Yes! I'm a Fanatic!
Fa·nat·ic
: marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion <they're fanatic about politics> "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" II Timothy 3:16
I am one of those wierd people who believes that if the Lord says it in His Word then you should do it. Period! True there are things that He required of the Nation of Isreal before Jesus came. Things which we no longer need to do. (i.e. animal sacrifice) But, they are pretty obvious if you sincerely search out scripture, New and Old. "Living under Grace" isn't an excuse to do what we want or an explanation for something we don't do (that we should do). "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." Romans 6:14-15 Nor is it a reasonable excuse to say that He meant the nation of Israel in Bible times. True, He was speaking to Israel in Deuteronomy 22:5 "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God." but doesn't it make sense that that is something we should follow even today and apply to our lives in the here and now? "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,"
II Corinthians 6:17
Zeal·ous
: filled with or characterized by zeal <zealous missionaries>
Zeal
: eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something
A synonym for zeal is passion. I am passionate about Christ and His work! Why shouldn't I show it by being a fanatic!
"But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing," Galations 4:18 It is good to be a fanatic! To be passionate about Christ and living for Him!
"Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel." Numbers 25:11-13 Phinehas and his family were blessed by God because they were zealous.
"Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Titus 2:14
He gave Himself for us to cleanse us and make us a peculiar people.......zealous!!!!
"But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you." Galations 4:18 It is good for something to move you to such passion that we are filled with zeal!
So often people use the term negatively, "No, I'm not a fanatic". Yet it is a term of honor! And by no means somthing we should shy away from appearing to be.
So, in closing I encourage you to be a fanatic. Claim that title of honor and begin showing the world your fanaticism and the worthy cause of it. Christ.