Live out your love for God in more faithful obedience to all His commands, and be different, not in an offensive or combative way, neither in a snooty or condescending way, but in a loving way through which people see the light of Christ and the glory of your heavenly Father in your good works (Matthew 5:16).

People in the United States are not always well-disposed toward those who hold orthodox and historic Christian beliefs. Christians in 2025, when they seek to follow Jesus honestly, sincerely, consistently, coherently, and faithfully, are noticeably different from the world around them. Blending in is in many ways a telltale sign of selling out.

It is easy for believers today to forget that Christians should be different from unbelievers. One reason we forget is our carnal and insatiable desire to fit in and be well-liked. The Doctrine of Tolerance has, I think, twisted our arm to the point of fearful or comfort-seeking compromise and theological passivity. What we think, say, and do as Christians should, without self-importance, self-righteousness, or ill will, communicate to the world that we serve the Lord Jesus Christ alone and that we are different for his sake. The way we think, talk, work, play, rest, shop, spend, read, listen, look, taste, and schedule should communicate that we joyfully serve the Lord Jesus Christ and are different from the world because of our union with Jesus.

As we repent of sanctimoniousness, conceit, and argumentativeness, and as we seek to love and serve even our worst enemies, we must remember that God does indeed intend for us (His children) to be distinct. The Apostle Paul wrote:

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. (2 Cor. 6:14–18)

Are we ignoring God at this point? Have we forgotten that as believers we are not to be essentially indistinguishable from unbelievers? The implied answer to each of Paul’s questions in 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 is the same: none at all.

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