Do not be conformed (NRSV), Don’t be like the people of this world (CEV), Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking (The Message), be not conformed (KJV). Romans 12:2a
The Scriptures are full of hard teachings but there may be none more difficult than this. Everything in our experience pushes us to conform. Our nation, tribe, the football team we support, family, job, and even church will oppose those who do not conform. That is tough.
Our pride also gets in the way as many of us practice nonconformity, not from an allegiance to the Lord, but out of our insecurity and lost condition. It is another manifestation, it seems to me, of living unaware of our value because we are God’s, loved by God, and unique to God.
To say that we are to not be like the people of this world is not to judge them harshly and/or unfairly. Indeed, it is possible that nothing would make us more worldly than this. We are not like “them” simply because we love them and have the highest regard for them – each and every one – because they are God’s creation too.
One thing we should all be aware of is that to be a nonconformist is to be noticed. Our goal in faith is never to be noticed for our own sakes but to be noticed for our allegiance to God. The characteristics of our nonconformity are that we are loving, generous, peaceable, justice seeking/practicing, and, above all, we desire to be like the ultimate nonconformist, Jesus himself. Our witness is so much easier, so visible, so effective when we are nonconforming to this world and, oh, so very determined to like Christ.
Shalom y’all,
Pastor Pat