A Peculiar People

1 Peter 2:9 says, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light..." KJV

The word peculiar is translated from the Greek word peripoiesis which means acquisition (the act or the thing); by extension preservation: obtain, peculiar, purchased, possession, saving.

In Webster's Dictionary the definition of peculiar is: 1. of only one person, thing, etc; exclusive 2. particular; special 3. odd; strange

According to this verse, Christians are called peculiar. We are called to be holy or set apart because we belong to One Who is Holy. Each person who has accepted the gift of salvation that was bought with the blood of Christ is now His possession by their own admission.

Lately, I have come to realize that I am extra peculiar (i.e. odd, strange). I have always been drawn to things that are out of the norm. Just being a Christian makes me strange to most people of the world because of my faith in Jesus and my beliefs that abortion is wrong, and that marriage is only intended for 1 man and 1 woman. I also firmly believe in a literal 6 day creation and do not believe that God used evolution to create the world as we know it.

Yet even compared to others in the Church I feel different.

1. My husband and I home school our children because we feel that God has commanded us to personally educate our children. It is true that homeschooling is getting to be a more popular choice for education among Christians but it is still the minority.

2. I recently responded to the command to cover my head according to the scripture in 1 Corinthians 11. We belong to a large, modern church and I only know of one other woman who covers. As I have been studying this issue more in depth I'm coming to realize how important it is to God that Christian woman learn about why He wants them to cover their hair.

3. My husband and I for a long time have been interested in the Jewish roots of Christianity and we have committed to observing the Biblical Feasts and the Sabbath in this coming year. We learned recently that the Feasts in the Jewish calendar were intended by God to be used as a catechism in teaching children fundamental truths about His character and His kingdom (in ways that every learning style out there can benefit from, no less!). I don't think He only meant this for Jewish people, but also longs for His grafted-in children to learn about Him in this way.

There are not many in the Church as a whole that are doing these things that I am discovering are foundational for a Christian who is a part of the Holy Nation, but I do believe that in time they will. God is restoring those things that have fallen away in the many years since the early Church was founded.

I just have to wonder why am I so peculiar? Does God have me here for a reason? He must because He is all-knowing and He has a plan. He is leading me down a path in life, and in my faith, that is not normal. I have always known that I am not normal, but I have fought it all my life, trying to fit in with the others (kids, Christians, etc.) and not make waves. But He wants to make waves! And He wants me to be a part of it! Again, I ask why?

The enemy knows this on some level and has sought to keep me bound in a shell of shyness, timidity, and fear. But I will not allow it any longer. The enemy cannot stop me from living for the One Who Bought Me. He has no power over me because he has been defeated! And now that he has no more power over me the message is going to get out and more people will discover the joys of "showing forth the praises of Him who has called them out of darkness into His marvelous light".

Which leads to the purpose of this blog.... God has been showing me so many new things lately that I just cannot keep to myself. I am having such strong "Duh!" moments that I want to save other Christians from walking through life in bondage to something that most likely has a simple solution. I plan to post on topics that are not often discussed and may even be difficult to hear (or read) because it is never easy to give up things of the flesh that we love so dearly. :) It is my prayer that everything posted on this blog be received with love and a clear understanding. Thank you for joining me on my quest for more of Him!