Christian... Be Different

Intro: Israel is a type of the Church while Egypt is a type of the world. As Israelites were delivered out of bondage from Pharaoh’s hand and called out of Egypt into the Promised Land to testify for the Lord, even so Christians were delivered from Satan and called out of this present evil world to testify for the Lord (Col. 1:12-13). Thus, the believer is to be different (II Cor. 5:17). I would like to give a message from God’s word that calls for Christians to be different. There are five things Christians are called to be –

1. UNUSUAL— Peculiar (Tit. 2:11-15)

Be Different - be Peculiar - stand out from the crowd! As a Christian, there’s something different about us. We’re not more of the same. We don’t follow the norm. We’ve broken free from the mold. We’ve gone beyond what is accepted and acceptable to this world. We’re not going to be normal, average, and palatable to this world. We’re not going to fit into the common worldly system.

2. UNFEIGNED — Genuine (I Tim. 1:5)

It is un-hypocritical Christianity – not pretentious, fake, or just “playing church.” It is true and has unfeigned love and unfeigned faith as proof. People are looking for real love; someone they can believe in. Real love and real faith that comes from God are really different. Godly faith and love makes a big difference in how we live in a mad and cruel world. Our Christianity is a faith that cares and reaches out in love. It is not a vain show and hypocrisy but genuine, unselfish and honest Christianity (I Pet. 1:22).

3. UNMOVEABLE – Steady (I Cor. 15:58)

Christians have all the vital help and support they need to be unmovable. They have God’s word and Spirit as source of power and thus can be stable as a rock. We can labor patiently and can stand the tests of time because God assures us that our labor for Him is not in vain. Our Christian faith is one that is alive and is zealous of good works after conversion. It is not an easy-lazy religion. We are to labor for Christ as we study the Bible, pray, win souls, give to missions, and be a blessing to the brethren. (I Cor. 16:15). We are to be dedicated and determined in labor.

Being unmovable is about being committed. To be committed means to be faithful and carry on even when there are enough excuses to faint and quit! Commitment means that you can be dependable to be there come rain or shine, poverty or riches. As a good soldier of Christ we are to endure hardness and fight the good fight of faith. Yes, there will be crises, rejections, distresses, pains but with God on our side we can be safe and secure!

4. UNSPOTTED — Pure (Jas. 1:27)

Real Christianity is pure and undefiled (cf. Eph. 5:27). You cannot mix that which is pure with that which is impure without the pure being spoiled. Our Christian faith is to be crystal clear and undefiled by the worldly system. We have been washed clean and white by Christ’s blood but some are still going back into the vile worldly mud to wallow in it like a swine (cf. I John 3:2-3).

To be unspotted is to be different. It is really different to avoid temptation, abstain from worldliness, and hate all evil. It is different to separate with the ways of the world; to despise and reject sin’s allurement; to choose right instead of wrong; to not mix with that which is holy to that which is profane and worldly.

5. UNCOMPROMISING — Unyielding (Rom. 6:13, 16)

To compromise is to “accept standards that are lower than is desirable.” When a king acts like a commoner, when a gentleman acts like a thug, when a Christian acts like a pagan — THAT IS COMPROMISE and a lowering of the best standards!!

Christians are supposed to be espoused to Christ (II Cor. 11:2). If a Christian’s affection is divided between God and this world, it is like a married woman having affairs with another man (Jas. 4:4). Some Christians think that a little bit of worldliness is all right. It is not! It is like leaven that will eventually expand the whole lump! Sin is addictive. Like drugs it never satisfies. Satan will always keep you coming back for more! You will have to determine whether you want to live for the things of this world, or the things of God. Compromising men always pay a dear price!

Conclusion: "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (I John 2:17). We know that "...eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (I Cor. 2:9). Dear Christian friends, we are called by God to be – Unusual, Unfeigned, Unmoveable, Unspotted, & Uncompromising.