Is Being Different Wrong?
Suppose a man comes into your (church) wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:2-4
Recently, Keslee, a friend of mine, took her daughter, Lilly, to a nail salon so they could get their nails done. The nail tech working with Lilly kept telling her to hold her hand a certain way. Well, Lilly had a difficult time because of a physical handicap. Instead of working with Lilly, the nail tech got upset, yelled at her, and said she couldn’t work with her because Lilly couldn’t hold her hand the “right way.” Lilly started crying so Keslee took her to the car, and they left. Lilly asked Keslee, “Mom, am I handicapped?” Keslee explained that handicapped simply meant not being able to do something as well as someone else. She then told Lilly that actually everyone is handicapped. We ALL have things we can’t do as well as others.
There is no greater disability in society
than the inability to see a person as more.
- Robert M. Hensel
We’re all created unique and special. The Potter, God, makes us all perfect, having our own uniqueness. Isaiah 64:8 tells us
Yet you, Lord are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
None of us are the same – not even identical twins. We all have our own special features, personalities, and traits. Physical features include gender, race, eye or hair color, body structure, height or weight, fingerprints, and hand dominance. Some people may have physical handicaps like Lilly that make them different. We all have different mental abilities. Is being different wrong?
Personality traits make us different. These traits reflect one’s characteristic thought patterns, feelings, and even behaviors. You have people who are very outgoing and like to talk to others. These are the ones who never seem to meet a stranger. Others are more passive and prefer to stay in the background or to themselves. You have the creative people who are always busy creating new ideas. Others may be involved with cooking, sports, music, writing, or other hobbies. We may prefer to do different things or act differently in situations. Does that make us wrong?
Is it wrong to be different? Do you always have to agree with others? Why do others treat you differently if you aren’t like them? Don’t they realize that no two people are the same!
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, Neither slave nor free, Nor is there male and female, for YOU ARE ALL ONE in Christ Jesus.
- Galatians 3:28
Many people today are being treated differently because of their religious beliefs. Christians are being ridiculed and even killed because of what they believe. Some become outcasts in their own world. I haven’t been asked to be in groups or go to parties because I didn’t fit in. A former student, Cassidy, and my niece, Kaci, have been treated differently because they were firm in their faith. They both weren’t afraid to stand up for what they believed. They weren’t afraid to be different than others in the crowd, even if it meant they lost friends. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Don’t be afraid of being different, be afraid of being the same as everyone else.
Be different so that people can see you clearly amongst the crowds.
Remember:
- God made each of us uniquely different.
- He has a plan and purpose for us.
- We are each an individual member of the body of Christ.
- Each of us is a masterpiece created by the wonderful Potter, God.
Is being different wrong? Not in God’s eyes, because He loves us. Romans 2:11 says, “For God does not show favoritism.” Being different is what makes us who we are. Do not underestimate yourself by comparing yourself with others. It’s our differences that make us unique and beautiful.
Be proud of who you are! As God’s masterpiece, you have been “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14