Popularity Isn’t For Me

by Brandy Webb

I really don’t want to fit in with the masses. In fact, when did conforming become so popular? I would rather be a Christian, set apart, different, and sometimes downright unpopular. Honestly, isn’t that the way it should be? Did the patriarchs fit in with the masses? Not really. There were only eight people on the ark. Moses didn’t fit in with Egypt. Joseph didn’t fit in with his brothers. Christ was hated by His own people, and he even warned His followers that the world would hate them because they followed Him (Matt 10:22).

Therefore, Christianity isn’t going to get you or me the “most popular” award, but that is okay because being popular with the world isn’t what is important. What is important is making it into the Kingdom of God. However, being unpopular isn’t easy and it can be rather frustrating sometimes because hardly anyone wants to hear what you have to say. However, I’m learning actions speak louder than words.

When I say “actions,” I’m not talking about protests or anything like that. I’m meaning living out our faith. If God speaks in a still small voice, then I assume He expects us to do the same. Maybe that is why there are so many scriptures in Proverbs about the wisdom of speaking softly, not speaking, and being wise with our words.

I know that it can be very tempting to want to scream when we see the weirdness of the masses. Like who would have ever thought that sea turtle eggs and bald eagle eggs would have more rights and protections than an unborn baby? Yet, this is Satan’s world, and what is up is down and what is down is up. What appears to be light and wisdom is actually darkness and ignorance, but it isn’t my job to judge the world, it is God’s. It is not my job to force my opinions and beliefs onto others. It is God’s job to open the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf. It is not my job as a Christian to fit in. In fact, I’m supposed to not conform to this world (Rom 12:2).

My job as a Christian is not to force others to agree with me. It is to live a life where people ask me to tell them about the hope within me (1 Pet 3:15). My job is to love God and keep His commandments, to love my neighbor as myself, to be a light, a companion to my husband, a loving Christian example to my children, to serve, to bear Godly fruit, etc. And if I’m doing these things, I won’t fit in with the world of selfishness, greed, and hate. I may face ridicule. I may face persecution, but I have many faithful servants of God that have gone before me to look towards when it gets rough.

So, I embrace unpopularity. I will try to be a true nonconformist, a believer in God the Father and Jesus my Messiah. I will try to walk the walk, not talk the talk, and hopefully, one day I will hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”