Stay Weird

I saw a t-shirt the other day that read, "Stay Weird." Um ... okay. Cute ... I guess. But is it purely humor? Well, of course, that's the main idea, but it struck me that it might not be a bad recommendation for believers.

Did you know that the fundamental idea behind the word, weird, is "suggesting something supernatural." That's interesting. Paul said, "If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Gal 1:10). Aiming to please people is normal. Not pleasing people, but aiming to please God is weird. Stay weird. Scripture says, "We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom 8:28). That's a weird way to see things. Stay weird. We find in multiple places that we should rejoice in tribulation (Matt 5:11-12; Rom 5:2-5; 1 Thess 5:17; James 1:2-4; etc.). That's really weird. Stay weird. Our world tells us that "normal" is "looking out for #1" and anything else is weird. Scripture says, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Php 2:3-4). Jesus said, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me" (Mark 16:24). That's all in direct contradiction to the world's "normal." That's all very weird. Stay weird.

No, it's true. I'm quite sure that t-shrit wasn't encouraging believers to be radical believers in Christ, following His Word and trusting Him over our own eyes and ideas. That was not the purpose. I'm sure it was more at "Be yourself." Which, as it turns out, is precisely the opposite of how my interpretation of "Stay weird" looks. Don't be yourself; be a serious follower of Christ. That will be weird, but a good weird.