Be not conformed

   I have been thinking about the issue of conforming lately. Romans 12:2 says: And 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.

    So what does that mean for us living today in 2016? What does not conforming to the world look like? What does conforming to the world look like?


 I looked up the definition of conform, and this is what I found:



1) comply with rules, standards, or laws

2) behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards

3) be similar in form or type, agree

  The lines between Christianity and the world have become so blurred, that there is barely any difference anymore. But who blurred them? God didn't.... and I don't believe we can say the world did it either. The only other option is the church and Christians.did the blurring. There was a day Christians just didn't do certain things, go certain places, wear certain things....but the church as a whole has conformed to the world to such an extent, that the Christians who dare not conform are hated and treated as badly - and sometimes worse - than the world they refuse to conform to.

  Contrary to liberal Christianity, we do NOT have to conform to the world. We do NOT have to do what the world does. And we do NOT have to be OK with everything the world or liberal Christianity does and embraces.

  This 2016 Christianity that is becoming so popular seeks to quiet anyone who doesn't go along with it. If you dare stick to the Bible or Biblical principles, you are called hateful, bigoted, and worse. If you dare disagree with something or even worse dare to suggest it is something a Christian should not do, you are judgmental and a Pharisee.

  To be looked on favorably by the world and liberal Christianity, you must:

1) Be OK with tattoos and piercings... no matter how extreme or how many.

2) Not believe the Sabbath is any different than the rest of the week.

3) Agree that homosexuality is normal, OK, and that the Bible does not truly condemn it.

4) Be OK with all immodesty, and not even call it immodest

5) Vote for the candidate of your political party, no matter what kind of person/candidate they are and no matter what their values or morals are.... or are not.

6) Be OK with movies like 50 Shades of Grey and Christians who go to see them.

  And more. (And no, I am not un-Christianizing anyone for conforming to these things)

   If you ask the average Christian what they believe a Christian should not do, it would be a short list. Judging would most likely make the top of the list. Murder, stealing, and adultery would make the list....and a few other "bad" sins..... but it would be a short list.

  I have had a lot of pressure lately to conform.

There are people pressuring me to conform to the :"gay is OK" ideology. To toss out what the Bible says, embrace the attractions and desires I experience, and believe that you can be gay and Christian.

There are people pressuring me to conform politically. They expect me to set aside my morals, beliefs, common sense, and go against my conscience to vote for someone I feel I cannot and should not.

There is constant pressure to shut up, accept everything the world and liberal Christianity is doing, and just be OK with whatever comes along, no matter how immoral, obscene, crazy, or extreme.

  But Christianity was founded by nonconformists. Jesus Himself refused to conform, and all through the centuries, and even now in some countries, Christians have been persecuted and killed.... and for what - for conforming? No.... for refusing to conform to the Church when it was wrong, kings and other rulers, and even others who profess to follow Jesus.

  My Christian walk has a been a long and winding one. I have reached a point in my life that I believe I am following God's will and law for my life, and not anyone else's or anything else's. I don't see myself better than anyone, and do believe it is OK to look at something and believe it is something a Christian should not do... whether it be something like tattoos or voting for certain candidates.

  Christians here in America will never suffer any persecution or hardships for conforming. The persecution and hardships will come for not conforming, Christianity is a relationship with God, and it is a religion for nonconformists.

  And if you disagree, then how does this verse apply to us today, and what exactly does it mean.... or is it one we toss aside because it isn't convenient?