A PECULIAR PEOPLE

[John81]

A PECULIAR PEOPLE



By Coach Dave Daubenmire
August 7, 2008
NewsWithViews.com

Peculiar-- distinctive in nature or character from others. Uncommon; unusual.

I Peter 2:9 ?But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;?

It is so hard to recognize a Christian any more. For the most part we are a bunch of Chameleons, we Christians.

No matter how hard we try we cannot get away from the world. In fact, we do everything we can to copy the world. I don?t care what line of work you are in there is a Christian version of it?.Christian business, Christian music, Christian books, Christian schools, Christian politicians?but for the most part we tend to blend in.

That?s why you will usually find me wearing my hat. I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is what transformed my life. That?s why I wear it.

You stick a red, white, and blue hat with a white cross embroidered on the front on your head and it is kind of hard to miss. It tells folks where you stand. Plus, my hat holds me accountable.

You see, I think Christians should be different. We shouldn?t blend in with the world. Paul said we were peculiar, a bit odd, but clearly different from non-believers. Putting a cross on my hat doesn?t make me any more of a Christian than sticking a fish on the back of my car, but it does have a tendency to keep me in line. It is hard to yell at the referee, or flip off a driver that just cut me off in traffic when I have my hat on.

I always told our football teams that when you put on the uniform you were representing our school and that you should never do anything to bring disrespect to your teammates.

But being a Christians is different. There is no uniform to put on, or more specifically, no uniform to take off. Once you become a Christian you are always in uniform. Instant in season and out of season is what the Bible says. There is no off-season or days off in the Christian walk. Everyday we are called to put our uniform on, take up our cross, and earnestly contend for the faith.

Trust me. If you do that in today?s culture you?re gonna stick out. You might as well wear a cross-hat. It saves everyone a lot of time trying to figure out where you are coming from.

Most of the Christians I run into would rather wear a camouflage hat. The last thing they want is to be exposed as ?one of them.?


Advertisement

?Activists like you make Christianity look bad.? I hear regularly from the cookie-cutter Christians. ?You just go about it the wrong way. It turns people off.?

?Really?? I answer as I take off my cross-cap and rub my short cropped hair. ?I like the way I do it a lot better than the way you don?t.? The only thing necessary for evil to triumph?..

A funny thing happened to me the other day. I was riding down the road with my friend Mark and I was doing some self examination, trying to figure out why I am so miss understood.

?Golly Mark, I don?t get it. I?m really a normal guy. I don?t know why people think I am so radical.?

?Coach, you aren?t normal.? Mark courageously answered. ?Let me put it to you this way. How many people do you know who wear a cross hat, stand out at abortion clinics, and visit gay pride parades??

I had to admit, he did have a point.

But that is the way most of us are trained. It makes the church-thing go so much easier if there aren?t people in the pews who are rocking the boat. I make people nervous when I talk about abortion, homosexuality, and gluttony. (When was the last sermon you heard on that?)

Think about your church a moment; would a guy like me be welcome there? Would the pastor have any idea what to do with me?

I used to serve the King of Beers. Now I serve the King of Kings. I found out that God is wiser than Budweiser. I went from a beer drinking, softball playing, filthy-mouthed church goer, to a fire-baptized devil stompin?, sin hating disciple of Jesus.

That?s peculiar, isn?t it? I?m not normal, am I? I don?t fit the cookie-cutter mold that churches love to fit us into.

As my friend Jim likes to say, I am rapidly becoming a church-orphan. My Christian-family has left me on a doorstep, hoping someone will come along and claim me.

But I?m not whining about my lot in life. I love what I do. I love defending the truth. I love fighting the big-dogs.

But what about you? Is there anything peculiar about you? Do your friends see your Christianity as being a little bit radical? Do you regularly have other lumps of clay chastise you for jumping off of the pastor?s wheel onto the potter?s wheel?

When Jesus really gets a hold of your heart it does something to you. Does Jesus have your heart?

I love to watch Sunday morning Christian TV. Although the messages tend to differ the environments are very similar. The pews are full of little tin soldiers, politely applauding, passing the plate, and praying for peace in their time.

Meanwhile, outside the four walls of the stained-glass fortress the wolves are roaming.

In the early 2000?s, right after my battle with the ACLU, I used to get a lot of invitations to speak. The churches loved it when I railed against the ACLU, the ?liberals,? and especially the Democrats. But as things continued to get worse outside in the world I urged the people to look for answers inside the church. I point out that II Chronicles 7:14 began IF MY PEOPLE?that judgment begins in the house of God.

That was not what they wanted to hear. We have traded John the Baptist for John Lennon?all you need is love?.

It is hard today to tell Pastor Phil from Dr. Phil, the church government from the federal government, and the sinners from the saints.

Status-quo, cookie-cutter Christianity will not win the day.

Radical is defined as ?a person who advocates fundamental political, economic, and social reforms by direct and often uncompromising methods.? We live in tumultuous times and outside of the church the radical element rules.

Everyone is radical but the church!



Football season is upon us. It is my favorite time of the year. Soon our TVs will be alive with the pageantry of college football. Dignified business men will paint their faces and scream like fools for their favorite team. No one will accuse them of being ?too radical? or ?embarrassing their team?. Their friends will snap some pictures and show their buddies at work this ?football fanatic? who loves his team.

But on Sunday the same guy will sit quietly in his church, politely applauding, passing the plate, praying for peace, and longing to get home, paint his face and cheer for his favorite NFL team. He is proud of his football fanaticism.



?For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.?

?You?re too radical Coach! You?re to fanatical. You take your religion to seriously.?

They tell me I?m a nut. I tell them I?m screwed on to the right bolt. I?m part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation. I?m gonna grab my hat, paint my face, and hit the streets for Jesus.

Peculiar, ain?t it?

http://www.newswithviews.com/Daubenmire/dave123.htm

[Guest Guest]

:amen: We need more men like this coach in the world today. Where are they?

[John81]

I think there are a few of us here on this board. I've been told more times than I can count that I take the Bible too literally; or that some of "that stuff" doesn't apply to us today; or you can't expect people to live that way today; or I'm a legalist, Fundamentalist, stuck in the past and that sort of thing.

My own family attacks me for taking solid positions on things which they like to say "is nobody elses business". I've had some tell me that a persons "religion" is their own business and since nobody can tell what's in a man's heart they can't know where they stand with God. Of course that doesn't apply to me, because when I voice my beliefs I'm just wrong. :roll

I had a Methodist pastor tell me years ago if he tried to tell his congregation they should accept and abide by the Word the way I do either they would all leave or they'd kick him out the door.

[JerryNumbers]

John, I've mentioned to our church members, we are suppose to be a PECULIAR people, if we fail to stand for God everywhere we go, never fear to mention His name where ever we be, don't laugh at off color jokes but rebuke them, and stop trying to have all the material possess we can get our hands on, show some contentment instead of showing so much wants, so that people will know we follow Christ, them we will never be a PECULIAR people.

One thing about the Mennonites around these parts, they stand out as a PECULIAR people.

But most everyone else look and acts like the people of this world who know not Christ.

We all fail so miserably for our God.

[John81]

Most people, including professing Christians, want to be liked, they want to be accepted, they want to feel that they fit in. They don't want to be seen as different, strange, PECULIAR, or out of step with most others.

Most professing Christians in this area dress and act much the same as non-Christians.

One thing that really hit me at my Uncles recent funeral was when the pastor mentioned talking to my Aunt about his religion. My Aunt said, "he had an inner religion." That hit me hard because that's simply not biblical at all. I didn't know this Uncle real well but nothing I had ever seen or heard would have led me to believe he had any real religion at all, inner or otherwise. I also found out he was, and had been, a Mason for most of his life.

There seem to be a lot of professing Christians around who believe they have "inner religion". If one is truly "religious" on the inside how can such not show on the outside?

Why do so many professing Christians fear to be associated with Christ and His Word?

The Mennonites and Amish don't seem to mind being peculiar. Muslims here in "Christian" American don't have a problem letting their religion be seen.

It's little wonder the church in America is so weak and ineffective.

And yes Jerry you are so correct, we (me most certainly included) all fail God in various ways. The saddness of knowing this should help inspire us to strive to ever walk more in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

[JerryNumbers]

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 10:11 (KJV)

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Matt 10:32-33 (KJV)

These verses, makes one wonder, doesn't it, about those of us who only act Christ like among Christ like people, them among children of the world they just have an inner religion that does no show up.

Anytime I think about this thought i can't help but think of Ted Kennedy, news media stated, he is very religious but does not wear his religion on his shirt sleeve.

I honestly think many are going to be shocked out of their mind when they hear the words, "I never knew you..." Matthew 7:23.

[Salyan]

I honestly think many are going to be shocked out of their mind when they hear the words, "I never knew you..." Matthew 7:23.

But that's the saddest (and scariest) thing! How can we challenge people to make sure that they won't hear those words?

[John81]

Indeed, it's very scary and sad to think of all those who truly believe they are okay with God but are destined for hell.

Another sad fact is that so many of these are among the hardest to reach. Since they already think they are okay with God they tend to not be interested in "getting saved" since they think they are already. They also tend to know much of the Christian talk and they live by some of the Christian precepts, and they think they are true Christians.

Reaching them is difficult, but like all others, they can only be reached in they open their hearts to the Holy Ghost and accept the Gospel when presented to them.

[Guest Guest]

But that's the saddest (and scariest) thing! How can we challenge people to make sure that they won't hear those words?

Yet, many people who are unsaved, believe that they will hear those words. They are deceived by Satan.

Before I got saved---the biggest and most important thing---that was critical to my salvation was the "Rapture" of all "true" born-again believers. I was fearful that I was going to be "left behind." I started my own study of end-time prophecy before my actual salvation. That was VERY scary to me.

[John81]

Yet, many people who are unsaved, believe that they will hear those words. They are deceived by Satan.

Before I got saved---the biggest and most important thing---that was critical to my salvation was the "Rapture" of all "true" born-again believers. I was fearful that I was going to be "left behind." I started my own study of end-time prophecy before my actual salvation. That was VERY scary to me.

Interesting you mention the Rapture. I had attended Methodist Sunday School until I was around 10 or 11 and never heard of this.

A girl I was dating when I turned 18 started talking to me about God and we went to Sunday night services together. They were preaching a series on the end times and during the Sunday night services they were showing the "Thief in the Night" trilogy. I had never heard of the Rapture or End Times. Talk about a scary wake-up call!

[deputydog530]

John81 wrote:

I had never heard of the Rapture or End Times. Talk about a scary wake-up call!

That was the first message i also heard the first time I was in a Bible believing church (the same one im still in.) I was terrified. I always believed in God but was told that good works got you to heaven. My wife and I were seeking and trying to read the bible but could not understand it. A few weeks after our first visit to Church, I went forward. When the Pastor showed me salvation was a gift not to be earned I was so excited. Though i prayed and asked God to save me i think I was saved just before I prayed.

And thats just it. When we are saved we are changed. We still have the old man and are not perfect but our desires change. Many professing Christians I know have no change in their lives. I am afraid they are not saved. We have to be sure we are teaching biblical salvation. Ive heard more than one person say "say this prayer and your saved". That can lead someone to think the work of prayer saved them, not belief in the saviour.

We are a peculiar people because Christ changes us. Phillipians 1:27 says it all. Our conversation should be becoming of Christ.

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

[John81]

That was the first message i also heard the first time I was in a Bible believing church (the same one im still in.) I was terrified. I always believed in God but was told that good works got you to heaven. My wife and I were seeking and trying to read the bible but could not understand it. A few weeks after our first visit to Church, I went forward. When the Pastor showed me salvation was a gift not to be earned I was so excited. Though i prayed and asked God to save me i think I was saved just before I prayed.

And thats just it. When we are saved we are changed. We still have the old man and are not perfect but our desires change. Many professing Christians I know have no change in their lives. I am afraid they are not saved. We have to be sure we are teaching biblical salvation. Ive heard more than one person say "say this prayer and your saved". That can lead someone to think the work of prayer saved them, not belief in the saviour.

We are a peculiar people because Christ changes us. Phillipians 1:27 says it all. Our conversation should be becoming of Christ.

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Growing up in Methodist Sunday school I came away believing in God, but also believing if I was "good" I'd go to heaven so I better not be "bad".

I had a very warped concept of Hell too. I thought of Hell as something like a huge bar/pool room where all the "bad people" were sent. I pictured Hitler, Bonnie and Clyde, motorcycle gangsters and such there. At one point my Mom decided to get baptized and asked if we wanted to get baptized too. This was probably a year or so before I was saved. I was afraid if I got baptized I would go to heaven and if my friends died and went to Hell I wouldn't be able to be there to help protect them from the bad people! I specifically skipped being baptized at that time so I could go to Hell with my friends and protect them :roll

Thanks be to God I never died without Christ!

[futurehope]

First John, I must say that this while a powerful posting you have made is also quite sad. I've heard it said that the Army of Christ is the first to start attacking their own - and it's true. I have often times been told my beliefs or actions are "old-fashioned" or that I'm too forward with my preaching, teaching, and witnessing. Maybe it has something to do with Methodist Sunday School as I also grew up in a Methodist church. When I was sixteen, I was encouraged by my best friend's father - an IFB pastor - to study out the doctrine of the Methodist church. Needless to say (and I don't need to tell you what I found there), I revoked my membership at the church and soon became an IFB. Sadly, this was the first point in my life when I was taught how to open God's word and study it for myself. I guess after being stuck in a lukewarm situation for a while and then finding out what it's like to be on fire, we just don't want to ever go back. :thumb

[John81]

Yes indeed, learning the truth makes one want to live the truth and help everyone else come to the truth as well.

When I was first saved I was so on fire for the Lord and it didn't take long to learn that most professing Christians don't feel the same. They were not interested in what Scripture actually, really says and they certainly didn't want to believe they should actually live by everything written in the Bible!

I was so confused wondering why so many of these people even wanted to call themselves Christians if they didn't want to believe the Bible and live by the Bible.

[futurehope]

We often forget that while satan knows that he has already lost the war, he still will try to win every battle and if he can keep "Christians" luke-warm, it allows for that many more lost souls to join him in eternity.