In Search of Transformation 2 - Non-Conformity Wednesday |
For the next few entries I will be referring to Romans 12:2 which reads "Do not conform any longer any to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
It is a verse that is known well among Christians, but the meaning is often taken to mean something different than what it is actually saying.
What does it mean to not conform any longer to the patterns of this world? For most of my Christian life, I have understood it to mean, (whether as a result of preaching, reading or my own thoughts) that we should not go to "R" movies or listen to certain kinds of music, etc. In other words, we need to not find pleasure in the same things the world does, not do the same things they do; we need to come out from among them and be ye separate.
The conformity that Paul is warning against here though, is not accurately summed
up as "do not do as they do," but rather, "do not live as they live." The verse is talking about the systems of governments, the unspoken rules of relationships with our neighbors, the expected manner in which we are to work with fellow employees, for bosses. This conformity speaks to the day to day cues we get from our environment that tell us how to act in this life in order to be happy and successful and satisfied.
It is much deeper a thing than the easily identifiable tangibles that we typically use to measure our success as Christians. To be "conformed" by the world, literally means I have been molded - like clay in a cast - by the systems and functions of this present society.
Now of course, we realize that every single one of us are products of our environments. Social Science is dedicated to this fact. I am in a mold that was set by experiences and lessons that I learned from my parents, family, friends, school, church and more; all of which were in middle class America. It is not a question, in other words, of am I being conformed to the world? But rather, in what ways has the world conformed me?
Paul is not telling us here to throw all of that away. I don't even think that is possible. What he wrote is "do not conform any longer." This means, from now on, becoming purposeful about opening ourselves to the ways of another life: The systems and functions of the Kingdom of God. Its ways may be a little more hidden* but they are a far more true reality than the one we exist in now. How we do this we be explored in the next posting.
For now though, I would like you to take a few moments, get alone and quiet and think about the following 2 questions.
1. In what ways have the functions, systems and relationships in this world (including family and the church) shaped my view of God?
2. In what ways have the functions, systems and relationships in this world (including family and the Church) shaped my understanding of who I am to God?
* See Luke 17:20, Matthew 13:44, Mark 4:30, Luke 13:20
It is a verse that is known well among Christians, but the meaning is often taken to mean something different than what it is actually saying.
What does it mean to not conform any longer to the patterns of this world? For most of my Christian life, I have understood it to mean, (whether as a result of preaching, reading or my own thoughts) that we should not go to "R" movies or listen to certain kinds of music, etc. In other words, we need to not find pleasure in the same things the world does, not do the same things they do; we need to come out from among them and be ye separate.
The conformity that Paul is warning against here though, is not accurately summed
up as "do not do as they do," but rather, "do not live as they live." The verse is talking about the systems of governments, the unspoken rules of relationships with our neighbors, the expected manner in which we are to work with fellow employees, for bosses. This conformity speaks to the day to day cues we get from our environment that tell us how to act in this life in order to be happy and successful and satisfied.It is much deeper a thing than the easily identifiable tangibles that we typically use to measure our success as Christians. To be "conformed" by the world, literally means I have been molded - like clay in a cast - by the systems and functions of this present society.
Now of course, we realize that every single one of us are products of our environments. Social Science is dedicated to this fact. I am in a mold that was set by experiences and lessons that I learned from my parents, family, friends, school, church and more; all of which were in middle class America. It is not a question, in other words, of am I being conformed to the world? But rather, in what ways has the world conformed me?
Paul is not telling us here to throw all of that away. I don't even think that is possible. What he wrote is "do not conform any longer." This means, from now on, becoming purposeful about opening ourselves to the ways of another life: The systems and functions of the Kingdom of God. Its ways may be a little more hidden* but they are a far more true reality than the one we exist in now. How we do this we be explored in the next posting.
For now though, I would like you to take a few moments, get alone and quiet and think about the following 2 questions.
1. In what ways have the functions, systems and relationships in this world (including family and the church) shaped my view of God?
2. In what ways have the functions, systems and relationships in this world (including family and the Church) shaped my understanding of who I am to God?
* See Luke 17:20, Matthew 13:44, Mark 4:30, Luke 13:20