Weird vs. Peculiar

I don’t watch much TV, especially during election season with the numerous political advertisements in which candidates mostly criticize their opponents. Unfortunately, it’s hard to avoid them on the Internet. I’m annoyed with frequent interruptions by Vice-President Kamala Harris while watching YouTube videos (very few have come up regarding Donald Trump). While on the campaign trail, Harris called Trump and his running mate J. D. Vance “weird.” Yet she and many of her fellow Democrats claim it’s normal for men to pretend to be women. 

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defined weird as “skilled in witchcraft.” Newer dictionaries define it as “strange or odd; unusual - particular; special” and “…of strange or extraordinary character:” The New Oxford American dictionary defines weird as “suggesting something supernatural; uncanny.” I’ve seen cities with signs like “Keep Portland Weird.” Most of us have probably heard of musician “Weird Al” Yankovic and possibly “Old Weird” Harold from “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.”


The word weird is not found in the Bible except in a few translations. Proverbs 23:33 in the Contemporary English Version warns against drinking fermented wine: “You will see weird things, and your mind will play tricks on you.” The Good News Translation of the same verse says, “Weird sights will appear before your eyes, and you will not be able to think or speak clearly.” The New International Reader's Version renders it as: “Your eyes will see strange sights. Your mind will imagine weird things.”


Titus 2:7-8 in the Message Bible says, “But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, trustworthy in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.” The New King James Version rendering of this passage is: “in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” I’ve seen Christians who don’t study their Bibles and submit themselves to a pastor start promoting weird doctrines such as one former Facebook friend who preached against cars.


Many nonbelievers think Christians are weird because of seeing Biblical practices unfamiliar to them, such as raising their hands to the Lord and speaking in tongues. I’ve attended church services where people did unusual things “in the spirit” like running around the sanctuary. That was mainly done before brethren. I heard Pastor Mac Hammond compare that to someone in a fraternity. Some don't understand things like a secret handshake unless they are part of the club.


When interacting with the world by witnessing or doing business, I believe God wants us to behave normally and not do things that bring reproach to the name of Christ. Having godly characteristics such as honesty and speaking the truth in love is unusual enough for sinners. That’s why 1 Peter 2:9 in the King James Version calls us “a peculiar people.” The New King James Version substitutes “peculiar” with “His own special people.” Peculiar can also mean “set apart.”


Some Christians think it’s strange when they see brethren carry a cross across the country or leave their jobs to go on the mission field. If we’re pleasing the Lord, then it doesn’t matter what other people think. As I often say, “The Bible says we are peculiar. Some of us are more peculiar than others.”


“Yes, I know that’s weird, but there’s more: I calculate everything as a loss, because knowing Messiah Jesus as my Lord is worth far more than everything else put together! In fact, because of the Messiah I’ve suffered the loss of everything, and I now calculate it as trash, so that my profit may be the Messiah.” - Philippians 3:8 (New Testament for Everyone)

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