Christians are supposed to be different. Not just to be different, but because living as a Christian will make us different than many of the people around us. This difference makes the people around us uncomfortable and people tend to not like people who make them uncomfortable. In John 17:14 as Jesus prayed to the Father, He said, “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” It is the particular kind of “different” that Christians are to be that causes others to dislike us, a “different” that contrasts with the moral character of the world. People will not tolerate someone whose actions make them look bad. We should be prepared for that. In 2 Timothy 3:12 the apostle Paul said, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” In 1 Peter 3:14-16 we are told how to handle the persecution when it comes, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.’ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” The biggest problem we have with this is that no one likes to stand out. A university study found that 75 to 80 percent of people will go along with the majority even when they believe that the majority is wrong. However, another study found that if just one person would stand up and say, “No, this is wrong”, it encouraged others to do so as well. It requires a lot of courage to be the first to stand up for the right, however. It is hard to be the only one who says, “This is wrong”, but the benefits are eternal. Peter said in 1 Peter 4:16, “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” In Luke 6:22-23 Jesus said, “Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.” When we do the right thing, many people will be unhappy about it, but God approves. When people are not unhappy with us is when we should worry. “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26).