Be not Conformed to this World

“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.” (Romans 12: 2)KJV.

I have always been fascinated by the Bible, and this scripture is an excellent example of why. In this verse, the Bible starts by telling us what we should not do; then contrasts that by stating what we should do, and how; and finally closes by explaining why. I have always being intrigued by the extent of completeness and integration that is evident in the Bible. Some people think that it is difficult for intelligent people to believe the Bible. I have come to disagree completely with that notion. The Bible displays such perfection that a truly intelligent mind will recognise that it could only have been written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God.

BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD

The New International Version says of this first part of the verse, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world…” There is a worldly pattern-the standards and customs of the world. The words “any longer” recognise that we have been part of that pattern, but says we should no longer conform to that standard. The Dictionary meaning of “conform” is “to behave and think in the same way as most other people in a group or society. One thing I understand from this is that when you get born again, you should no longer conform to the customs and patterns of the world. The implication of this is that when either as individual Christians or as a church, we find ourselves in agreement with the behaviour of the world, something is going wrong! The more similar you are to the world, the more likely it is that you are headed where the world is headed. And that is hell.

What are some of the patterns and standards of the world that we must not be conformed too? Its easy to agree on the “big” sins, isn’t it-murder, stealing, adultery, fornication, idolatry, homosexuality etc (even though many Christians even conform to the world in those respects), but it gets more difficult at the margins-that bribe, that deal that everyone in the office does, that exam in which everyone cheats, that election in which you stuff just a few ballot boxes, that kickback you paid that government official for that contract (I mean its our culture to show gratitude!), those few bottles of alcohol, that unequal yoke of friends and associates you keep, that small lie or untrue statement, that gossip or backbiting. Whenever we act exactly like the world, we endanger our salvation as individuals and the church loses its ability to influence the world.

BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND

In the Amplified Version, the words are, “…but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude)…” A Christian must not just refuse to behave and think in the same way as the world, but he must be transformed into something else. That is why Christ talks about been born again-becoming a new being, all old things which were previously conformed to the world would pass away, and that Christian becomes a new person. The dictionary defines “transform” as “to completely change the appearance or character so that it is better”. Both the appearance and character are supposed to change. It is of course easier to change the appearance, but the character is more important. As the accountants say, “substance over form”!

The key to that transformation is the renewing of the mind-new ideals, new attitudes, new values, new priorities, new standards, new goals etc all founded not on the ways of the world but on a heavenly standard. And that is easier said than done! It comes with consistent study and meditation and the help and leading of the Holy Spirit. A true renewal of the Christian mind should bring him into some level of conflict with the world, because it is like two computers with different operating systems, different configurations, different standards, different languages, and the standards are irreconcilable-the two cannot communicate seamlessly. Whenever you communicate seamlessly with the world, be very careful. We are supposed to be on different wavelengths aren’t we?-one leads to heaven and the other leads to hell!

PROVE THE GOOD ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD

The New King James Version reads, “…that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” This means according to MacArthur, “Holy living of which God approves” and is language borrowed from Old Testament description of sacrificial animals that were required to be morally and spiritually spotless. Having dispensed with animal sacrifices and replaced them with the eternal blood of Jesus, God expects us to be “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1) unto him as we carry Christ within us and become his ambassadors to the world.

Opeyemi Agbaje