Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Corners and Conforming – Part 3

Go to  PART 1  |  PART 2

Romans 12:2 is one of the most quoted scriptures of the new Testament. Lately, I’ve seen it used to judge people (of faith) for being too worldly… But I have to say, and I say it carefully and humbly, the ironic thing about this verse, that challenges us not to conform to the ways of the world, is that we often use it in world-conforming ways: judgment, hatred, aggression, fear, defamation…

I get that that can be hard. We need to “judge”, right? Know right from wrong? And call out sin and evil and wolves in sheep clothing (we love that one don’t we…) when we see them, to HELP others?

Argh.

This is where things get yucky for me. Some people could look at me and call me those things. Same with you. Within the wide and varied spectrum of faith, there are so many nuances, cultures, ideas and communities – we are never all going to look and sound the same. And that's good, right? Don’t conform? The problem is, you’re encouraged to go against the flow until you do.

Until you don't conform. (Oh, the irony! ha!)

Conformity is clearly an issue for Paul. And for me, conformity is a non-thinking agent; the state of mind and being where we blindly follow and accept our place in the world; where we don’t engage our hearts and brains; where we don’t challenge our paradigms and precepts, where we don’t ask why; where we don’t question the status quo.

Jesse (husband) tells this story of a family who every Sunday would have Roast Pork for lunch. And every Sunday when mum would prepare the roast, she would cut the corners off of it before placing it in the tray. One day, while watching her mother, the daughter asked, “Mum, why do you cut off the corners?” Mum replied, “Because your Grandmother always did…” The next time the daughter was speaking to her Grandmother, she asked why she would cut the corners off the roast. The grandmother told her, “I only had a small pan and I had to cut the corners off to fit it in.”

How many of us are “cutting the corners” off of our proverbial roasts because we don’t think to ask why?

Questions are not a sign of rebellion. They are the hallmark of someone who wants to be continually challenged and transformed in their hearts and lives. In a world where questions are taboo and change is hard, transformation takes courage, determination and strength.

Paul wrote, “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.” (Rom 12:1 (MSG).

It's the practice of taking everything that pertains to your life and laying it down, not in a ‘giving up' way, but in a way that invites challenge, examination and transformation:

Here’s what I believe about my neighbour God.
Here’s what I intend to say to Sally
Here’s how I handled that situation with my children.
Here’s my overdrawn credit card.
Here’s my addiction to consumerism
Here’s my belief about my myself (my lack and insecurity).
Here’s my fear of missing out.
Here’s my fear of death.
Here’s my addiction to alcohol (and Netflix).
Here’s my pride over my success.
Here’s the tension between paying for my son's braces or buying that new lounge I’ve been saving up for (come on – this is real life!).
Here’s my disappointment about my marriage.
Here’s my wondering heart that’s too tired and full and conditioned to ask why things have to be this way…

Transform me, Lord, from the inside out.

Go to Part 4 – Transformation Change »