There is one "theme" throughout the Bible that we often forget about. We are called to be different. We see this repeated in each of the four major sections of the Bible; the law, the prophets, the gospels and the epistles.
Leviticus 18:3 "You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices".
In the writings of the Prophets we constantly see how Isreal started to conform to those around them. God has to constantly reprimand Isreal for conforming to another society.
In Matthew 6:8 Jesus is talking about prayer but i feel this also speaks to us in other areas of our lives. "Do not be like them".
Romans 8:2 "Do not conform any longer to the paterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Gods will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will".
Romans 8:2 tells us why we are to "not conform" to this world. If we are living according to this world we cannot know what Gods "good, pleasing and perfect will" is for our lives. Also, it tells us that if we are calling ourselves Christians yet are living according to the world are we really "in Christ"? We cannot be both "in Christ" and "in this world". This does not mean that we are not living in this world but it means that we are "living for this world" not "living for Christ". We cannot live for this world and expect God to cast His blessings upon us. If we are putting worldly things before God then we cannot expect God to show us what His "good, pleasing and perfect will" is.
We are a "new creation" (2 Cor 5:17) in Christ and this "new creation" cannot live according to the world. We are to be transformed by the Word of God not to conform to this world. Do others see you as "different" or do they still see the world in you?
We are called to be different.
Leviticus 18:3 "You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices".
In the writings of the Prophets we constantly see how Isreal started to conform to those around them. God has to constantly reprimand Isreal for conforming to another society.
In Matthew 6:8 Jesus is talking about prayer but i feel this also speaks to us in other areas of our lives. "Do not be like them".
Romans 8:2 "Do not conform any longer to the paterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Gods will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will".
Romans 8:2 tells us why we are to "not conform" to this world. If we are living according to this world we cannot know what Gods "good, pleasing and perfect will" is for our lives. Also, it tells us that if we are calling ourselves Christians yet are living according to the world are we really "in Christ"? We cannot be both "in Christ" and "in this world". This does not mean that we are not living in this world but it means that we are "living for this world" not "living for Christ". We cannot live for this world and expect God to cast His blessings upon us. If we are putting worldly things before God then we cannot expect God to show us what His "good, pleasing and perfect will" is.
We are a "new creation" (2 Cor 5:17) in Christ and this "new creation" cannot live according to the world. We are to be transformed by the Word of God not to conform to this world. Do others see you as "different" or do they still see the world in you?
We are called to be different.