By Aaron D’Anthony Brown, as posted on crosswalk.com the devotional
“If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you.” John 15:18
Against the Grain
My father used to say the times have changed, a sentiment I now echo. The world looked so different during childhood; some resulted from my imaginings, and some from a reality long past. Today, the world, especially my country, looks darker, uncertain, and divided. My faith now shines brighter than ever, and I’ve never felt so alone and out of place. I grew up when being Christian was in fashion, even ubiquitous. Kids pretended to be Christian even when they weren’t. Not anymore.
Nowadays, many people hide their faith for fear of being offensive. There seem to be fewer open prayers when out in public and less mention of God in school. Abortion. Homosexuality. Race. Transgender. Many other things. Uttering an opinion or a fact that goes against the grain is far more consequential than just taboo. So for those of us seeking to stand firm in the faith, what exactly are we left to do? Finding the courage to be different today comes with consequences like job loss, ostracization, legal repercussions, fines, and maybe at some point, death. It's undoubtedly counter-cultural to be Christian in today’s society. The question is, do we have the courage to be different?
Intersecting Faith and Life:
The world hated Jesus. There should be no surprise when we receive the same treatment. If you are a Christian who finds yourself in harmony with the world, that’s an indication to rethink your faith. We are called live differently, like Christ. He didn’t have an easy life. Why would we? Christ told His disciples there would be suffering in the world. Yet, despite suffering, through Him, they could find peace. Through Him, they found the strength needed to live out their faith. That same peace and strength are available to us today. We’ll need it if we are to be different.
Different in the Way We Talk
Scripture prescribes a certain way to communicate. Our words are supposed to build another up, those in the faith and outside. That doesn’t mean every word spoken from our mouths is soft and gentle, but that also doesn’t mean our words should be harsh. Where the world seeks to offend, we should make peace. Where the world stresses peace, we should boldly speak the truth in love to people who need to hear it.
Different in the Way We Walk
Modern society glorifies the value of an individual's happiness, priorities, needs, and wants. Our faith prioritizes the values of God. We recognize we are not the center of the universe, which causes us to value getting married and starting families. We value serving others as opposed to ourselves. We value children in and outside of the womb.
Different in How We Think
Our primary motivations as Christians should be to love God and, secondly, to love others. These are the greatest commandments. Society commands the love of self. If we aren’t happy, the culture encourages us to change our circumstances through divorce, jobs, etc. Scripture helps us understand happiness is not just transitory but something we aren’t entitled to for simply existing. God blesses us with good, but He also allows for bad - and for very good reasons!
Different in What We Believe
Those in the world reject God when they can’t see the evidence but are quick to believe science without viewing the evidence - the methodology, the variables, the data, etc. Knowing ‘the science’ proves something is enough for some people. As Christians, we believe science helps us understand the natural world, but we also recognize there is also a supernatural one. God allows us to see where conventional insight fails or deceives. Being different is a challenge today, but walking with God was never meant to be easy. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are proof. We must find the courage to be different today and every day, no matter how dark they may be.
A Prayer for Courage
God, I come before you now with a prayer for courage. Please be with me on these dark and challenging days. No matter how alone I may feel, remind me you are my ever-present company. Whatever obstacles I face help me to live out the faith consistently and constantly. When the world seeks to deceive and sell me on falsehoods, direct me again towards truth. Please direct me to you. Being different is hard and scary, and some days God, I wonder what life would be like to be of the world. But I want to remain steadfast. I wish to remain with you. So, Lord, please give me the courage to be different, especially when I need it the most. In Jesus’ name. Amen.