I appeal to you therefore, brothers by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
Far too often today it seems as if those whom claim to live a life devoted to Christ are attempting to have one foot in the church and the other well into the world. They want to speak about the teachings of Christ, yet allow the cultural view to be the moral compass they adhere to. We must understand that no two views can more directly opposed to each other than the Law of the Lord and the cultures view on anything. The first is based on a perfectly righteous, Holy, and sovereign God, The other is based on the view of fallen, depraved, unregenerate man, So why would anyone whom claims to have faith in Jesus Christ ever allow what the culture around claims is right or wrong be their moral guide? They have allowed themselves to be conformed by this world. And they do this to feed their own desires which are fueled by pride, arrogance, pretentiousness, greed, lust, gluttony, and cowardice. All are born out of self-love.
The love for ones own self runs deep in the heart of fallen men. The thought of having to do without what those around us have, or to not have the same view as those around us have out of fear of not being relevant, rears its head regularly in our lives. And because those desires to be seen as relevant, successful by the worlds standards, or even the desire to not be seen as different from those around us, we conform to the world. We desire what the world wants. This mindset is then often carried into our churches. ‘I want to go to church and be seen and feel spiritual on Sunday, yet I agree whole heartedly with the worlds view on most everything, and still want to participate in all the same functions and events as those living in the world do.’ This mindset, when left unchecked, in the church has often made its way into leadership and given birth to the culturally friendly ‘anything goes’ church which uses the current social and political climate of the day to be their authority rather than holding to the Word of God.
As Christians we must understand it is not about us. Let me repeat that it is not about us. We will always be left feeling empty, and lost, and unfulfilled by chasing acceptance or accolades from anyone or thing in this world. We must understand that we, the world, and all of creation is by its very nature created to be a celebration of another. That being God. But men have corrupted it and made it about themselves. Yet those whom are called to saving faith in Jesus Christ and reconciled to God must no longer live in conformity with the culture around us. We have been called out and set apart. We must deny our selfish desires that are influenced by the culture around us. We should no longer seek our own interests but rather those that are the Lord’s, promoting His glory.
The first step in no longer living conformed to this world is to abandon ourselves that we may then use all our strength in obedience to God. To be obedient to God, we must know God. Know His law, understand His will. The only way we can do this is by renewing our mind through the scriptures. Weighing everything against God’s word. Not allowing the world or culture to tell us what is acceptable or right, but rather having the direct word of God found in the scriptures as our authority. No one can serve two masters. A Christian cannot bring glory to God while still desiring the world, or seeking to have acceptance in it. Those whom are called to Christ are to have both feet firmly planted and concreted in the Word of God which is a lamp upon our feet. Let our desire not be for this world, but rather to see the full Glory of God.