Do not conform to the pattern of this world. What does that mean today?? This is how I have found myself conforming. I see a cute pair of sandals a friend is wearing and I ask where they were purchased so I can go and purchase them as well. I hear a catchy little phrase enough times that it begins to worm it’s way into my speech pattern, and now I hear the phrase coming out of my mouth. I see a stylish haircut or color and take a picture with me to the salon, so the stylist can magically make me look like the picture. We conform to the world all of the time.
Even the church conforms to the patterns of the world. Think back 20 -30 years, do you remember the schedule of worship services or prayer services held throughout the week? Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night prayer meeting, Tuesday morning Bible study, Saturday morning prayer breakfast, etc. What is on the calendars of Christians today? Monday night dance, Tuesday night soccer, Wednesday night hockey, Thursday night…. you get the idea. It’s not just for the kids, it involves the parents, the grandparents, and everyone is busy being busy. Busy being social. This is the change. This is conformation. Whether this is a bad change or a good change, is up to you. The fact remains that the church is conforming because WE are conforming a tiny little bit every day.
Paul’s writings provide an alternative. God inspired this truth for Paul to share with us to halt that process, even reverse that process of slow conformation. He said we need to be transformed.
Transformed. Just like the little plastic toys that my boys used to love playing with, transformers. They changed from a regular guy into a super-duper powerful fighting machine. It was great fun to spin and turn all of the parts and see what it turned into. Like the vast skyline transforms from it’s brilliant blue with fluffy white clouds, as the sun sets, becomes a magical array of changing colors you would never expect. Pinks, and yellows, golds, reds, spectacular colors and shapes that change from day to day. I think the concept of transformation is pretty easy to grasp, but how does that work spiritually?
It is the renewing of our mind says Paul. Actually this specific word is only used one other place in Titus 3:5 where it acknowledges the work of the Holy Spirit. We must be willing, but the actual work of this renewal has to be done by the Holy Spirit. And what role to we have in the renewal? David says it in Psalm 119:11 Paul says it in Colossians 3:2 set your mind on heavenly/eternal things, not on temporal/earthly things. God always does the spiritual work, but we must provide the “space” if you will for Him to accomplish it. We can do that with the help of God’s Word.
I know you have seen this play out in your life because I have in mine. Take the example of a book. If we are reading a book, and it’s a dark, evil, story filled with anger or revenge, we are not filled with peace as we read it. A song or a movie can have the same effect. If we on the other hand are caught up in God’s Word, in truth-filled stories about growth and change, in songs that praise the Lord, and we are meditating on the goodness of God, it is seen in our demeanor. It is heard in our speech. It is caught in our actions.
The results of God’s transforming work is that we are able to do God’s will. We are able to show love and joy, peace and patience, goodness and faithfulness when the world cannot. This is a testament to the transforming power of God.