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)
The World and Its Ways – Part 1
This scripture was thrown around a lot at Youth Group to try and deter us from drinking, having pre-marital sex, doing drugs… all those “worldly” things that can trip a young (or not) person up in life. And then on the flip side, when I was a Youth Pastor for some years, I threw it around to try and deter kids from… yep, all that ‘worldly’ stuff. “How are people going to see Jesus in you if you’re doing everything the world is doing?”
(Although, since watching Fargo, it reminds me of the Fish poster in the basement… anyone?).
Now, I’m not mocking it. That's a great (kinda) way to use this scripture. And for a large part, I didn’t get involved in a lot of “worldly” things.
…Or did I?
We are so conditioned to think of good and bad in terms of behaviour, that we neglect to look at the source. For, e.g., in youth group, if you didn’t smoke, drink, or sleep around (or didn’t get caught), you could avoid annoying and uncomfortable conversations with your Pastor. But if you did get caught, the conversation would be about why you shouldn't do those things, and you were rarely asked in a healing way “why are you doing those things?” Everything we do, every pattern we follow, every choice we make comes from somewhere and is influenced by something. But 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) – getting to the heart of it.
We need to rethink what the “patterns of this world” are. And you don’t have to be a person of faith to understand this either. 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 is urging his readers NOT to conform to the ideals, values and structures of the world around them. His solution is not conforming to something else, but rather to live in continual transformation, mind renewal. All the time.
Sure, there are behaviours and patterns of behaviour that may not be “right,” but Paul's not really addressing behaviour… 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. And if you read verse 1 of this chapter, he’s addressing our purpose and calling.
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 is stuff that we face today: Hatred, violence, war, greed, abuse, neglect, self-promotion, racism, genocide, fear, hopelessness, isolation, loneliness, division, separateness, exploitation, poverty, ignorance… the list goes on and on.
In a world that is 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. And it starts with inner transformation.
It starts with you and me.
A revolution is coming.
Go to Part 2 – Better Stuff vs Not Enough »
