Non conformity

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12: 2

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12: 2 The Message

It is a very sad fact that the difference between how Christians and non-Christians live their lives is minimal. George Barna conducted a survey in 2000 in USA that concluded there was very little difference in values, aspirations and use of time and money between evangelical Christians and non-Christians.  The former watched the same TV programmes, got divorced and committed adultery at the same rate as the rest of society. It caused uproar but it was in fact sad but true.

Paul understood this in writing to the Christians in Rome who were also battling with not conforming to their idolatrous and wicked world and culture. 

Ancient Rome

The Israelites were constantly conforming to the surrounding cultures with their pagan worship and became unfaithful to Yahweh.

Christians unfortunately too often merge like chameleons into the surrounding culture in order to be relevant and fit in but the Israelites then and Christians today are called to be distinct, radical, a city set on a hill.  We should stand out from the crowd – Jesus did. All the early apostles did and what our world desperately needs are Christians who are different.  Believers who love God and love people – not sanctimonious and self righteous – but people who know they are sinners but also know the grace and forgiveness of God, people who walk in the power of the Spirit and bring the love and presence of God wherever they go. People who God can use ‘to spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him … the fragrance of life’ (II Corinthians 2: 14 and 16).

It is so sad when churches and Christians want to look like the world. Bill Johnson believes the best of everything is still to be revealed – through the Church - the best music, art, books, films, television programmes and so on. The world needs to look at the Church and want what we have – a relationship with a creative, incredible God who has placed his creativity inside of each of us.

Paul also tells us how to achieve this. Offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Romans 12: 1. Every day we place our bodies, our thoughts, our actions, our work, our leisure time, our money, what we watch, listen to and read on his altar. We make each day his. After all

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies. I Corinthians 6: 19 – 20

El Greco's painting of Paul 

If we swim with the culture of the day, we will merge with it. If we swim counter culturally, we will make waves that may upset the religious and social leaders as the early church apostles did but no one could accuse them of merging. They stood out and as a result thousands were saved, healed and set free from bondages.

Lives lived for ourselves are very unsatisfying. Lives lived for God may not be easy but they will be fulfilling.