Among the chief rulers many believed in Jesus Christ and His doctrine; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.  One might wonder why they would care about being put out of the synagogue; of which the answer to that question is: “they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43).  One’s position among family, friends, secular work, etc. is often a roadblock between them and God.  The need to be accepted by the masses creates a difficulty when it comes to serving Jesus Christ.  It is impossible to please men and serve Jesus at the same time (Galatians 1:10).  Why is that a difficult concept for so many to grasp?  The idea of serving God and leaving the acceptance of society is a difficult concept to grasp because of carnal thinking.

     When one becomes a Christian through faith, which comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), repentance (Acts 3:19), confessing Christ (Acts 8:37 and Romans 10:9-10), and baptism into Christ for the remission of one’s sins (Romans 6:1-6, Galatians 3:27, and Acts 2:38; 22:16) that person is taken from the world and added to the body of Christ (Acts 2:47 and Colossians 1:13).  It is then that carnal thinking must cease.  A Child of God is not a person who practices the sins of carnality (Galatians 5:19-21), but one who brings forth the fruit of the Spirit / word of God (Galatians 5:22 – 6:10).

     When transformed from this world into the body of Christ, the mind of an individual must change.  A Christian thinks differently than does someone of the world.  Paul penned by inspiration these great words: (Romans 12:1-2) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Renewing one’s mind (changing one’s way of thinking), is accomplished by allowing the word of God to guide your life (II Timothy 3:16-17 and II Peter 1:3).  Peter makes a good declaration by inspiration along this line of reasoning: (I Peter 4:1-2) “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”  A Christian accepts all that God says and obeys every aspect of God’s will without failing in one single point of divine instruction (Psalms 119:105 and James 2:10).  Those outside of Christ, who make up the majority of society, are not guided by the word of God.

     When watching just about any sporting event on television you find an onslaught of beer commercials.  Most “higher class” restaurants have a bar and serve alcohol.  If you attend a professional baseball, basketball, hockey, or football game you will notice that alcohol is readily available.  Our society has created a standard that equates alcohol with having a “good time”.  The word of God is clear that consuming alcohol socially either frequently, occasionally, or rarely is sinful (Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35, Habakkuk 2:15, I Corinthians 6:10, and I Peter 4:3).  But, society is not guided by the word of God, thus a Christian finds himself or herself outside of status quo.

     A Christian should find many things wherein they do not fit into the standards of the world.  The rules of this world and the guidelines of the Scriptures are mostly opposites.  Thus, when a Christian finds they do not “fit in” this should be a compliment to one’s faithfulness, not a discouragement.  I have found that the more one grows spiritually the less they find themselves comfortable around things of this world.  This is a good thing.  God has been clear on the separation a Christian should have from the world and forms of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22).  Notice a few passages along this line: (James 4:4) “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”  (I John 2:15-17) “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”  Christians do not find the world comfortable because of two different standards of living, one being the word of God and the other being popular opinion.

     As a Christian I want to follow Jesus.  In following Jesus I realize that even he did not fit into the society upon which He was made flesh.  John records this truth: (John 3:19-20) “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”  What a shame, the Son of God did not fit into the world which He came to save (John 3:16).  Men have always failed to see the good that God can bring to their lives.  Those who live in opposition to God through the standards of society will soon find that sin lasts but for a season (Hebrews 11:25).

     The majority of people will not truly serve the Lord (Matthew 7:13-14; 22:14, and Luke 13:23-24).  When I speak of true service to God I only mean that many believe they are serving Jesus and some do in their minds, by their words, but not in their actions (Matthew 7:21-23).  Thus, the true life of a Christian is not highly regarded in society.  So, those who want to “fit in” or have “the praise of men” find serving Christ impossible.  What a shame!  Choose today whom you will serve.