In my house, it is a pretty normal occurrence for someone to come out of their room dressed in some strange outfit or with their hair wrapped up or frizzed out to be as wild as possible (there is a lot of hair in my house). When this happens, a completely normal and common reaction that my kids get from their loving parents is, “You are so weird!” Yes, that’s right, my kids are weird and they know it. However, while some might think that is bad parenting (and to be fair the verdict is still out on that question), being weird is not an insult at the Rose home. In our family, it is a compliment if someone calls you “weird.” In fact, the most common response to that word is, “Thanks!” You see, we have established in our home that being weird is normal, because everyone is different and unique. In fact, we tell our kids that it would be strange if everyone was the same. I remember explaining that to my daughter a long time ago and she looked back at me and said, “If everyone was the same, that would be creepy!” And she’s exactly right!
That brings me to today’s passage in 1 Corinthians 12:29-30, Paul asks seven questions…
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
Of course, these are meant to be rhetorical questions that don’t need an answer, because the answer is supposed to be obvious: “No!” Of course, we aren’t the same! It would be weird, and maybe even a little creepy if we were all the same. What makes us interesting and useful to each other is that we each have different gifts, abilities, personalities, passions, likes, dislikes, and all the other things. We are all weird in our own ways, and that is what makes us valuable. Not only valuable to our parents but to God and to his Church! We need people of all various types of weirdness to jump in and play their part to join in God’s mission of bringing the kingdom here on earth, as it is in heaven. How will God use your weirdness for his glory today?
Josh Rose
Discipleship Pastor