When you are all in for Jesus, the world thinks you’re a weirdo.
It should come as no surprise that we, as “Jesus Freaks,” are labeled as crazy. The Bible warns us of this (1 Peter 4:12).
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” – 1 Peter 4:12
I have experienced it myself; people from the past, who I had not seen or spoken to for years, got “wind of” my conversion and my passion for Jesus. Through the grapevine, I was told that I used to be so normal, but now apparently have completely gone overboard. It’s good that I know it myself now, LOL.
I had to laugh—a good sign the Bible teaches us! So I rejoiced in this condemnation; apparently I was on the right track, the right way… the narrow way (Matthew 7:14)!
I also didn’t feel the urge to defend myself at all; on the contrary, I turned on my worship Spotify list, turned up the volume to “permanent hearing damage,” and started praising, worshiping, and thanking God! HOOORRRAAYYY I was judged negatively, LOL. Apparently I am a threat to the enemy.
“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” - Matthew 7:14
Crucify that flesh
It is so easy sometimes, when we are faced with judgement and are called crazy or abnormal, to shoot in our flesh. The need we can feel to defend ourselves, to explain that we are not crazy and Jesus is real! That He has changed us, and we are not the same anymore. But all these thoughts are lies and completely unnecessary.
In my early years as a Christian, I often had trouble crucifying my flesh and went completely on the defensive. I wanted to
explain that I am no longer the same person they know from the past and that I have changed, but God has taught me over the years that this is not necessary at all. He goes before us; He smoothes our paths, and we only have to be quiet and keep our eyes on Him (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Actually, we can’t blame people, because it’s logical; people see “something” about you and your life. From a distance, they see changes that they don’t know because they are changes that the world doesn’t know.
Suddenly you are no longer going along with the flow of the world, and so you are ridiculed and called all sorts of names and are considered old-fashioned. The apostle James is very clear and does not mince his words: either you are a friend of the world and an enemy of God, or a friend of God and an enemy of the world. There is nothing in between, #sorrynotsorry.
People can’t put their finger on what they see in you and in your life, and the enemy often uses them to throw you back into your past, to remind you of that old you (Ephesians 6:12). When we are not careful, we go along with it, and guilt and shame can get in again. Or even worse, you can start to feel ashamed of your relationship with Jesus, which may make you afraid to speak out, or you get the feeling that you are being silenced.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” – Romans 1:16
However, the Bible teaches us to be steadfast and courageous, and above all, not to be ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12).
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” – 1 Timothy 6:12
Eternity with Jesus
The moment I heard through the grapevine how normal I used to be and how crazy I apparently am now, LOL, I had to switch gears. “What’s going on here? And how am I going to respond to this?” But before I could think of an answer myself, God overwhelmed me with enormous joy! I couldn’t help but cheer 
. It felt a bit contradictory, but I couldn’t stop it. I also started blessing the people who said these things about me and saying that they too would have an encounter with King Jesus so that they would experience the same joy, peace, and changes in their lives.
Paul and Silas
The story of Paul and Silas is also a powerful example for us: how they chose to worship God in the midst of their struggle and condemnation in prison. It is a choice; do we go along with the circumstances or what people say about us, or do we keep our eyes on Jesus and choose to worship Him in the midst of our struggle (Acts 16:23-34).
“After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.” – Acts 16:23-33
Count it all Joy!
Jesus teaches us that the way is narrow (Matthew 7:14), and it is not always easy to follow Him. People will “drop out” and disappear from your life; you will be called crazy, or maybe you live in a country where your life is threatened by following Jesus.
This is terrible, and I do not know this form of condemnation. Praise God. In that respect, the condemnation that I have to deal with here in our small country of the Netherlands pales into insignificance, and I realize that all too well.
Yet, we all have the same outcome: eternity with Jesus!
Whatever judgement you face, or will face in the future, it pales in comparison to this prospect! 
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-12
Whatever you are struggling with or whatever judgement comes your way, count it all joy! (Matthew 5:11-12)
Stay close to Him; keep praising, worshiping, and thanking Him.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:11-12
