“Do not be conformed
to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may
prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
(Romans 12:2)
One doesn’t have to look far to realize that many aspects of
the Christian faith are in conflict with, and sometimes even persecuted by, the
world we live in. Paul mentions this theme in his twelfth chapter of his letter
to the Romans which our Adult form will be considering this week. He begins
with the verses above and then reminds us that Christians will bless those
who persecute them, associate with the lowly, not seek revenge, give to their
enemies, and so on. In other places he tells us to strive for the virtues of
humility, service to others, and forgiveness.
These values, however, often stand in stark contrast to what
our culture often places in high regard. In the United States we are often
taught to value success, wealth, and fame. Indeed, some of our greatest honors are given
to people who are rich and famous despite their moral or ethical behavior.
Perhaps this is true because a life of simplicity, chastity,
and prayer does not offer as much economic potential as one of gross
consumerism, debauchery, and entertainment. However, for the Christian, we must
work to live a life of piety and carefully study our faith so that by the
“renewal of our minds” we can resist the ever present pull we all feel to
abandon ourselves to the excesses our communities offer us.
Now, I have often heard people react to such sentiments with
skepticism and suggest that there is nothing wrong with a little indulgence
into some of the temptations our culture offers. And perhaps they are right to
seek all things in moderation. However, as I have been recently reminded, our justification (to use another Pauline
term) is not simply our first act of faith or an obligatory confession of
belief coerced by our parents when we are in our teens. Rather, we are
justified by God’s grace and our continual reciprocation of God’s ever
present love which requires an ongoing and growing faith; a faith with
produces acts of charity and grace to those in need and a desire to live in the
covenantal community of Christ’s church.
I believe, when we are truly able to walk in our American
culture, but live the life of Christian faith, we will know what is to both
live in our world and walk apart from it. In that life, we will value those
spiritual qualities which are unseen and not easily quantified. In that life,
we will find true fulfillment and satisfaction.
