(Rom 12: 1, 2) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

I recently asked a professing Christian “How is your walk with the Lord?”  He replied, “It is normal.”  Somewhat perplexed, I asked, “What does that even mean?”  He replied, “Praying, reading your Bible, and going to church equals normal”.  To that I said, “Even unsaved persons do those things.”  From this conversation I have concluded that there are three characteristics of the “Normal” Christian. 

The “Normal” Christian is stagnant.  He is the Christian who is satisfied by coming to church to say “present please.”  He is completely lackadaisical and apathetic to the things of God, and one who has counted himself to have “apprehended.”   To the contrary, the apostle Paul said: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:…” (Phil 3:13a).  He went on to say “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus…” (Phil 3:14).  It’s just like the athlete persevering towards the finishing line, doing his best with all his might, to win the prize.  Paul said “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:” (1 Cor 9: 24 – 26).   We as Christians should never be apathetic towards God and stagnant in his work but press towards “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15: 58). 

The “Normal” Christian fails to offer his reasonable service.  He does not consider the depth of his own sinfulness, and the how far down the Saviour had to reach for him.  “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Rom 5:20, see also Rom 5:8).  The songwriter reminds us “When the Savior reached down for me; When He reached way down for me; I was lost and undone without God or His Son; When He reached down His hand for me”.  The “Normal” Christian never acknowledges his depravity; hence, he cannot come to the logical or reasonable conclusion that he ought to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.  When the apostle Paul came to the conclusion that he ought to be a living sacrifice, he counted all things but dung that he may win Christ. And so too should we.  “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” (Phil 3: 7, 8).  After all, we are only a holy priesthood offering up an acceptable sacrifice (1 Pet 2: 5).  

The “Normal” Christian is non-evangelistic.   He presumptuously disobeys the command to “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mk 16: 15).  He reasoned this command away with endless and meaningless excuses, bearing no fruit for Christ.  On Thursdays it maybe traffic, on Saturdays it maybe the kids, or it maybe shopping, or it maybe tiredness, or maybe it’s missing a favorite TV program.  The “Normal” Christian does not realize the urgency of the hour, and imminent return of the Savior, therefore he rests on his earthly laurels while the field is white unto harvest.  “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” (John 4: 35). 

I declare unto you the “Normal” Christian is either — a babe in Christ, carnal and conformed to this world, or he is not saved. (1 Cor 3: 1 – 3; Heb 5:13).  Or he may be as described in Rom 10:3 “…ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”  Friend, how is your walk with the Lord?  “Normal”?  Then let me encourage you to return to your first love, the Lord Jesus Christ. However, if your walk is “Abnormal”, then why, “Abnormal” Christian, would you not join the local church this week in its organized soul-winning efforts? 

 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8).