Titus 2:14: “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Sadly, America and American Christians have become not particularly peculiar.  In fact, we have become characteristically common.  With that in mind, why should we expect to attract anyone?

Growing up unsaved, my biggest critique of Christianity came from my observation of ‘common Christians.’  These church-going people were no different than their non-church-going counterparts.  Without a certain level of distinctness, there was no reason to follow them.  Furthermore, a God too impotent to impart a change on someone’s life was not a deity worthy of my attention.  Logic demanded that real Christianity would have an impact on individuals.  Fortunately, later in life I discovered such impactful Bible-based Christianity.

Political scientist Joseph Nye Jr. coined the term ‘soft power,’ defined as a means of influence in which nations use attraction as a primary form of persuasion.  Unfortunately, America is losing its distinctiveness and its corresponding soft power as well.  This Christian-country is becoming not so different from its secular-country counterparts.  With diminishing peculiarity, we are becoming just another nation.

American Christians need to realize that the soft power of the gospel, reflected through a life that is indeed distinct, is the key to our influence.  Our nation desperately needs Christian influence within, in order to transform its waning influence without.  Please pray that we would return to being a people and a nation of peculiarity.