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)
Good Behavior – The Change Your Mind Series – Part 1
Go to PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 7
We’re brought up to think of behavior, practices, even lifestyles, as being good OR bad. On the surface, it's an easy judgment to make: That behavior is good, that behavior is bad. But rarely do we sink below the surface and look for the source of the behavior. Often, when we catch someone out, the question we ask them is “Don’t you know how bad that is?!” Not the other question: “Where did that behavior come from? What's really going on?”
Side note: That last question should be asked of all our practices. Some things that appear great, have malicious and deceptive intent. Not to mention that due to our differences – cultural, genetic and otherwise – we have different ideas on what is good and what is bad. While there definitely are some clear lines of good practice, there's plenty of grey, too.
We spend too much time telling people what they should and shouldn’t do rather than being with them in their humanity and asking them “why?” (or letting them ask it of you), getting to the heart of the matter.
We need to rethink what the “patterns of this world” are. And this goes beyond faith: there’s a bubbling up in society across all kinds of people who do not want to conform to what is being presented to them as the way to live (more on that later).
Paul urged his readers NOT to conform to the ideals, values and structures of the world around them. His solution is not to conform to something else (we don’t stop being “world” lemmings only to become christian ones), but rather to live in continual transformation. Mind renewal, all the time.
Sure, there are behaviors and patterns of behavior that may not be “right,” but Paul isn't exactly addressing behavioral issues. He doesn’t have his magnifying glass out making sure your shoe laces are tied properly. He’s addressing the brokenness of society at its core. Because when the core values are off, the vision and direction will be, too.
What was happening in Paul’s time? What was going on in the world that was so dangerous that those who wanted to follow Christ needed to transform continually the way they thought about the world and what pertains to living?
A lot of it was stuff that we still face today: Hatred, violence, war, greed, abuse, neglect, self-promotion, racism, misogyny, genocide, fear, hopelessness, isolation, loneliness, division, separateness, exploitation, poverty, ignorance… the list goes on and on.
In a world that is (and was in Paul's time) controlled by money and greed; where the poor get poorer, and the rich get richer; the vulnerable are exploited, and a whole lot of stuff is swept underneath the dusty old rug of excuses and collateral damage…
Something needs to change.
Paul was talking about changing the world. He wasn’t pointing the finger, or demanding that someone else do all the heavy lifting.
He was saying that world change, and repair, starts deep within you and I.
Go to Part 2 – Not Enough »
Written by Lizzy Milani
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