There is a desire that lies inside all of us to be like everyone else. It’s not something we can explain or even fully realize we have at times. But it exists in all of us and drives many of the decisions we make. We want the same things we see others have, want to experience what others are experiencing. Humans are constantly watching other humans and trying to be like them.
Sadly this is not just a desire we see in the world, but one that also exists in the church today. It is not something new and unique to the time we are living in either. No, the desire to be like everyone else and adopt a similar lifestyle to those we see has always been a part of the human condition. We even see this recorded multiples times in the scripture. In fact, it is this very desire that leads to Isreal having their first king.
1 Samuel 8:4–5 (ESV)
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
Up until this point, the people had been lead by judges. The Lord was effectively their king. But they had a desire to be like the other nations. They wanted a visible king. One like the other nations could see and that would lead them into battle. This seems innocent enough but by requesting a king to be like everyone else. They were actually showing that they rejected the Lord and His leadership.
1 Samuel 8:7 (ESV)
7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
The Lord even told Samuel to warn the people about what it would be like to serve a king. That a king would take what was there, enlist their sons in the army, and so much more. Because of their desire to be like the other nations they did not take the Lord’s warning seriously. So they still chose to have a king placed over them. Which as God said it wouldn’t it did not work out for the best interest of the people.
1 Samuel 8:9 (ESV)
9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”
1 Samuel 8:19–20 (ESV)
19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
When the people of God attempt to become like those around them it simply never works out. In the time of the prophet Ezekiel, God was planning to punish His people for their sins. Stating clearly the reason they were being punished was that they wanted to be like the other nations.
Ezekiel 11:10–12 (ESV)
10 You shall fall by the sword. I will judge you at the border of Israel, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 11 This city shall not be your cauldron, nor shall you be the meat in the midst of it. I will judge you at the border of Israel, 12 and you shall know that I am the Lord. For you have not walked in my statutes, nor obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you.”
God’s people are supposed to be different than the rest of the world. They are supposed to think, talk, act, and even look different then everyone else. In fact, the way in which we are different should be the very thing that sparks faith in the life of unbelievers. Whether it is the unbelieving spouse or a stranger who simply questions why we do what we do. Giving us the opportunity to share our faith with them.
1 Peter 3:1–2 (ESV)
1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct.
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
There is a mindset today that says in order to win the world we need to know what’s going on in the world. But that is a very dangerous slope and one that is not worth walking down. In both accounts above the people were aware of what everyone else was doing. This very same knowledge of the world is what slowly led them away from God. Causing them to adopt the practices of the lost nations. Which in turn led to the loss of righteousness and their need to repent in order to receive salvation.
Due to all the media that surrounds us, it is so easy for Christians today to get caught up in wanting to be like everyone else. To desire the same things that those in the world desire. But that is not what God wants for us. We can equate the world with the gentiles and Jesus said that His people should not seek after the same things as the gentiles. But should first seek after the kingdom of God and everything else would be added to them.
Matthew 6:31–33 (ESV)
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
We must understand just how dangerous it is as God people to want to be like everyone else. Looking at those outside our faith and desiring to be like them will only lead us away from God and off the path that leads to salvation. Just as it did for those in the Old Testament. Truthfully we already have something so much better than anyone in the world does. The guarantee of eternal life in Heaven through our faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing this world has to offer can ever compare to that.
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
So stop looking at what the world is doing around you and trying to embrace those same things. Don’t worry about being like everyone else. Instead, focus on the true source of life and happiness. That being the inspired word of God. Desiring only to be like Jesus, ignoring what everyone else around you is doing.
Colossians 3:2 (ESV)
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Ephesians 5:1 (ESV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV)
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1 John 2:6 (ESV)
6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
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