Be Not Conformed

	"I urge you therefore, brethren," Paul writes in Romans 12:1, "by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, {which is} your spiritual service of worship."
	"And do not be conformed to this world," Paul adds in the second verse, "but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
	Let's take a closer look at verse two.  Today we will consider the first part, "Do not be conformed to this world."  Lord willing, we will examine the other two sections of this verse in the next two broadcasts.  In the meantime, take this as a challenge to do some study on your own.  Read Romans 12:2 often during the next couple of weeks.  And, then, study on  your own what this verse is talking about.  What does it mean to "be transformed by the renewing of the mind"?  What is involved in "proving what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect"?
	For today, let's focus on not being conformed to this world.
	What do you hear as you go about your daily life?  Are you urged to be different from the world, or are you encouraged to go along with the crowd?  Are you pushed to conform to this world?
	A knowledge of the Greek language is not necessary to understand the Bible.  God's message is clear and straightforward in any language.  But looking at the original language of the New Testament sometimes sheds light on a given passage.
	Take, for example, the word that is translated "conformed" in this verse.  The word is the one from which we get our word "schematic."  It usually refers to the outward appearance of something.  A technician uses a schematic when repairing a television or any other electronic device.  The schematic shows what the device looks like.  In the same way, a cook follows a recipe to obtain a predictable result.  A seamstress follows a pattern to produce an article of clothing which is exactly like another.
	In what ways are we tempted to conform to the world?  In what ways are we tempted to try to look like the world?
	There are some obvious ways in which we are tempted to pattern ourselves after the world.  We are pressured to conform to the world in our appearance.  This often involves wearing clothing which is not modest.
	"{I want} women to adorn themselves with proper clothing," Paul urges in 1 Timothy 2:9, "modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments."
	"And let not your adornment be {merely} external," 1 Peter 3:3-4 instructs, "braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but {let it be} the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God."
	Notice that modesty includes not only the sexual impact of the garment but also the ostentatious nature of the clothing.
	"For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes," James 2:2-4 warns, "and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, 'You sit here in a good place,' and you say to the poor man, 'You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,' have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?"
	There is so much pressure today to wear immodest clothing and to buy designer labels.  Are we going to conform?
	We are also tempted to conform to the world in our speech. Movies and television programs insist on using unacceptable language, claiming that they are simply reflecting the reality of our society.  In fact, they are trying to shape our society.
	"Therefore," Paul states in Ephesians 4:25-27, "laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one {of you,} with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.  Be angry, and {yet} do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity."
	"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth," he adds in verse 29, "but only such {a word} as is good for edification according to the need {of the moment,} that it may give grace to those who hear."
	"Let your speech always be with grace," Colossians 4:6 instructs, "seasoned, {as it were,} with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person."
	"Again," Jesus says in Matthew 5:33-37, "you have heard that the ancients were told, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.'  But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.  But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' {or} 'No, no'; and anything beyond these is of evil."
	There is so much pressure today to use improper language. Are we going to conform?
	Our modern society urges us to join in its activities. Abortion is all right, it claims.  Homosexuality is fine, it says.
	"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul," we read in 1 Peter 2:11-12.  "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe {them,} glorify God in the day of visitation."
	"Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh," we find in 1 Peter 4:1-5, "arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.  For the time already past is sufficient {for you} to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.  And in {all} this, they are surprised that you do not run with {them} into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign {you}; but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
	"Come join us," the world cries out.  Are we going to conform?

	We must not conform to the world in our appearance, our talk or our activities.  But there are also pressures to conform to the world in ways which are not quite so obvious.  For example, we are tempted to conform to the world not only in our actions but also in our attitudes.  Satan knows that this is actually the first step in controlling our actions.
	"For as he thinks within himself," Proverbs 23:7 observes, "so he is."
	Jesus knows this, too, which is why He goes beyond the legalistic observance of the Old Law to reach the essence of God's will.
	"You have heard" He comments in Matthew 5:38-48, "that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.  You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.'  But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you  in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on {the} evil and {the} good, and sends rain on {the} righteous and {the} unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same?  And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more {than others}? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
	We must be careful to not conform to the world in our attitudes.  We must also watch out for our values.
	"You adulteresses," James 4:4-6 instructs us, "do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: 'He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us'?  But He gives a greater grace. Therefore {it} says, 'God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"
	And we should not give in to temptations to conform to the world's priorities.
	"But if God so arrays the grass of the field," Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:30-34, "which is {alive} today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, {will He} not much more {do so for} you, O men of little faith?  Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?'  For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. {Each} day has enough trouble of its own."
	Take a look in the mirror.  What do you see?  Do you see the world's appearance?  Do you see the world's language?  Do you see the world's activities?  Look into your heart.  What do you see?  Do you see the world's attitudes?  Do you see the world's values? Do you see the world's priorities?
	If your answer to any of these questions is "Yes," then you had better start looking for a way to release yourself from conformity to the world.  You had better reach for the truth, for only the truth will set you free. 

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."