After all of my researching, conversations and personal reflections I have found an area in which I believe the source of division among Christians and the church dwells. It is my opinion that many Christians have learned to conform to society. I would like to share the following excerpts that I pulled from a blog entitled Seeds of a Sower. I feel that it's no coincidence that it's entitled "The Non Conforming Christian". The writer, named George, delivers my viewpoint on this topic very clearly.
George starts with a bible verse from Romans 12
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable. and perfect, will of God.
He then makes a good point regarding the use of the word conformed.
The word conformed is only used twice in the Bible. Once as a positive, Romans 8:29, we were predestined to be conformed to Christ`s image, and once in the negative in Romans 12:2, not to be conformed to this world. Also there is one usage of the word conformable in Phil 3:10. There is no other use of the word in any other form like conform, conforms, or conforming. That I find interesting. Also remember, Non-conformity and non conforming are not bible words.
Yes are to conform to Christ's image, but we are not to be conformed to this world. We are in this world, but we are not of this world. By truly striving to conform to Christ's image we naturally are non conforming to the world. George then discusses the key issues most of us face.
... where can one find a measuring rod to line up against to see whether they are like the world or not, and who can be deemed the judge of such matters? When non-conformity becomes a issue of just "being different", at what point then is the "difference" enough? How far, or different from the world must one be to be satisfying to God?
He goes on to say
...I believe that we born again Christians are missing the mark if we strive with external actions to be different from this world. Malachi 3:6 says " For I am the Lord, I change not". If God does not change then neither do his standards. And as Romans 8:29 says, His plan is for us to be like Christ, an unchanging perfect being, who is part of the Trinity.
So if God changes not, and we are to be like Him, Can we accomplish that if our standards in which we hold ourselves to, in order to be like Him, change with the passage of time? Or should the so called "standards" be the same as they were from the very beginning?
This is the part where the nail was hit on the head. God's word does not change. However, the standards of the world have been and continue to be degraded. Certain music lyrics, for example, that is acceptable today would have been banned in the 1950's.
He then continues..
The only way we can truly non-conform is by the renewing our mind.
So how, or what, can we do to renew our mind? Let`s look at some verses that talk about what we should be thinking and then doing. Because before we do, our mind must first think. Incidentally there is no such thing as "speaking without thinking" or "doing without considering". Not according to the bible. Matt 12:34 & Proverbs 23:7
Philippians 2:5 says, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. What is the bible saying here? The four verses preceding this explain just what the mind of Christ is. Essentially it is telling us to be humble like Christ, to love each other, not do anything that would promote or puff up ourselves over others, and to be cautious in our actions as what we do will affect others. Either for good and build them up, or, for evil and be a stumbling block.
So if we claim to be a transformed Christian can we say or do things in pride? Can we make a statement such as "well if they have a problem with it, that`s their problem?" Is that Christ-like love? Or can I dress in a way that I feel good about, but, may cause another to stumble?
Philippians 4:8 is a wonderful verse which tells us what we should be thinking about. If what we find pleasure in amusing ourselves with or what we let our mind drift into thinking is not in accordance with this verse we are not being "transformed" by the renewing of our minds.
If I honestly say I want to live the bible in all aspects can I then sit down and enjoy a movie riddled from start to finish in direct opposition to Christian living? Remember Psalms 1: 1-3? It says that blessed is the man that does NOT associate (that would mean also watching via a screen) with sinners, scornful, and the ungodly.
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Being transformed from this world is not about what we do, or just implementing ways to be different, but rather how we think. When we think like God wants us to, or, as it is called, having the mind of Christ, our actions will then be a result of our closeness to Christ. Or another way of putting it is, Everything we do should be judged as to how it aligns with the word of God.
So to have a transformed mind, the mind of Christ, means that everything we look at, talk about, think about, friends we associate with, clothes we put on, find amusement in, cannot violate scripture as to what is holy or pleasing to God
If our striving is to daily please God and be more like Christ each day the non-conformity will take care of itself.
After reading this a thought comes to mind. The first thing people will do is to condemn the person that says or feels this way. The point I want make here is that we must agree that the goal is to be more like Christ. Not one of us is perfect. With that very fact which of us non perfect people will be the one to admit their own faults and help others do the same? Which of the non perfect people would you say is "qualified" to share this message? Does God himself have to appear to you and share this message? Sharing this message is not a form of judgement. It is an act of love and an attempt to help. God speaks to us in many forms and the person that's sharing a message with you may be who He has chosen. The fact that you condemn them proves that you were convicted by whatever was shared.
I have decided to put on the armor of God and so the Non Conforming Christian is born.
Thanks to George for sharing this blog post. To read it in it's entirety visit his blog here
http://seedsofasower.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-non-conforming-christian.html
Visit our website as well, we are looking for more like minded blog writers to help spread God's message. http://www.tandlministries.com
