You take a simple thing like a piece of pie and turn a normal dessert into something heavenly.”
–C.J. Petit (Wilmore)
“Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.”
“Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.”
–Luke 22:39 (NKJV)
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Someone said the other day, “things aren’t normal around here.” At first, I didn’t think a whole lot about it, but then it began to whirl around in my gray matter. What is normal? Or normal compared to what? Perhaps I don’t know what “normal” is, so I looked it up in the dictionary.
1) Conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm, standard, pattern, level, or type; typical.
2) Functioning or occurring in a natural way; lacking observable abnormalities; or deficiencies.
3) Relating to or characterized by average intelligence or development; free from emotional disorder.
(The American Heritage College Dictionary)
Almost gobbledygook, so I did what most would do today–I googled it. “A normal life–everyday life, daily life or routine life comprises the way in which people typically act, think, and feel on a daily basis.”
There were a couple of things I gathered from this. First, I’m not sure I know what “normal” is. Second, “normal” according to whom? It seems that “normal” could mean different things to different people. We often use the term culture–a way of life of a group of people. More could be added to that, norms, mores, government, laws, etc. Therefore things in one culture might not be normal in another. Things in one group might not be normal for another. Strangeness, those who do not act in a “normal” way are not normal, they are deficient in some way, manner, or form. A “normal” person is free from emotional disorder, therefore, throw out the transgender, et. al, crowd.
I took it a step further to see if the term was used in the New Testament. “Normal,” is not used, however, there are two definitions for it: 1) normal, canonical, regular, standard, orderly; 2) physiological normal, natural. I began to try to work it through my mind. In the Church, the body of Christ or even the local body, a Christian, a born-again believer is normal. However, in the world, it is not natural. The environment to the Christian in which they would work, would not be “normal” for them. Paul writes, “…For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? Or what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?… ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, and I will receive you.'” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15,17, NKJV)
What we would call “normal” the world says it is not. The danger is when Christians begin to look at worldly behavior, tolerate it, and then begin accepting it. That is not normal behavior for the believer. John tells us, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine [the doctrine of Christ], do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” (2 John 10-11, NKJV). It is not “normal” for believers to have fellowship with nonbelievers. Yes, we are in the world, we must associate with people of the world. Ah, but you say Jesus had fellowship with the world. I would disagree, when He wanted/needed fellowship, He went with His disciples; He associated with people of the world.
So, what is “normal”? You tell me. The world would say that I, and my family, are not normal. We do not accept teaching that is contrary to the Bible. We do not accept the gay agenda, we do not accept CRT, we do not accept the ideology of WOKE, or WHO, or the UN, or anything or anyone who would deny the truth of God’s Word. What is “normal” at our house is joy, prayer, eating meals at the table (together), going to church, Bible reading and study. Yes, we do the normal chores, shopping, lawn work, house cleaning, maintenance, and once in a while, Annie will make one of those heavenly delights–pie, which is a normal thing.
——————————–
Someone said the other day, “things aren’t normal around here.” At first, I didn’t think a whole lot about it, but then it began to whirl around in my gray matter. What is normal? Or normal compared to what? Perhaps I don’t know what “normal” is, so I looked it up in the dictionary.
1) Conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm, standard, pattern, level, or type; typical.
2) Functioning or occurring in a natural way; lacking observable abnormalities; or deficiencies.
3) Relating to or characterized by average intelligence or development; free from emotional disorder.
(The American Heritage College Dictionary)
Almost gobbledygook, so I did what most would do today–I googled it. “A normal life–everyday life, daily life or routine life comprises the way in which people typically act, think, and feel on a daily basis.”
There were a couple of things I gathered from this. First, I’m not sure I know what “normal” is. Second, “normal” according to whom? It seems that “normal” could mean different things to different people. We often use the term culture–a way of life of a group of people. More could be added to that, norms, mores, government, laws, etc. Therefore things in one culture might not be normal in another. Things in one group might not be normal for another. Strangeness, those who do not act in a “normal” way are not normal, they are deficient in some way, manner, or form. A “normal” person is free from emotional disorder, therefore, throw out the transgender, et. al, crowd.
I took it a step further to see if the term was used in the New Testament. “Normal,” is not used, however, there are two definitions for it: 1) normal, canonical, regular, standard, orderly; 2) physiological normal, natural. I began to try to work it through my mind. In the Church, the body of Christ or even the local body, a Christian, a born-again believer is normal. However, in the world, it is not natural. The environment to the Christian in which they would work, would not be “normal” for them. Paul writes, “…For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? Or what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?… ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, and I will receive you.'” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15,17, NKJV)
What we would call “normal” the world says it is not. The danger is when Christians begin to look at worldly behavior, tolerate it, and then begin accepting it. That is not normal behavior for the believer. John tells us, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine [the doctrine of Christ], do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” (2 John 10-11, NKJV). It is not “normal” for believers to have fellowship with nonbelievers. Yes, we are in the world, we must associate with people of the world. Ah, but you say Jesus had fellowship with the world. I would disagree, when He wanted/needed fellowship, He went with His disciples; He associated with people of the world.
So, what is “normal”? You tell me. The world would say that I, and my family, are not normal. We do not accept teaching that is contrary to the Bible. We do not accept the gay agenda, we do not accept CRT, we do not accept the ideology of WOKE, or WHO, or the UN, or anything or anyone who would deny the truth of God’s Word. What is “normal” at our house is joy, prayer, eating meals at the table (together), going to church, Bible reading and study. Yes, we do the normal chores, shopping, lawn work, house cleaning, maintenance, and once in a while, Annie will make one of those heavenly delights–pie, which is a normal thing.