What is Normal

Hey all! Well this is my first official blog and if the bar wasn’t set so low by bloggers everywhere I would be intimidated. Like Robert Wilensky said,

“We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.”

I hope I can come up with some thoughts and ideas that are a better then what a monkey could do. At the least, I do promise to always share my ideas with honor and respect for others and hope that will be reciprocated.

Now to the content; one thing about the title of this blog that really stood out to me was the word “normal”. Normal is a funny word because it is supposed to mean ‘to conform to the standard”. Yet everybody has a different standard or a different ‘normal’. Nothing highlights this like a marriage. Both the man and the woman have different “normals” that usually are highlighted quickly. Say for example the man was raised in a home where women did all of the cooking and cleaning and the woman was raised in a home where men and women shared those responsibilities. Both ways are “normal” to each respective person, but when they come together, a new “normal” is formed by one or both people. I say all of this to frame the question, what is a normal Christian? Is it the standard presented by the Christians in America, or China, or in Africa? Or is it the standard given by Lutherans, Catholics or Charismatics? Any argument for or against any of these examples would only divide the body. No, our only standard can be that of Christ. That is what the name “Christian” is supposed to mean, Christ-like.

I am guessing that most of you are tracking with me so far, but I haven’t said anything that is really going to challenge mindsets or change the world. If I quit here I would fail to do what the author of Hebrews says in chapter 6. That is, “therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us move on towards perfection.”
So here goes, I submit to you that the way Jesus thought AND the things he did have to be our only standard. That means not only do we get people saved, but we heal their infirmities too. Not only do we teach the Word and preach the good news, but we cast out demons and command the wind to be still. He said that he has given us all authority and that he has all authority to give. I believe that this is what the normal Christian life should look like, the standard He gave. He paid the price for this, we need to get what he paid for. I’m not sure where this lands on your grid, if it is old news, new perspective, or a fresh reminder. Whatever the case may be, I hope it challenges you to new levels in Christ.

Peace,
Jon