Written By LesAllan – July 7, 2023
This is a question that I have been asking myself a lot lately. What is normal, anyway? Is it following the rules, fitting in, and doing what everyone else does? Or is it being yourself, expressing your individuality, and pursuing your passions? Is there a right or wrong way to be normal?
I think the answer is not so simple. Normal is a relative term, depending on the context, the culture, and the person. What is normal for me may not be normal for you, and vice versa. What is normal in one place may not be normal in another. What is normal now may not be normal in the future.
So how do we define normal? How do we decide what is acceptable and what is not? How do we cope with the pressure to conform or the fear of being different? How do we celebrate our uniqueness and respect our diversity?
I do not have all the answers, but I have some thoughts. I think being normal means being authentic, honest, and kind. It means being open to new experiences, new perspectives, new possibilities. It means being curious, being creative, being courageous. It means being flexible, being adaptable, being resilient.
Being normal does not mean being perfect, being flawless, being infallible. It does not mean being rigid, being narrow-minded, or being judgmental. It does not mean being boring, being predictable, being stagnant. Being normal means being human, being alive, being yourself.
Have you ever wondered what it means to be normal according to the Bible? Is there such a thing as a normal Christian life, or a normal way of following Jesus? In this blog post, I also want to explore how the Bible challenges our assumptions and expectations of what is normal, and how we can embrace a more radical and transformative vision of living for God.
First, let us acknowledge that the word “normal” is not very helpful when it comes to describing our faith. Normal is a relative term that depends on our culture, context, and perspective. What is normal for one person may be abnormal for another, and vice versa. Normal can also be used to justify conformity, complacency, and compromise. We may think that we are normal because we fit in with the majority, follow certain traditions or rules, or avoid extremes or controversies. But normal does not necessarily mean good, right, or pleasing to God.
The Bible shows us that God’s ways often differ from ours and that his standards are higher than ours. God calls us to be holy, which means set apart for him and his purposes. He calls us to be salt and light in the world, which means to influence and illuminate the darkness around us. He calls us to be his ambassadors, which means to represent him and his kingdom wherever we go. He calls us to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. He calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow him. He calls us to be filled with his Spirit, to bear his fruit, and to use his gifts. He calls us to seek his kingdom and righteousness first and to trust him for all our needs. He calls us to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.
These are some of the things that the Bible says are normal for a follower of Jesus. But they are not normal by the world’s standards. They are not easy or comfortable, or convenient. They require faith, obedience, sacrifice, and courage. They may cause us to stand out, face opposition, or suffer persecution. They may challenge our traditions, preferences, or opinions. They may require us to change our habits, attitudes, or behaviors.
But they are also the things that make our lives meaningful, joyful, and fruitful. They are the things that please God and glorify him. They are the things that transform us into the image of Christ and prepare us for eternity. They are the things that show the world who God is and what he has done for us.
So, let us not settle for a normal life defined by the world or ourselves. Let us pursue a normal life defined by the Word of God and his Spirit. Let us ask God to help us live according to his will and his ways. Let us be willing to follow him wherever he leads us and whatever he asks us to do. Let us be normal by being abnormal.
In conclusion, no definitive answer regarding how normal should be defined exists. Is it becoming like all the others, just trying to fit in? Can people be normal in the world today and still fit into two separate and distinct groups of society and culture? Like anything, there are two sides to everything, and this includes the Bible, which always has different perspectives and interpretations.
~LesAllan
