Mar 10 EverybodyDoes It.

Mar 10

Everybody Does It

Ro 12:2 And be not conformed to this world

The ancient ones (old people) can be so infuriating! When I was a kid we walked to school. It was 2 miles in waist deep snow and it was uphill both ways! We have all heard those stories. Only now I find I am the one telling them. So please read this with the understanding that an “old geezer” is scratching away with his “quill pen” and sharing his old timey way of thinking.

 Being one of the ancient ones it is only fitting I start out by saying “When I was a kid” things were different.  I knew a dear saint of God who had lived in the upper peninsula of Michigan most of her life. She would often say “I remember the old days. They were terrible… outhouses, wood stoves, going outside to pump water.”

Churches were different too. When I was a kid playing cards was bad. Dancing was bad. Drinking beer was bad. Cussing was bad. Movies were bad. Rock and roll was bad. Making noise on Sunday was bad. Premarital sex was really bad. Divorce was bad. Abortion was illegal. Homosexuality was disgustingly bad. Unmarrieds living together was bad. Telling lies was bad. Stealing was bad. Buying stuff on Sunday was bad. Plus all the bad things I have forgotten.

But there were good things as well. A man’s word was good. A handshake over a deal was good. Spanking naughty kids was good. Neighbors helping one another was good.   

Admittedly, thousands of material things are better today. But I don’t think the culture and people are better. In fact I think they are worse. I heard a preacher discuss this issue and he said “Churches are about 20 years behind the world. What the church condemns in the world becomes common in churches 20 years later.”

Our verse for today says we should not be conformed to the world. I heard that explained as “Do not let the world squeeze you into it’s mold” But that is what has happened. It is not hard to find a good church going family that has a family member who are living a homosexual life, living with someone before marriage, or divorced. A baby born to an unwed mother is common. Many preachers do not include these topics in sermons. First because we have sadly seen one big name preacher after another commit such things. Secondly, if they preached against it a large number of the congregation would be offended. Our culture has accepted them. The word of God has not!

Unless we have deceived ourselves, it is obvious Christians and our churches are being conformed to the world. The Bible says we should not be conformed. But how do we stop it? The answer is you can’t.

There is a solution. It is found in the rest of Romans 12:2

be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind

There is so much to learn from this short phrase. First the sentence structure is important. “Be ye” is passive. It is not transform yourself but allow yourself to be transformed. Be agreeable to, accept the change gladly, allow a transformation to take place.  Think of it in this way. A lady who goes to a spa is looking to be pampered. Be ye pampered. She does not want to hear “Pamper yourself”

The word transformed is rich in meaning as well. The Greek (according to my computer Bible program) is “metamorphoo” the same root word from which we get metamorphosis. In case you slept through Biology class like I did, metamorphosis is the process where a milk weed caterpillar turns into a beautiful Monarch butterfly.  An ugly worm spins a cocoon and sometime later has been transformed into a butterfly. If I told you that the worm was busy inside the cocoon making pretty wings and sewing them on its back, and doing all the things it takes to change from a worm to a butterfly you would correctly label me as stupid. The worm just presents itself, makes minor preparations and allows itself to be transformed.

Now how does that work for a Christian who does not want to be squeezed into the worlds mold? First you need to understand that it is your mind that is being transformed. Nope, no pretty wings for your outward appearance. It is your mind that is transformed. You will think differently.

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

 

Col 3:8 ¶ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

 1Jo 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world

We have the responsibility to want to be transformed. The Holy Spirit will help you alter how you think, which controls what you do. We just need to have “the mind of Christ” (Php 2:5).  Just remember that what we think about controls what we become. Here is the progression; thoughts lead to desires, desires lead to actions, actions become habits, and habits are the building blocks of our character.  

     Pr 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: