CONFORMING TO GOD’S WAYS – CHARACTERISTICS AND CONSEQUENCES

The word “conform” carries profound significance within the biblical context, shaping the understanding of spiritual growth, identity, and community. The biblical meaning of “conform” reflects both a call to align oneself with God’s will and a challenge to resist the pressures of the world. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines Conform (verb, doing word) [intransitive] to behave and think in the same way as most other people in a group or society. Chad Damitz, (conformtojesus.com) Daily Devotional on Do Not Conform To The Pattern of This World But Put On The Mind of Christ describes, “According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, conform means, “to act in accordance with prevailing standards or customs.” It can also express agreement or harmony with the prevailing rules or compliant with one’s wishes. Conformity is all around us. There are proper types of conformity such as obeying traffic laws, paying taxes, registering to vote, and many other rules that are necessary for society to function properly. There are other types of conformity that are oppressive and violate one’s freedom of expression. For example, some societies do not allow free speech or the right to act in accordance with their religious convictions. As humans created in the image of God, we must use reason and wisdom when navigating around the notion of healthy conformity. For instance, it’s good to conform to the speed limit or else you put others and yourself in danger. On the other hand, it’s not good to conform to rules within a society that oppress people or quenches freedom of expression. Since our lives are mixed with both good and bad conformity, what does the Bible teach us to do? The apostle Paul writes about conformity in the book of Romans. Keep in mind this verse does not indicate disobedience to governmental authorities. Why is this the case? In the next chapter he informs new believers to obey the government rulers. He even states that those who are against the government are against something God has commanded. The type of conformity Paul expresses here deals with living a life of holiness vs a life of sin. Let’s read Romans 12:2.

Dave Schmidt  on Not Conformed, But Transformed, Part 1 illuminates, ““Be Not Conformed to this World”  – first to the negative. The verb “be not conformed” is what is called a passive imperative in the original language. It is imperative that it is a direct command, not a suggestion; it is passive in that conforming is something that we allow to be done to us. It implies that the “world” can conform us. A.  “Conformed” –  What does this word mean? Our English word means “to be or to become the same or similar”. Do you remember bean bag chairs? They were big in the 70’s. You sit down in them, and they conformed to your body. If you got up slowly and looked back, you could see the contour of your body left behind in the chair. (probably the wrong word to use there!). 1.  The Greek term is suschematizo ‎(soos-khay-mat-id’-zo); it meant to fashion alike, i.e. conform to the same pattern (figuratively):  Paul uses suggests the idea of “fashioning or shape one thing like another” (Vine). a).  our English words “scheme” or “schematic” find their root here.  The “schematic” is the plan or the blueprint by which something is made. The product “conforms” to the blueprint! In this case, we must not allow “the world” to become the model or blueprint for our lives! b).  The translated verb “fashion” suggests what is transitory and changeable. We speak of what is “in” and “out” of style as a fashion, implying that it changes by nature. c). Phillip’s translation of this phrase is  “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within.”

Billy Graham  on Do Not Conform to the World writes, “When Rome was at the height of her glory and power, there appeared a disturbing sect called Christians. Because of a fire that burned within them, these people dared to be different. In an era when immorality, lavishness and luxury were stylish, they refused to be defiled by the sensual practices of a disintegrating civilization. In a period when human life was cheap, they put a high value upon human beings, their souls and their destiny. These Christians refused to be absorbed into the godless society of Rome. They had not heard of the rule that we hear today, “When in Rome do as the Romans do.” The Roman high tribunal then initiated a drive to stamp out Christianity as a disturber of pagan unity. The Romans had a false notion that a person’s conscience could be controlled by law, so they made it illegal to be different. All must bow to Caesar. All must conform to pagan custom. All must behave like true Romans. Nonconformists were threatened with death, and many chose death rather than conform to Rome and compromise their consciences. A Roman Christian named Paul took up his pen and wrote a word for all Christians of all times: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Times have changed, but human nature hasn’t. Though the methods are different, the pagan world is still trying to put its stamp of conformity on every follower of Jesus Christ. Every possible pressure is being brought to bear upon Christians to make them conform to the standards of the present world. The Apostle Paul urges Christians everywhere in all ages to be nonconformists as far as the world system is concerned. We are not to conform. A true Christian, living an obedient life, is a constant rebuke to those who accept the moral standards of this world. In our desire to make Christ known and to increase the influence of the church, we are prone to think that Christians and the church can be made popular with the unbelieving world. This is a grave mistake. Christ crucified is anathema to Satan, and the message of the Gospel is still a stumbling block and foolishness to the world. Our Lord warned His disciples, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). The Apostle John writes, “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you” (1 John 3:13). When the Christian or the church becomes popular with the unbelieving world, something is seriously wrong with the Christian or the church. Because Christ runs counter to evil and because we are Christ-owned, we must also stand against evil. “A true Christian, living an obedient life, is a constant rebuke to those who accept the moral standards of this world.” Christians may be shown a grudging respect at times, but if we are faithful to Him, we will surely incur the wrath of the world. “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution,” says the Scripture (2 Timothy 3:12). The Scripture teaches that popularity with the world means death. Satan’s most effective tool is conformity and compromise. He is aware that one man standing amid a pagan people, declaring, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation” (Romans 1:16), can move more people in the direction of God than thousands of insipid professors of religion.

In a world where social norms, cultural standards, and societal pressures can feel all-consuming, it’s easy to find ourselves conforming to the pattern of this world without even realizing it. But as followers of Christ, we are called to live differently – to reject the status quo and instead embrace a life that is transformed by the renewing of our minds. By refusing to conform to the pattern of this world, we open ourselves up to a new way of living, one that is grounded in love, faith, and obedience to God. So let us break free from the constraints of conformity and embrace the freedom that comes with living according to God’s perfect will. Those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind don’t matter.-Bernard Baruch

Trivia Faith Blog on Do Not Conform To The Pattern Of This World Meaning: Not conforming to the world means resisting the pressure to adopt the values, beliefs, and behaviors of society that contradict or go against God’s will. It means that as Christians, we are called to live our lives in a way that is distinct from the ways of the world, following the teachings of Jesus and seeking to honor God in all that we do. This often requires us to make unpopular or challenging choices as we seek to uphold God’s truth and love rather than the world’s fleeting and often misguided desires. By not conforming to the world, we can live a truly fulfilling, purposeful, and pleasing life to God.

What Happens When We Choose To Conform To The World? When we choose to conform to the world, we can experience several negative consequences that can have a significant impact on our lives. Here are some of the things that can happen: 1.Loss of spiritual focus: When we conform to the world, we can lose our spiritual focus and become more focused on material things and the desires of the flesh. 2. Compromising values: Conforming to the world can lead us to compromise our values and beliefs to fit in or be accepted by others. 3. Conflict with God’s ways: The world’s ways are often in conflict with God’s ways; when we conform to the world, we can find ourselves in opposition to God’s will for our lives. 4. Damage to relationships: Our decision to conform to the world can damage our relationships with God and with others who are seeking to live a life that honors God. 5.Negative influence on others: When we conform to the world, we can negatively influence those around us and lead them away from God’s ways. 6. Loss of eternal rewards: Choosing to conform to the world can lead us away from the path that God has for us, resulting in a loss of eternal rewards.

How Can We Avoid Conforming To The World? Avoiding conformity to the world is not always an easy task, but here are a few ways that can help us in our pursuit of living a life that is distinct and honoring to God.   i) Renew our minds: We can renew our minds by reading and meditating on God’s Word, which helps us to understand His will and truth. This will enable us to recognize when the world’s values and beliefs conflict with God’s truth and empower us to resist conformity. ii)Surround us with like-minded believers: We should seek fellowship with other believers who share our commitment to living according to God’s Word. This can provide us with support, encouragement, and accountability as we navigate the challenges of living in a world that is often at odds with our faith. iii) Guard our hearts: We need to be vigilant in guarding our hearts against the influences of the world. This means being intentional about what we allow into our minds and hearts through social media, entertainment, and relationships iv) Live a life of love: Jesus taught us to love one another, even our enemies. By choosing to love and serve others, we can break free from the self-centered values of the world and demonstrate the transformative power of Christ’s love. v) Seek God’s guidance and wisdom: We need to seek God’s guidance and wisdom in all areas of our lives. iv).Pray unceasingly. Through prayer, we can seek His direction and strength to resist the pressures of the world and live a life that honors Him.

The Benefits Of Not Conforming To The World: Choosing not to conform to the world can bring about many benefits in our lives, both spiritually and practically. Here are some of the benefits. 1. Pleasing God: When we choose to follow God’s ways instead of the ways of the world, we can please Him and honor His will for our lives. 2.Inner peace: Following the world’s ways can lead to stress, anxiety, and a lack of peace. However, choosing to live according to God’s ways can bring about inner peace and contentment. 3.Clarity of purpose: When we are not swayed by the world’s values and beliefs, we are better able to discern God’s purpose for our lives and follow His plan. 4. Positive impact: Our refusal to conform to the world can inspire others to seek a deeper relationship with God and live a life that honors Him. Our actions can have a positive impact on those around us. 5. Eternal rewards: By living a life that is pleasing to God, we can look forward to eternal rewards in heaven. As Jesus said, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:35)

How To Encourage Others To Not Conform To The World: Encouraging others not to conform to the world can be a powerful way to help them live a life that is honoring to God. Here are some ways to encourage others: a) Set a good example: We can model what it looks like to live a life that is not conformed to the world. By demonstrating a commitment to following God’s ways, we can inspire others to do the same. b) Share personal experiences: Sharing our own experiences of how following God’s ways has positively impacted our lives can be a powerful testimony and encouragement to others. c) Speak truth in love: When we see someone conforming to the world, we can speak truth in love and encourage them to turn back to God’s ways. We should always be gentle and respectful, seeking to build up rather than tear down. d) Pray for them: Praying for others can be a powerful way to encourage them. We can pray for wisdom, guidance, and strength as they seek to follow God’s ways. e) Provide support and accountability: We can provide support and accountability to those who are seeking to live a life that is honoring to God. This may involve checking in with them regularly, sharing resources, or helping them find a community of believers who can offer support and encouragement.

Conformity to the world refers to adopting the values, behaviors, and customs that are contrary to God’s standards. The world, in this context, represents a system opposed to God’s truth, often characterized by materialism, self-centeredness, and moral relativism. Scripture warns against such conformity, as seen in 1 John 2:15-17, which cautions believers not to love the world or the things in it, as they are transient and opposed to the love of the Father. In 1 John 2:15-17, believers are cautioned against loving the world or anything in it: “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.” . This passage highlights the spiritual danger of aligning one’s affections with worldly desires, which are transient and opposed to the eternal nature of God’s love. Rhapsody Jordan-Parisi on DO NOT CONFORM; BE TRANSFORMED opines, “True faith is not intended to be an add-on to our lives. It’s not supposed to be  “me-plus-Jesus.” It’s supposed to be Jesus, consuming me–less of me, and more of Him. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). This doesn’t sound like a Sunday-only mindset, does it? It doesn’t leave room for what we want or will for our lives–God asks for our total surrender of every part of us: soul, mind, and strength.

In conclusion, Jeffery Curtis Poor on The Romans 12:2 Meaning (be not conformed To This World submits, “If we truly want to be more like God, we will examine where we go and what we do for entertainment and recreation. Is it something that Christ would approve of? Is it making us better people? It is sad how much the morality of the Western world has declined in the past few decades. Mankind has clearly been influenced by the current god of this world. In social media, filthy language and illicit love scenes have become ordinary. “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). Through the influence of his world and culture, he would love to lure us away from what God is offering. “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:13-15). The chameleon will match his color to his surroundings. Paul says that we are not to be like that—we are not to conform to our surroundings like the chameleon. We are not to match the world in our thinking and our behavior. We must not adapt to or conform to it but rather be transformed by a renewal through the power and guidance of God’s Spirit and Word. With His help, we are to put on a new character and a new nature. Transformation is the path worth choosing!  – Most people are more comfortable with old problems than with new solutions – Charles H. Brower