"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."
Notice the first part of the above verse. "Do not be conformed to this world."
What does this mean for Christians. On the surface, it seems simple enough. It means that we are to live in the world, but not of the world. We are to live for Christ and be as Christ like as we can possibly be, considering we will fall short of that goal. Simple enough of a message.
However, have you ever considered what it means, exactly, in behavior to "not be conformed to this world?"
We are not to be like the world. Consider some of the following examples.
Have you noticed the number of times you will hear on TV the phrase, "Oh my God?" Watch an episode of the huge hit sitcom Friends. It is highly possible that you will hear that phrase a dozen times - in a 30 minute sitcom. Now go out into the world and just listen to the number of times you hear people saying that phrase - or the shortened version, OMG. If we, as Christians, have become so accustomed to that phrase that we use it ourselves, without even considering the Biblical consequences of taking the Lord's name in vein, then we are conformed to the world.
Consider how the world views abortion. A large number of people, even Christians, see abortion as a necessary procedure that must be legal and available at all times. Even though we know from scripture that God knew us in the womb. If we are defending the practice of abortion, or worse yet participating in it, then we are conformed to the world.
Not being conformed means to live as the scripture dictates. We must be immersed in the Word and make all of our decisions with the Word of God in mind. The only way we can do that is to daily study and meditate on the Word.
One of the reasons we end up living our lives conformed to the world, is that we don't want to be seen as freaks or different. We like to fit in. We don't want others to see us as better than anyone else or, as my grandmother would say, "Livin' above your raisin'."
But isn't living different from everyone else exactly what we are called to do in Romans 12:2? If we do not, how can the world see us as living for Christ? The world certainly is not.
Simply put, we need to take heart, get into the Word and be that witness the world so desperately need.
