This present article is an attempt
to further the study of how the ‘normal life’ can be defined.
The first study (February 2016)
described that a person who has accepted Christ as their Savior has the unique
opportunity of living a normal life provided they were to place Christ at the
center of their lives.
The problem for believers in
Christ is that the world about them is driven to eradicate any and all
Christian influences which would advocate an absolute moral standard for
living. This viewpoint is mandatory for them to invert that which is morally
degenerate and claim it as socially acceptable. This is how they assuage their guilt
complex regarding same-sex marriage, lesbianism, homosexuality and
gender-bending, to name of few, labeling them as alternative lifestyles.
However, they are not satisfied with the term ‘alternative lifestyle’ – they
would have all within our culture to perceive them to be ‘normal’
lifestyles.
And what is distressing is that
many Christians have allowed themselves to be duped into this false narrative
because of an erroneous understanding of “Love thy neighbor.” “Love they
neighbor” ends when Christians are coerced into condoning the aberrant lifestyle.
That doesn’t mean we express venomous anger towards them and treat them in a demeaning
manner.
As in the previous study, the
normal life was defined as a life that conforms to a set of norms and
standards. The Word of God has instituted a set of norms and standards for
mankind. For those who have obeyed His calling, they are enabled to live this
‘normal’ life by diligent study of His Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to
empower and guide them in their moment-by-moment walk of faith.
It can safely be suggested that
since God has provided the normal, ideal lifestyle, then all other lifestyles are man-made
abnormal lifestyles – and no matter what ‘good’ they may entail (i.e.
committed-loving relationships), they are not pleasing to God.
For this reason God gave them over to degrading
passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is
unnatural,
and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural
function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with
men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty
of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any
longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not
proper. (Romans
1:26-28)
From this point, it can be stated
that this ‘normal life’ of faith in Christ is the Divine ideal. And since it is
God’s ideal life for all men, He has made it available to
all
men. However, in order to have the power to live this normal life, a person
must recognize that He does exist and that He sent His Son to die on the cross
for their sin. And so this ideal life, this normal life can be attained by
accepting Jesus Christ as Savior.
Many have done so through the
ages. These have realized the true significance of their existence – to serve
God with their lives and in so doing, bringing glory to Christ. And in turn, they secure for themselves eternal
peace and harmony with God, and peace with others and within themselves.