Be Transformed

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters… Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds." We spent some time at this past Monday’s vestry meeting studying and reflecting upon Paul’s words to the Romans which we have heard as the epistle this morning. In just this relatively short passage, there is a lot of rich material to reflect upon. Several of us, including me, found ourselves particularly drawn to the phrase: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed. Be transformed by the renewing of your minds.

The drive for conformity can be a powerful force in our lives. Sometimes we choose it willingly. Most of the time we quite voluntarily conform to the laws of the state, recognizing the value of conformity in maintaining order and safety and even freedom. Sometimes we fervently and intentionally fight against the forces of conformity. Teenagers and other revolutionaries find personal satisfaction in bucking the system. That’s not a bad fight. Fighting against conformity can be a healthy way to discover and build individuality. And the system is usually the better for having been challenged.

But there are also a lot of grayer areas with respect to conformity. Areas where the pressure to conform is perhaps more subtle and our own feelings more ambiguous. Most employers expect a certain conformity… in areas as seemingly superficial as a dress code (written or unwritten) to deeper issues of mission and ideology. Employees must conform. Is that good or bad? It depends… Some churches demand conformity. Are they protecting the faith or stifling the Spirit? It isn’t always easy to tell. Some families, I think, have a strong expectation of conformity. Ethnic groups, racial groups can brand as traitor anyone who doesn’t conform… and yet surely the heritage and traditions of those groups are worth maintaining and preserving.

Then there are all the ways contemporary society pressures us to conform. When I hear Paul’s words to the Romans, this is the context that I invariably place them in. Do not be conformed to this world, I hear Paul saying, this world of contemporary society. This world of conspicuous consumption and material ambition. This world where cable TV is required. And organized sports for three year olds are absolutely necessary, even on Sunday mornings. Do not be conformed to this world where busyness is a measure of self-worth and connectivity has supplanted communion as the fabric of human intercourse. Do not let this world of contemporary society shape you, control you, determine your identity, I think Paul is saying to me.

And I feel a certain powerlessness when facing the forces to conform to this world. I feel powerless and guilty, because I don’t do a very good job in my own life of resisting conformity, and I feel I should do better. I would really like to have the backbone to give up cable, but, well, there is always some reason why I never do. Do not be conformed, Paul says. And that resonates. Do not let the power of this world overpower you into conformity. Conformity itself is not inherently bad or evil, as I’ve said. In many settings it is beneficial, but I want to be able to choose. I want power and control and self-determination. I don’t like feeling powerless. So my prayer becomes: God help me to be powerful enough to resist conformity… at least when I really want to.

I imagine some of you share that prayer. But unfortunately, that’s not what Paul said. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect." Resisting conformity is barely the beginning. Transformation and renewal are the ends. It isn’t about my power or personal control or need for self-determination. It isn’t so much a question of whether or not God will make me strong enough and independent enough to buck social expectation and cancel Comcast. It’s more about God’s strength and God’s desire that all of us be transformed into holiness, renewed in goodness. Be transformed by the renewing of your minds, Paul says. Be transformed. Open yourself, allow yourself to be transformed. It isn’t an issue of my needing more strength or power. In fact, Paul is talking about abdicating personal power and control and autonomy. But abdicating power to God, rather than to the world.

Do not be conformed, but be transformed. As we go about doing all of the things that make up life in this world, let us pray for the eyes to see God’s hand, the ears to hear God’s voice, the heart to feel God’s love in the midst of those activities. In the past I’ve thought I was supposed to wedge open more time in my life, to push aside the demands of the world so that I would have a place separate from the world where I could hear God’s voice. Or I’ve thought that my prayer should be for strength to resist the forces of conformity… that I might have more power to hold back the world. I’m not saying we should completely abandon either of those prayers, but… Maybe Paul is encouraging us, not to push aside the world or separate our lives from it, but to pray that we will know and accept God’s transforming power as it comes to us in and through the world. Pray that we may recognize and welcome God’s transforming power as it comes to us in and through the world of contemporary society.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds. The renewing of our minds. That sounds like learning, the process of education leading to spiritual transformation. And remember, Jesus was called teacher. He was also much more than just teacher, but in his time with the disciples, he shared daily life with them in the world; he taught them how human life lived in the world can be holy and godly. And, for what it’s worth, the confession of Peter (this morning’s Gospel), when Peter recognizes and names the man Jesus as the Son of the living God… the confession of Peter occurs not in some remote or otherworldly setting, not in Jerusalem or on some mountain top in Galilee, but in Caesarea Philippi. An area named for Caesar and hosting a shrine to Pan. Pretty much the heart of contemporary society in that day.

Paul reminds us that Jesus still seeks to teach his disciples today—us—that a human life lived in the world can be holy and godly, and that the Son of the living God may be found right in the heart of our contemporary society. So now as I go about the activities of this world, my prayer becomes a question: "Jesus, what are you trying to teach me, right now? What new idea are you offering to renew my mind? Jesus, how are you hoping to transform me through this activity?" Whether it is commuting, or cooking, or watching T-ball game after game, or choosing among entertainment options, or even dealing with illness, or fulfilling job obligations, or shopping for food, or texting, or shopping for fun, or interacting with family or friends, or walking the dog. Jesus is with us in all of these activities. Maybe he’s not just tagging along. Maybe he’s trying to say something to us. Maybe he has a lesson to teach. Maybe he’s doing something for us. Look for him. Listen for him. Feel for him with your heart. Ask Jesus: Son of the living God, what are you trying to teach me right now? How are you seeking to use this activity to transform me into holiness right now?

Jesus will answer. Sometimes the answer may be that whatever you are doing or I am doing at that particular moment is not transformative or holy and we should, in fact, pray for the strength to step out of that specific activity of life. But much more often, I think, we will find our faith and our lives enriched by Jesus’ presence and teaching with us in the midst of whatever our activities may be right in the midst of contemporary society.

Listen to some prayers written by Chinese Christians: Prayer when posting a letter: I pray thee, Lord, to add to me faith upon faith, that I may always have communication with thee. When lighting lamps: I pray thee, Lord, to make my deeds excellent like lamps before others, and more, to place thy true light within my heart. When drawing water: I pray thee, Lord, to give living water to quench my thirst, and wash away the stains from my heart. Words from Jesus, teaching the faith in the midst of everyday activities.

Sometimes Jesus’ lesson might be less specific to the activity and more general. As we live within our world he seeks to teach us patience, or generosity of spirit, or faithful endurance or compassion. And every activity, if approached as "quality time with Christ", will weave our lives more closely with God’s and deepen our faith and trust in God’s love. Do not be forced into conformity by the powers of this world. But, remember: God’s power is present in this world, this world of contemporary society in which we live. I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, be transformed by the renewing of your minds. Be transformed by God’s power offered in and through this world.

And, of course, the final piece of this is that as we are transformed by God’s power within the world, we become the agents for the world’s transformation.