Nonconformity

By Jonathan Helmuth

March 1, 2011

Romans 12:2 Says, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I have been meditating on this scripture for quite a while and I am sure most of us have heard this verse quoted many times. But have we ever really stopped to think what this verse is really talking about? What is Paul referring to when he is talking about not being conformed to this world?

Well I have learned to always take a scripture in its context if we could just take portions of scripture and make a doctrine out of it, we could make hanging yourself scriptural. In one place it says, " Judas went out and hanged himself." And in another it says, "Go and do thou likewise."

In the text immediately following: Be not conformed to this world, it says but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. So in context he is saying that we need to start thinking differently than the world.

So what does the world think about or how do they think? I heard a man say one time during the stand-off in Waco, Texas that in most cult leaders, you will find at least two of these three basic, sinful characteristics; sexual perversion, a hunger for power and control and a love for money.

So if this is the basic, sinful nature of man, let me ask you. How much time do we spend thinking about these three things? I am not talking about a fleeting thought. I am talking about actually fantasizing about them and spending hours worrying and contemplating about it.

I tell you, " We must get rid of our stinkin thinkin and put on the mind of Christ."

In 1 Corinthians 2:16 Paul says, "But we have the mind of Christ."

So how do we get the mind of Christ? Well, we need a total transformation. In the next phrase he says, "by the renewing of your mind."

In saying our minds need to be renewed, he is saying that our minds need to be transformed into its original state. We can not renew something that we never had. Which causes me to believe we lost more than our connection with God in the fall of mankind.

We were originally created in the image of God, which was more than just mere physical appearance. I believe we were born to be creative. When our consciences are cleansed by the blood of Jesus, we start thinking differently. We start thinking about spiritual things and we set our affections on things above, not on things of this world.

In Romans 8:5-6 Paul says, For they that are after the things of the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Herein is the secret to understand what is worldly. Sometimes it helps to understand something if we think about what is the opposite of it. The opposite of worldliness is spirituality.

So what is a spirit? Is it something we can see with our physical eyes? Is it something we can handle or point to. It is something of a different realm; something that is of a different dimension than the carnal things of this world.

Bottom line is we must set our eyes on the heavenly things. At the center of our focus we must have Jesus, the resurrected Christ. Desiring what he wants, loving what he loves and hating what he hates.

I heard a man say once, "What Jesus talked much about, I want to talk much about; what Jesus talked little about, I want to talk little about." This has really helped me to get my focus on the things that he really cares about the most.

There is a great old hymn that goes, Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face, And the things of this earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of his glory and grace.

May you be richly blessed as you seek the King of the heavens and the earth and may he reveal to you what is his good, acceptable and perfect will to you as you turn your eyes upon him.

 

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