Do not be conformed

“Do not be conformed to the image of this world but be transformed into the image of Christ.”

Walking through the deserted streets by my house, the early dusk casting a dark shadow on the water, I pondered life.

As I watched the lights bouncing off the waters. translucent in the ebb and flow of the deep, I felt a sense of peace. It’s serene and nice and so easy to forget what has caused this silence, the empty streets and quiet nights. 

With each foot bouncing off the solid curb, I replayed what I had heard just a few minutes before my walk. It was a short exhortation by Eric Ludy (founder of Ellerslie Discipleship Training), about the state of the church and Christians.

As I pondered his words, particularly a quote he read by Oswald J Smith, a few words came to me: 

‘Do not be conformed’. 

Here are the salient parts of the quote:

“From my boyhood, it has been my delight to read more or less of God’s work…and to literally devour everything I could lay hands on regarding Revival work. And as I studied the lives of those whom God has singularly used all down the centuries…and saw how wonderfully they were owned of him, how they worked for, expected what they sought. I was compelled to admit that I saw nothing like it today either in my own ministry or in the ministry of others…oh, how far we have drifted! How powerless we have become.“

Oswald J. Smith

I couldn’t deny the truth of Mr. Smith’s words or the fact that I was as guilty as the next Christian.

Even when I tried to deny it, the facts were glaring: I was choosing comfort, convenience, and self over love, sacrifice, and selflessness.

I wanted a Christianity where I could serve God and still be on very good terms with the world, a Christianity where I’m not required to tell anyone about Jesus. Where I don’t allow my Christianity seep into other parts of my life.

A bare-minimum Christian life.

With my feet moving steadily and in sync with my swinging arms, I reflected on Paul’s words to the Romans:

“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(NIV)

These were heavy words.

Words I needed to break down to understand and clarify.

• This world has a pattern 
• We are not to walk in line with this pattern
• We are to renew our minds to counter the ways of the world
• This mind renewal causes a transformation which allows to identify and walk in God’s good and perfect will

I sought the words of Jesus to better understand this idea of conformity. And I found some interesting and humbling passages:

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world for I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

John 15:19

 

“Likewise, unless you surrender all to me, giving up all you possess, you cannot be one of my disciples.”

Luke 14:33(TPT)

These passages clearly show the dichotomy present between God’s children and the world order.

1 John 2:16 highlights some of the patterns of the world:

“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”

1 John 2:16 NLT

I used to have a warped idea of what the Bible meant by the world.

My interpretation was to avoid those who were not Christians, the unbelievers. I’m finding out that this was only correct to a point.

It was more about not letting their way of doing life influence or control me.

The irony is that we cannot be witnesses of Christ if we are running from the people who we are to witness to.

How do they come to know God if they can’t see him at work in our lives or we don’t get to testify of God’s goodness to them?

The below Bible verse buttresses this point:

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6:12

The fight is not against our fellow men but the powers at work in this world, the evil powers that have used mankind as it’s messengers just as our heavenly father uses his children to do his will on earth.

The subtle path to conformity

Conformity happens when we are not renewing our minds in Christ.

When we are not allowing God’s word continually transform us into his ambassadors, his army, going forth in his name and reaching the ends of the earth for his kingdom.

The scary thing is how subtle it is.

How subtle it is to accept and practice the world’s standards.

They often creep into our minds and our hearts. They slowly change our perspectives and lead to compromise. 

This is the case with most entertainment- books, movies, music and the recent craze of ‘self-care’.

The world’s version often seems more ‘fun’, more exciting and entertaining. You can see this from the hoard of romantic books, Hollywood blockbusters, music from megastars and all that.

It’s easy to get lost in this world.

To allow the world’s message to become our standard.

I know I did for a long time. 

 

The directive is this – Do not be conformed

The world’s way is often about instant gratification.

Getting what we want when we want. Thinking of ourselves first and living a life where we do as we please.

Leslie Ludy describes this:

“I had traded my spiritual passion for mediocrity and I was only loving Christ with part of my heart rather than my entire being and a huge part of that was allowing pop culture entertainment to get out of its place to become an idol in my life. Because with my mouth I proclaimed that the things of God were most important to me but with my time and my daily choices I was placing a much higher value on the things of this world.”

Leslie Ludy, the Setapartgirl Podcast

I can totally relate to this especially as I come to terms with my love of novels and movies.

I used these mediums as a way to unwind, even when their values and the theme were not aligned with mine. My excuse was that it wouldn’t affect me. That it is only for a short while, to blow off some steam.

This was not always true. They had become my go-to. I would often go back to every few days. A mild addiction but an addiction nonetheless.

I told myself my relationship with God will remain the same. It didn’t!

Here’s a no-holds-barred quote about this:

“The devil’s substitute for peace and joy is Hollywood entertainment and professional sports, the more true joy of the Lord you have in your life the less worldly entertainment you will need.”

Leonard Ravenhill

In John 5, Jesus shows us how to cultivate the right perspective:

“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing…I can do nothing on my own. I judge only as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just because I carry out the will of the father who sent me, not my own will.”

John 5:19-20a, 30

This is the kind of life I want. I want to live so deeply ingrained in Christ that all I do is a reflection of His light in me.

 A poured out life, just like my Lord and Savior, where I serve selflessly, love unconditionally and witness boldly.

My Prayer for you

I pray that we leave the snare of this world.

I pray we don’t allow the pattern of the world to influence us. May we become God’s soldiers, continually renewing our minds and building our selves to do things the master’s way.

I pray we seek God’s will in all we do. Living a set-apart life and fully committed to bringing heaven on earth.