For some it is wrong for women to cut their hair, while others may be allowed not only to cut it, but also to dye it any color. Whether to wear make-up and jewelry, and if so, just how much, is also up for grabs.
Some religious women must never wear pants and in some areas both sexes must never bare their arms. In some circles no books other than the Bible must ever be read and then only certain translations may be approved of. Boys and girls can not attend Sunday School class in the same room in some places, while in others they can.
Some Christians can play a game of pool and others can not. Mixed swimming? What about bathing suits? It depends of the church they are in. Some go so far that people have to take a bath with their clothes on.
How about a game of cards? Old Maid? Poker? I'll say no more. In many churches a divorce separates more than just two people. In some churches you can be gay and in others you cannot.
The list could go on and on. I'm sure you could add at least 100 more denominational sins of your own.
Pity the Evangelist who comes to town unaware of a church's individual ideas of sin. Can he ever get into trouble! The new Christian just gets confused.
Doctrinal questions abound, even though we all supposedly read from the same basic word. Is God one, two or three? Is He separate or together? Can you be baptized dry or should you be dunked or sprinkled? Does God work in man's life today as He did in days of old? That also depends on the church that you're in.
In some churches you can be healed, or have your demons cast out and speak in heavenly tongues. Other churches will tell you that this is wrong! Some wash each others feet and may or may not take communion. In some churches you can only speak to God through an interpreter.
Some churches will tell you that is only through them that you will ever see Heaven. Others will tell you that it is a big, big place with plenty of room for all including Buddhists, Hindus, Moslems and maybe a few Catholics and a Baptist or two.
Do you choose a church for its building, its people or its customs ?
There is a new breed of Christians freely roaming the range. I think the Apostle Peter aptly named them when he called them a Peculiar People.
Called by God out of darkness into His wonderful light! They know that we are all sinners and have fallen short of the Glory of God! They are a people who truly realize that they are strangers--aliens---that they are not of this world.
They realize that sin isn't necessarily in a pack of cigarettes, a tube of lipstick, the length of one's hemline or in a deck of cards, but that sin abides in those things that might take God's place in your heart.
They know that they are safe when they stay within the boundaries where God's love can reach them and bless them, boundaries set by their own God given conscious, the Holy Spirit, not boundaries set by some groups' customs.
They enjoy fellowship together in diverse churches and once in a while come together at rallies. They may meet on a street corner on in their own houses. They know that God can be worshipped anywhere in Spirit, for He is Spirit and not bound by walls.
The Peculiar People know that God judges hearts and not our deeds, They know that we can never be good enough to make it to Heaven on our own.
They don't get involved in arguing over unanswerable questions and controversial theological ideas, they keep out of arguments and quarrels about obedience to the Law of Moses-they know it isn't worthwhile and only does harm.
Peculiar people who did not get here by cosmic accident A people who have a personal relationship with the God that created them.
Want to talk peculiar? They do not fit in with this world's philosophy of do unto others before they do you. They know that they must love one another. Talk about living on a different plane, they can make joy from despair and blessings from pain!
Strange? Weird? Peculiar? You bet! They know that God often lifts up the seemingly foolish things of this world to confound the wise. They have read the Book land know how the story ends.
These peculiar people believe in a supernatural being who sent his only son to earth disguised as mortal man to bring truth and light to a dark, dark world. They believe this alien son was born of a virgin, died on a cross and three days later arose from the dead. They believe that this alive, once dead, being is somewhere in another dimension preparing an eternal dwelling place for them.
They accept this on faith, because if it were not true, He would have told them so. They sing, preach and teach the ways of love, joy and peace that their leader left them when he ascended into the sky. These peculiar people believe that when they petition these supernatural beings, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that they listen to them.
Leslie Weatherhead, speaking of Christianity, said, “”If this be madness, it is more attractive than our sanity. If this madness spread, it would bring sanity to a mad, mad, world”” These Peculiar People, these alien beings, seem to cling to this. Their faith and belief is simple. They love God and He loves them. They trust in the Lord with all their hearts and do not lean on their own understanding--it may be simple, but it sure seems to help them cut through all the denominational religious confusion.
Go ahead, call them weird, strange and peculiar. Call them Jesus Freaks and Fanatics……they are a Set Apart People and they love it!
Tired of living in a dark dreary world? Want to come out of that darkness and into the light? Ask one of God's Peculiar People to help you….they are more that willing to share. All they are waiting for is for you to ask.
