Are you conformed?
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Do not conform any longer 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 12:1,2.
There are two things a person can conform to, the ways of the world or the ways of God. Which are you conformed to?
Sadly over the centuries a lot of garbage and bad practises have entered the church. People claiming to be Christians do things without thinking. They do things that are not pleasing to God.
Christians without thinking are conforming to this world.
Billy Graham once said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.” Billy Graham.
When I look at what passes for Christian television in the United States sometimes, I see Christian versions of what are really secular things. Thousands if not millions of dollars are spent of selling “how too books”, motions, potions, and other things rather than being spent of evangelism.
I see those claiming to be Christians acting in the same way as non-Christians. Particularly in the United States but also in Canada where I live, I hear Christians demanding “their rights”. Even worse trying to restrict the rights of others given to them by the democratically elected secular government.
Do you know Jesus and the Apostles never demanded “their rights”? They never demanded their rights. They never spoke against anyone or tried to restrict the rights of others given by the secular Roman government.
Yet within a century of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Gospel message had reached every part of the known world at that time.
To quote Billy Graham again,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
We Christians, especially those of us who live in North America need to be looking at our words and deeds and our lifestyle. We need to be asking ourselves “Am I conforming to this world or am I doing what Jesus would want?”.
Think very carefully about that question. Today I hear a lot of Christians mixing politics and their faith. Jesus and his disciples never did so. They stayed on message and presented the hope of Salvation to those around them.
Pilny the Younger writing to the Roman emperor Trajan wrote,
“They (the Christians) were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food—but food of an ordinary and innocent kind.” Pliny the Younger (61-113 AD).
These early Christians were known for their faith, not as many are today for what they are against.
Mahatma Gandhi like many in the secular world today noted,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi and many in the world see people calling themselves Christians who are conforming to the ways of the world. People are not seeing the Love of God in them.
Here are some scriptures I believe all who claim to be Christians need to meditate on.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
Is your love unconditional conforming to what the apostle Paul tells us is true love?
Jesus said,
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2
The apostle Paul wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” 1 Corinthians 5:12.
Do you judge others outside the church?
Matthews Gospel records,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
Would you be asked by non-Christians to share your faith?
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Are you living a holy life acceptable to God?
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi.
Please think about it.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Do not conform any longer 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 12:1,2.
There are two things a person can conform to, the ways of the world or the ways of God. Which are you conformed to?
Sadly over the centuries a lot of garbage and bad practises have entered the church. People claiming to be Christians do things without thinking. They do things that are not pleasing to God.
Christians without thinking are conforming to this world.
Billy Graham once said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.” Billy Graham.
When I look at what passes for Christian television in the United States sometimes, I see Christian versions of what are really secular things. Thousands if not millions of dollars are spent of selling “how too books”, motions, potions, and other things rather than being spent of evangelism.
I see those claiming to be Christians acting in the same way as non-Christians. Particularly in the United States but also in Canada where I live, I hear Christians demanding “their rights”. Even worse trying to restrict the rights of others given to them by the democratically elected secular government.
Do you know Jesus and the Apostles never demanded “their rights”? They never demanded their rights. They never spoke against anyone or tried to restrict the rights of others given by the secular Roman government.
Yet within a century of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Gospel message had reached every part of the known world at that time.
To quote Billy Graham again,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
We Christians, especially those of us who live in North America need to be looking at our words and deeds and our lifestyle. We need to be asking ourselves “Am I conforming to this world or am I doing what Jesus would want?”.
Think very carefully about that question. Today I hear a lot of Christians mixing politics and their faith. Jesus and his disciples never did so. They stayed on message and presented the hope of Salvation to those around them.
Pilny the Younger writing to the Roman emperor Trajan wrote,
“They (the Christians) were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food—but food of an ordinary and innocent kind.” Pliny the Younger (61-113 AD).
These early Christians were known for their faith, not as many are today for what they are against.
Mahatma Gandhi like many in the secular world today noted,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi and many in the world see people calling themselves Christians who are conforming to the ways of the world. People are not seeing the Love of God in them.
Here are some scriptures I believe all who claim to be Christians need to meditate on.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
Is your love unconditional conforming to what the apostle Paul tells us is true love?
Jesus said,
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2
The apostle Paul wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” 1 Corinthians 5:12.
Do you judge others outside the church?
Matthews Gospel records,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
Would you be asked by non-Christians to share your faith?
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Are you living a holy life acceptable to God?
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi.
Please think about it.
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