Message summary: We must acknowledge and accept that the Biblically faithful will increasingly be considered "weird" by dominant culture. We certainly live in a time when evil is called good and good is evil, darkness is called light and light is darkness, bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter! (see Isaiah 5:20)

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“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light  and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).

Here in America we are in in the heart of our quadrennial (every 4 year) selection of national leadership (presidential race). The conditions we observe reveal just how close this country is to being completely apostate and reminds me of the situation in 2 Chronicles 36 just before the Babylonian Exile with this heading in the ESV, "Judah's Decline".

Following Josiah's leadership (the last king who did "good in the eyes of the Lord"), all the remaining kings "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord". Furthermore at that time "All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations" (2 Chronicles 36:14). *

Today let us consider something from the current but ever changing news cycles; both political sides are leveling the charge the other side is "weird"! I heard an insightful concept that asserted, "When that which was once considered weird becomes normal that which was formerly considered normal will be considered weird". And that, my friend, is where we are.

Here's the concept expressed a bit more formally:

Daniel Patrick Moynihan, born in Tulsa, became a long-term senator from the state of New York and wrote the following over thirty years ago:

He was observing the situation in the early 90's but in the last thirty years this defining deviancy downward has happened at a fever pitch. Now, that which was considered weird (abnormal) only a bit earlier in my own lifetime is considered by many to be normal and that which was considered normal not that long ago is weird to many who have redefined deviancy.

Bluntly, we must acknowledge and accept that the Biblically faithful will increasingly be considered "weird" by dominant culture. We certainly live in a time when evil is called good and good evil, darkness is called light and light darkness, bitter is called sweet and sweet bitter! (see Isaiah 5:20)

Are you prepared to be considered "weird"?

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, You chose us to be a peculiar people unto Yourself, above all the nations upon the earth.  You sent Jesus who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from sin and purify us unto Himself as a peculiar people eager to do good works. As Your chosen generation, we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people showing the praises of Jesus who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Help us not to be confused by that which You call good when it's redefined as evil; help us not to be confused by that which You call light when it's redefined as darkness, and help us not to be confused when that which You call bitter is described as sweet. You have called us unto Yourself, to be set apart for Your purpose so remind us that we are not to be alarmed when we don't follow after the patterns of this world and we are viewed as "weird" since we are preparing our hearts for the eternal city that is yet to come not built by human hands but by You, our eternal Father. We eagerly await that day! Amen.

Deuteronomy 14:2; Titus 2:14; I Peter 2:9; Hebrews 11:10