What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear that someone is described as being “peculiar?”
What are some reasons why it might be a good thing for you to be described as someone who is “peculiar?”
Our scripture reading from I Peter this morning says, “but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people…” The King James Version offers a slightly different wording. It says that we are a “peculiar” people.
In what ways was Jesus “peculiar” in what he taught and how he treated people?
Thomas a’ Kempis was a Christian who lived during the 1400s. He wrote a Christian devotional book called, The Imitation of Christ which has become known as one of the most influential books ever written on the topic of Christian spirituality. It was one of John Wesley’s favorite books and had a huge impact in how he approached his faith. He encouraged the early Methodists to read it as well to help them in their walk with Christ. As the title of the book suggests, it encourages people to imitate Christ by living a life of love and humility like Jesus did. In a world that can promote selfishness, pride, and power, imitating Christ in our everyday lives is what makes us a peculiar people according to our I Peter scripture reading this morning.
What are some practical ways that we can imitate Christ in the way we relate to others and the needs of our community and world?
One of the reasons why the early church grew so rapidly the first few centuries was because those early followers saw themselves as peculiar people. They offered a radical new way of living that caught people off guard. For example, Tertullian, a 2nd century Roman writer reported that the Romans said this about the Christians, “See, how they love one another!”
Justin Martyr, a leading Christian leader also from the 2nd century described the early church this way: “We who used to value the acquisition of wealth and possessions more than anything else now bring what we have into a common fund and share it with anyone who needs it. We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.”
Notice that in describing how Christians are a “peculiar” people, both of these quotes focus on how Christians love all people regardless of any cultural, racial, or national differences, including those who are considered enemies.
What stands out to you about this observation that what makes Christians a “peculiar” people is in how they treat others, especially those who are seen as different?
Someone once said that “your life maybe the only Bible some people ever read.” In other words, people are more likely to see Jesus in us if we are more like Jesus in how we live. Let’s close our discussion time by once again praying the prayer that we said together earlier in our worship service. This is a prayer that can help us to be the peculiar people that God is calling us to be.
Let us pray in unison:
O Lord, we confess that too often the ways of the world have been our ways. We have lingered at the altars of fear, greed, impatience, and unkindness. Our actions have not been consistent with our words. We have sought salvation in unholy alliances and have brought division upon your world. Forgive us our sins and feed us with your grace that we might be a people redeemed and whole, dedicated to the way of Jesus with all our strength and all our minds and all our souls. Amen.
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