Some Counter-Culture Verses

I put down just a few Scriptures that God has me examining lately.  They are so counter-culture, so opposite of how most of us live. 
Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.  For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.  And always be thankful.   Colossians 3:12-15

Most of us don't make allowances for other's faults or forgive easily.  Instead, we jump at others when we feel wronged, and we hold our grudges for a LONG time.

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.  Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.   1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Do we live quiet lives?  Do we mind our own business?  I have come to believe that if we weren't gossiping, or thinking everyone else's business is ours, then our witness wouldn't be destroyed so easily.  I'm not talking about not helping when we see a situation or person that needs help.  God will definitely lead us to those we can and should help.  Giving that help won't always be comfortable.  Of course, if we minded our own business, many paparazzi would begin losing money because we wouldn't need the sordid details of the lives of  Hollywood stars that don't serve Christ anyway.


Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7


I tend to worry, and I am not proud of that fact.  I know it means I am not trusting God in whatever situation or with whatever person that is causing me to worry.  I am learning to pray first.  I am trying to make it my habit.  I am wanting to develop a thankful spirit.  His peace is so wonderful when I have felt it that I crave it.  Sometimes that peace eludes me for a time.  Other times it floods me.

These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands.  Then they will not bring shame on the Word of God.  Titus 2:4-5


One version of this Scripture says keepers of the home.  This one is definitely controversial in this age where we have had decades of the feminist movement telling us that we HAVE to work outside our homes to be fulfilled.  It's interesting the God is bringing me here to this verse that talks directly about family.

Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father.  Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.  Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.  Take care of any widow who has not one else to care for her.  1 Timothy 5:1-3


RESPECT!  Do we show it?  Are we yelling at the elderly gentleman to get a move on when he is driving in front of us?  Do we even talk respectfully to our own fathers, let alone other men?  Do we treat women as mothers and sisters?  Do we even know that there are many widows out there that are alone?

If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself.  You are not that important.  Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.  For we are each responsible for our own conduct.  Galatians 6:3-5

This is pretty direct.  "You are not that important."  In this day of self-worship, we usually hear the opposite.  I totally believe that Christ loves us each enough individually that He died for us to have a relationship with Him and with His Father.  He would have done it all if only to save one of us.  However, God has a large, grand plan.  He wants us to join Him in His plan, but His plan will go forward with or without us.

And working hard, working for the Lord, and not comparing ourselves to others... well, it isn't cheating or skimping to get a job done.  It isn't seeing that new car the neighbor just bought and thinking we have to have one ourselves.

"We are each responsible for our own conduct."  This verse is the opposite of the blame game.

Digging into the Word of God is interesting and exciting, and often very different from what is popular in our culture.  I think each person that has entrusted their lives to Jesus Christ eventually comes to a point where they have to decide if they are going to listen to Christ and follow the Bible, or are they going to listen to the world.