There is an old adage that says, “Everyone wants to fit in.” That certainly has some truth to it. No one wants to feel weird. We want to be liked. We want to share interests with others and make friends.
There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to fit in. As Christians, we are expected to fit in with the church at large and in our local congregation, just as the early church did. In Acts 4:32, the Bible tells us, “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” They fit in with each other, and it was a good thing.
But, in order to fit in with the church, we must reject the world. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The natural path of the world is contrary to godliness. We never want to fit in with sinfulness. As John says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:15-16).
God wants Christians to take a stand against worldliness. No matter what way the world goes, Christians must stand with Jesus. Being members of the church makes this a whole lot easier. We have a community that we share these beliefs with. We encourage each other and edify one another with teaching and correction (cf. Col. 3:16). But, how much more difficult would it be if we didn’t have the church? What if you were the only person standing up for what’s right? Would you do it?
That is exactly the situation in which Noah found himself before the Lord flooded the earth. The Bible says, “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations…So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Gen. 6:9-12). In a world full of wickedness, Noah stood out. All of his contemporaries rejected the Lord, but he refused and raised his children to follow the Lord.
It is easy to stand for what’s right when you have others to back you up. But, it takes real faith to stand on your own. Many churches have forsaken the teachings of the Bible in favor of popular innovations (e.g., instrumental music, female preachers, etc.). It could happen that you find yourself being pushed to do what everyone else is doing and fit in. What would you do if you were the last one standing for what is right? Be like Noah and stand with God.