Non-Conformists 

   As a teenager in the 60’s and 70’s I was part of the generation that began a major trend in non-conformity.  The Beatles hit the stage with their longer hair and a new kind of music.  Teenagers everywhere began to grow their hair longer and listen to this new kind of music; frankly driving their parents to distraction which was part of the appeal.

   It quickly progressed to include the type of clothing worn and even the language of the times, things were no longer cool or neat but had become hip and awesome.  Longer hair and hippy ways of dressing quickly grew into new ways of expressing one’s independence.  Body piercing and tattoos began to appear, and drugs became all the rage.  Non-conformity had become the new conformity.

   Though many thought they had begun something new, non-conformity has been a part of Christianity since Jesus walked the earth.  As Crosby, Stills and Nash once sang, “Jesus Christ was the first non-violent revolutionary.” (Lyrics by Stephen Stills, “49 Bye-Byes/America’s Children”).  An anti-war song for sure, but accurate in recognizing the revolution begun by Jesus Christ in His life, death, resurrection, and assumption.

   Jesus turned the conformity of Judaism upside down in many ways, teaching that love and respect for God and neighbor was first and foremost in a faithful life.  No longer was justice to be obtained by an eye for and eye; even looking at another with lust in the heart is tantamount to adultery.  No longer should we love our friends and hate our enemies but love even our enemies and pray for them.

   Faithful Christians are still, or should be, non-conformists.  We cannot conform to the ways of this world, the whims and desires of society.  Our way must the His way for He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14: 6).

   If we are to love God, we must refuse to conform with the wickedness of this world.  We must reject society and its’ lack of morality.  We belong to the Father, we are His children.  We must be faithful to God and His truths, even when society hates us for our non-conformity.