The past few devotionals have focused on being different because of Jesus.

It’s not always fun to be different. Just ask the kid who gets picked on because he doesn’t look or sound like anyone else. 

These days, maybe you feel like that. Perhaps you say or do things because of your faith and it increasingly puts you in the minority.

In fact, people might even think you’re crazy. If so, take heart. You’re in good company. 

In Acts 26 Paul was defending himself and explaining his ministry. Then Festus said: “You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane” (verse 24). In Mark 3:21 Jesus’ own family said he was “out of his mind.”

It seems that there are times when being called crazy is actually a compliment.

I want to be sensitive to the fact that calling someone ‘crazy’ can be a very uncaring thing to do, especially when suggesting that someone isn’t mentally well. But this isn’t about that. This is about when someone thinks it about you because of your sincerely held beliefs.

In response to these types of comments, do we want to be loving? Yes. It’s the great commandment (Mark 12:29-31). Do we want to be gentle and respectful when we defend our faith? Yes. Peter tells us to do so in 1 Peter 3:15. Should we be forgiving? Of course. Jesus put that one right in the Lord’s Prayer! (Matthew 6:12).

I say all of this simply to remind you that you should expect to be on the receiving end of some sideways glances—perhaps even some name-calling. Some will even find themselves in high-pressure situations, needing to defend their beliefs, words or actions. 

If it happened to Jesus, and if it happened to Paul, and if it happened to people throughout church history all over the world… it will probably happen to you too.

And that’s okay. God blesses his people even when that blessing doesn’t include a delivery of flowers or winning a popularity contest.

There are times when being called crazy is actually a compliment.

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Notes:

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.