Romans 12:2 says this, "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."
What does it mean to conform? A simple definition of conforming is that something takes on the characteristics of something else.
In today's world of increasingly social Christianity (or the Country Club gospel) there has been an overall conformation of the church. When we look at Christianity as a whole we see individuals who look no different than their wordly counterparts.
- They listen to the same music
- They watch the same movies.
- They visit the same ungodly websites.
Are they different, no, because they have embraced the belief of being in the world. They desire to show their compassion by their acceptance of things not wholesome for true Christians. They have taken this out of context. We are in the world, but not of it. In other words we are a part of the world around us but we do not embrace its beliefs nor its methods.
Paul goes on to say in Romans 12:2 that we are to be ,"transformed." What is a transformation? It is having the ability to change who you are and those around you. You inevitably change your world. Transformation comes from yielding yourself to a power, or GOD, mightier than yourself. It is when we release our will and life to that of God's that we begin the transformation process.
When we begin the transformation we change our mode of thinking, Changing our thinking from being self-centered and making it God-centered redirects us to him.
I am reminded of a story about an egg, a carrot, and a tea bag. Three pots were placed on a stove full of water. The stove was turned on and each of the items were placed into a separate pot of water. The egg came out of the water hard, the carrot was soft and mushy. Yet in each of these the water remained. In the last pot was the tea bag, but consequiently the tea bag was swollen and full of water..but if you looked closer you would notice the water had changed as well...it was transformed from water to tea.
So, what's the point? The egg and the carrot were in the same water under the same conditions yet they conformed to the world's way of thinking and the became hard and soft. That is what happens to us spiritually when we conform. It was only through the transformation of the tea bag into the water that made the change.
Be ye not conformed, but be transformed!
