God and having good works.

Take for example Esther, she did not reveal she was Hebrew. One can only assume she dressed, acted and spoke as others in her day and time. It was her words, life, heart, modesty, and her willingness to risk her life that made her such use for God's glory.

If we are living the Christian life, we will be different. Trying to be different is not the issue, rather God sets us apart if we chose to follow him, in doing that we will be different. The difference is is this, are we to look strange or are we be followers of Christ and be godly? This is the great distinction!


(1) Example, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 7:1. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 

This passage says we are to be separate by being clean of sin and being holy.

(2) The 1611 King James Bible translators took two different Greek words and used one English word “peculiar” for the translation. Newer versions may not use this word peculiar.

Words, Actions and Enjoyments of Some Professing Christians

It confuses and concerns me to see a professing Christian use profanity and blasphemy with no remorse (1). Also, it is disconcerting when professing followers of Christ do actions that the Scriptures teach as evil. Some openly enjoy sin, immorality and evil with no remorse or desire to flee these worldly and sinful things that we are called out from (2). In fact those who enjoy watching and approving others who do sinful acts while professing to be a follower of Christ need to be fearful (3). 

One can't go far in this world of ours without seeing evil and unrighteousness. However, we are not to participate, speak highly of, nor approve of evil. We also need to take great care of what we say. It is clear that those who do and applaud unrighteousness are bound for an eternity away from God. If you profess Christ and practice sin, repent towards God and away from this iniquity!

(1) 

• Col 3:8  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 
• Jas 3:6-12 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
• 1Pe 3:10  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.
• Eph 5:4  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

(2)

• 1Co 6:9-10  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 
• Eph 5:3-7 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 
• Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
• Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

(3) 

• Eph 5:11-12  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 
• 1 The 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
• Rom 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. 
• 1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Thou Shalt Look Different

I have heard a Christian a time or two say, "we should look different from the world." In those times I always want to ask, "what do you mean by the words "world", "look different", and "we". In one sense I am fairly sure what is meant by this, however, to be frank, I am not totally sure. I am not even sure if the one who express this knows what he or she is trying to say.

I have two concerns with this comment, first I don't think it's biblical and second it's vague. The writers of the Bible explain that we are to be sanctified, set apart, holy, sin overcomes, modestly dressed, and we need to have the right attitude, to name a few things. They give complete instructions how we are to be followers of Christ, within any culture context, century and society. 

Also, this "sound bite" is nebulous because I can think of a million ways to look different from the "world" (which I am going to assume here as society around about). However, that gives me no definition on how God wants me to be, act, dress, etc. 

Whether or not we "look different from the word" is irrelevant, in fact this should not even be thought about. Our focus should be following Christ, doing what he did and acting like he acted. No, we don't have to wear togas . . . I think you got the point . . . If we are his followers, we will be different, we won't even have to try!