Be WEIRD

teen·ag·er /ˈtēnˌājər/  Noun: a person from age 13 to 19 years of age at the weirdest time of their life, trying to be the most normal person they can be.

Okay, maybe that’s not exactly Webster’s version of the term “teenager,” but it seems so accurate, doesn't it? Do you remember your teenager years? Or maybe you’re like us, and you have a reminder bouncing in and out of your home these days?

While they are the most entertaining creatures at times, they are also the most awkward, stubborn, parents-just-don’t-understand people. Thoughts cross their mind, whether right or wrong, and no matter what you say, they have to experience it first hand, to prove your wrong, or most likely to prove you right. And the most prominent attribute? That word “normal.”

Everyone else gets to stay out till 1 a.m. on a weekday, why can’t I?

All my other friends have a new car, why can’t I?

They want to have and do everything their friends do, because anything else would be … well, weird.

How much are you teaching your children that weird is okay. That weird is good. That WEIRD is the thing to BE?

For many teenagers, it is normal in our society to have sex before marriage, to not tithe 10% of your earnings, to seek revenge on others, to work and go shopping on Sundays, to buy on credit … it’s normal to skip church for Cinco de Mayo celebrations, for birthday parties, or to just sleep in.

Sometimes, it’s difficult to teach that lesson when we as adults are still trying to learn those lessons ourselves. If you think about it … was Jesus normal? Were his teachings normal? Who, when slapped in the face, is going to turn to their persecutor the other cheek? Who, that makes $50,000 a year, is going to happily hand the church a $5,000 check? Who in the world wants to LOVE their enemies, to pray for them daily? Now that would be just WEIRD! Right?

However, that’s exactly how He teaches us to live … to not live of the world, but to be weird in the world.

One of my favorite teachings is from John 8:3-11.

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Back in the day, it was NORMAL to stone to death anyone caught in adultery. However, Jesus forgave her. Can you believe that? Just LET her get away with her sin?! Are you able to let other people go, because of their sin? Would you have been able to throw that first stone?

Today, I encourage you to be WEIRD. I encourage you to forgive someone, to pray for your enemy, to hold your tongue against gossip, to turn a cheek, or to take water to that homeless guy on the corner you’ve been ignoring. Or better yet, I invite you to go to church. At Morning Star Church, we are currently in a message series teaching teens and adults how to be Weird. Are you up for the challenge?