βFor whether we be beside ourselves, it is to Godβ¦β (2 Cor.Β 5:13).
The Greek word translated as βbeside ourselvesβ means, in this context, to be out of oneβs right mind, insane, or mad. Because of his zeal for the truth and constant drive to live for the Lord and get the gospel out to the lost, the Apostle Paul was viewed as being crazy. With his fervor for serving the Lord, he seemed like a man out of balance and fanatical to the world.
Being called crazy for the sake of Christ is not an insult, but a compliment for the believer. If people think weβre crazy because we live for the Lord, thatβs a good thing. It shows weβre following the Lord and His Word. Following the Lord and living by His Word will make us appear different to the world because weβre not going with the flow and we are not living βaccording to the course of this worldβ (Eph. 2:2), and so it seems to them that weβre a bit off and crazy.
Dogmatism, belief that the Bible is absolute truth, also makes people think youβre crazy. Dogmatism is uncommon and unacceptable in a society that demands tolerance. When you say that, based on the Word of God, something is the absolute truth, the world will think youβre crazy. The Word of God, however, is an absolute. It is our authority. When it says that there is only one way to God, and itβs through the Lord Jesus Christ, thatβs the truth, and we must proclaim it, even if people call us crazy.
As we follow Paul as he followed Christ (1 Cor. 11:1), we too, like Paul, should have a deep-seated devotion for the Lord, consumed with a zeal for the things of God, living for unseen, eternal things. This will make people think youβre out of your mind, but thatβs good. Itβs good to be called crazy for the Lord. Like Paul, we remember that if we appear to be out of our right mind because we hold nothing back and are zealous and dogmatic, βit is to God,β itβs to please, honor, and glorify Him. source
