How Should We Avoid Being Conformed to the Pattern of This World? (Rom. 12:2)
There is always a danger of giving in to the temptations of the world to just feel like being “normal” in our modern society. Today it is easier to try to fit in, blend in and give in to the popular trends in the world rather than to live by Biblical principles.
Quote: Tim LaHaye in His book, The Battle for the Mind writes, “Humanism assumes that man is innately good and capable of solving his problems independently of any Supreme being” (80). “Today’s philosophy of education is obsessed with self-actualization, self-image, self-love, self-sufficiency, self-esteem, self-satisfaction-self, self, self” (80).
Paul the apostle also knew that the Roman world with its human centered -unspiritual, godless and idolatrous thinking would surely lead to self-destruction. The great apostle might have reflected on what David wrote in Psalms 1:1-3 which said,
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and who leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”
We are faced with a choice today. We can either decide to give in to the patterns of self-indulgence, carnality and selfishness or we choose to prosper by obeying God’s word allowing it to help us grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Pet 3:18)
Therefore, Paul urges his readers to not only avoid conforming to the world with all of its pleasure seeking motivations and concentrate on being transformed by the renewing of one’s thinking. Let us examine some of the ways that we can appropriate the absolute truths found in this passage.
1. Paul teaches us that every moment we have to choose between conforming to the world or being transformed by Spirit led thinking. In order to be renewed it is necessary to choose to replace worry with faith; suspicion with trust and sorrow with joy. Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Phil. 4:6)
By disciplining ourselves for the purpose of godliness we can put off our old selfish desires and replace them with attitude of righteousness, holiness and truth. Paul knew that we need to discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness but gained great motivation from the fact that godliness is profitable for all things not only in this life but also in the age to come. (I Tim. 4:7,8)
Illustration; When I first became a Christian I learned through the Navigators how essential scripture memory was for replacing my old thought patterns with God’s word. It helped my mind take a shower on a moment by moment basis as I let the waters of God’s word cleanse me from self-destructive attitudes. At the same time God’s word helped carve new impressions in my thought processes. It was if the word of God carved permanent patterns of thinking, feeling and perceiving in the rock formations in my mind. I learned how the Holy Spirit transformed my reactions to negative situations through the sanctifying power of the word of God. Nothing comes close to the power of meditating on God’s word to give you success in refusing to conform to the world by initiating a plan of being spiritually transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Try memorizing and meditating on at least one new verse every morning and watch how God will renew, refresh and refine your outlook on everything.
2. Paul teaches us that the best way to avoid conforming to the world is to pro-actively be transformed in your perspectives. Changing our perspectives is best done by developing goals to be more like Christ while engaging in service for His kingdom’s priority purposes.
The problem that most people have in conforming to this world is that they fail to take initiative in transformation and incarnation, but simply react to whatever problem comes along.
Jesus gives us a great example of one who started off each day by initiating spiritual renewal. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
Jesus knew that whatever He thought about first thing in the morning would set the pattern for his thinking the rest of the day. Why not commit yourself to spending at least the first fifteen minutes of every morning praying and reading God’s word. Commit your ways to the Lord and He will then direct and prosper your paths. To do otherwise is to wait for the pressures, problems and perceptions of the world to press you into its mold.
Illustration: Having consistently spent at least an hour with the Lord every morning for the past twenty-eight years, it has done more to help me abide in Christ than any other thing. I have taken the promise that Jesus gave to Mary in Luke 10:38-42, “Mary has chosen the one needful thing which shall not be taken away from her.”
3. Paul urges his readers to avoid the prevailing humanistic trends of the world by relying on God’s Spirit to direct you. Americans are proud of their ability to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. We like being free to think and speak according to our first amendment rights.
Illustration: The secular-humanistic voice in our society says, “I can do all things through me!” There is a subtle belief in most of the media personnel that says, “Each person has the solution to their problems hidden in their inner being. If they will just reach down deep, everyone can find in themselves the answers to their deepest needs.”
Quote: James Dobson stated, “The secular humanistic system of values has now become the predominant way of thinking in most of the power centers of society.” We must guard against the subtle influences that the secular-humanistic world has upon us.
Paul advised the Christians in Rome to not be fashioned after the heathen world since they now were children of God. Obedient children tend to want to become more like their Father because they want to please Him in all respects.
What are you doing to please your heavenly Father?
4. Paul urges his readers to listen to the voice of God instead of other influences. We tend to become like those who we most associate with. We also think according to the voices that we pay the most attention to. So what can we do to make sure we are listening to the right voices? You may also be thinking
“How do we get others to listen to the right voice?” Listen to mature teachers and preachers of God’s word who focus on Christ and what He would do if He were in your situation.
Solomon wrote, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many godly advisers they succeed.” (Prov. 15:22)
Ask the Lord to give you wise counselors who can help you figure out the best ways to help you conform less and be transformed more effectively.
5. Paul urges his readers to be renewed by the fear of God. Paul was mindful of what Solomon wrote, “The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” (Prov. 15:33)
The Holy Spirit renews people who live in the fear of God seeking to obey His commandments. The Spirit helps cleanse our mind, emotions and attitude with a healthy fear of God.
Ask the Lord to help you sanctify your mind, will and emotions with a great fear and respect for God. This is one reason why David wrote, “Teach me your way O Lord and I will walk in your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” (Psa. 86:11)
Ask God to help you learn more about God’s will for your personal life, relationships and ministries through a growing reverence for the Lord.
When you gain a greater fear of God you will be better able to conquer your fears of people and problems. Solomon wrote, “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.” (Prov. 14:27)
6. Paul urged his readers to be dissuaded from being conformed to the world and to be directed by God’s word. It is necessary to consciously act to refuse the pressures of the world’s desires, its temptations and its criteria for success.
At the same time Paul teaches us that we need to obey God’s will for our life or we will subtly deceive ourselves in thinking we are doing the best we know how. James wrote, “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Anyone who listens to the word, but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” (James 1:22,23)
It would seem foolish if I woke up every morning looked at my unshaven face in the mirror with my disheveled hair and did not do anything about my appearance.
Illustration:Eventually, somebody in the church would say, “Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately?” To God people who know the right thing to do but fail to do it are guilty of sin. Yet, that is like so many Christians who are not appropriating or utilizing the truth they already know.
Are you utilizing what you have or simply allowing it to be stored away for troubled times.
7. Paul teaches his readers continually seek to grow up in all aspects in Christ with greater spiritual maturity. Every one of us can grow to higher levels of spiritual, emotional and ministry levels of maturity.
Illustration: I once wrote a book called 45 Dimensions of Christian Maturity. In it I outlined the 45 dimensions of life that we are to grow up in Christ. Paul wrote, “Speaking the truth in love let us grow up in ALL aspects into Christ.” (Eph. 4:15)
Refuse to get so concerned about fitting into their culture that they forget His calling for their life. One translation brings out this point, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.
Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Rom. 12:2)
(The Message).
Illustration – Mike Peterson went on a missions trip to China. After enduring the stares of the people around him, he wrote, “I’ve never felt so far from home. From the moment I arrived in the village, the children watch me. Even when I bed down for the night, I can hear the children scurrying around outside, peeking through the thatch. Most of the people in the remote village have never seen a foreigner before. This is a very difficult time. The challenge goes much deeper than the mosquitoes and the heat, the absence of modern conveniences or even the stomach aches I am getting. I am seeing how much of my joy for life actually comes from things other than my relationship with God. I know that God does want me to enjoy his good gifts, but ultimately, he desires to be my source of final joy and purpose.” (Christian Reader, Feb. 20020 p. 72)
Only when our joy is found in the Lord and not in the world will we find total satisfaction.
