Transformed Not Conformed- Romans 12

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. -Romans 12:1-2

Have Christians been conformed to the world? The people of God are offended at the thought! After all, the church is supposed to be the “pillar and support” of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Do we stand for the truth or have we adopted the world’s outlook? Before simply dismissing the thought, consider this example.

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. -Romans 12:16-18

How do we handle disagreements arising within the local congregation? Unity is what is called for. How do we see fellow Christians? Paul says that we should not think too highly of ourselves. How do we treat the poor? Biblically, we should spend time with them. What do we do when people take advantage of us? God tells us not too seek revenge. How do we define “right?” Our definition should be God’s definition. How do we deal with people when problems arise? Peacemakers are called sons of God (Matthew 5:9).

Paul calls the church to unity, humility, forgiveness, and peace. The church should aim for these attitudes daily. In contrast, the world has fallen victim to Satan’s reading.

Be of the same mind toward one another as long as everyone agrees with you; humility is for the weak, there is no need to waste your time with the lowly. You are as wise as you think you are. Treat people the way they treat you. Respect those who respect you. If possible, so far as it depends on others, be at peace with all men.* 

Unfortunately, the church often agrees with the world’s selective and alternate reading of Scripture. This conformity needs to stop. It is imperative that we seek to do God’s will in every situation. The beginning of a new year is when people resolve to do better. Christians must decide to be transformed into the living, holy sacrifices God wants us to be. Conformity does not please God. Christ died to free us from the patterns of the world, opening the door for something far better—a peaceful, repaired relationship with God (Ephesians 2:11-16). Let the transformation begin!

-Kevin W. Smith

*Romans 12:16-18 rewritten from Satan’s viewpoint.

Visitors—Acts 2 and Ephesians 4

“Visitor.” I hate that term. It carries a sense of non-belonging or anti-kinship. I understand that they are called “visitors” because they “are just passing through” or “worship somewhere else on a regular basis.” Yet we would not dare call our own family members “visitors” when they come to see us! This term sends faulty, misguided, and unscriptural messages when used to talk about our transient brothers and sisters in Christ.

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

-Acts 2:46-47

God is making additions to His church every time a non-believer or a misguided disciple learns the way of Christ more fully and then puts on Christ in baptism. In Acts 18:26, Apollos stands as an example of a misguided disciple of Jesus who needed further teaching since he only understood the baptism of John the Baptist. God, not man, is responsible for adding this new person to the church. They do not transfer their “membership” to another congregation because they belong to the same “one Body” Paul talks about in Ephesians 4:4-6.

There is one Body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

In 2010, my family visited Melaka, during a tour of Malaysia during our summer break. We arrived in the city during the week and began to immerse ourselves in the local culture. We were very unimpressed with Melaka until Sunday morning. After a rough night’s sleep, we nearly decided to hold a little worship ourselves instead of meeting with the local family. Thankfully, we determined we were being “toonsies" as my dad would say (think wusses) about the lack of sleep and “girded our loins” instead. As we showed up to the store front (Malaysian churches are not allowed to have buildings of their own), we were engulfed by the local Christians. Since we were simply expecting to be greeted, this took us by great surprise. After the worship service was over, we were invited to lunch where the locals refused to let us even take out our wallet! After lunch, we received a breakfast invitation at a nearby restaurant and a supper invite for Monday night at one of their homes and a breakfast invitation for Tuesday! This congregation was saying, “You are one of us. You belong here.” In short, we were treated like FAMILY not visitors. Our outlook on Melaka changed literally in 1-day - a day with His people!

When Christians are traveling through, let us treat them as though they belong. These immersed believers are part of the same Family as Christians in the local congregation…God’s Family. As we treat them as such, we honor God, we send a message of solidarity to any non-believers in attendance, and we may just encourage everyone to walk with or closer to our Father.

Training the Body—Ephesians 4

On a couple of occasions since we have been here, different people have asked me if I minded sharing the class and preaching load. Each time, I told them I would be happy to allow someone else to teach or preach on occasion. This is not because I am trying to get out of work, but simply put I see part of my job as training others to teach and be productive workers in His Kingdom thus strengthening their faith. As one of my professors used to tell us, our job was to work ourselves out of a job. By this he meant our job was to train others to handle our duties when we were not around to do so. This included but was not limited to our teaching responsibilities. People learn by doing, making mistakes, and then trying again.

Before moving overseas, I offered my services to the local preacher on a couple of different occasions to hone my preaching skills and give him an evening or two off. However, he was either unwilling or unable to relinquish his pulpit. Maybe he thought the elders would be upset. Perhaps he felt threatened by me (I have no idea why!). It is possible he had a year-long plan and he did not want to get off-track. Whatever the reason, I never understood this refusal in light of what I had been taught at Harding and what I had read in Scripture.

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by the craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body,, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

-Ephesians 4:11-16

Some are better preachers and teachers. Some are better song leaders. Some are better at offering prayers up to God. One thing that the mission field helped me fully realize was that people need to be ready to step in and do whatever is needed even if they are not particularly “qualified” to do so. This is not limited to the leadership duties in the public worship of the church. This includes visiting the sick, encouragement, leading a Bible study, praying in a Bible study, and much more. It does not matter if we enjoy these or not. Our goal should always be to do things that will glorify God and build up His church. When we take on different responsibilities, whether publicly or not, our faith grows and we are less likely to be tossed around like children.

The Image of Christ—Ephesians 2

This week we had the pleasure of visiting with Don and Jodi Wright. They too have suffered the wrath of the flu. While we were there, Don showed us some of the traditional leatherwork and beading, including purses and scabbards, he had completed and even won prizes for. The workmanship was gorgeous. Looking at the painstaking artistry, I could not help but think of the craftsmanship God exhibits daily through His creation of man. After God finished creating the earth and all it contains, He decided to do something extra-special.

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. -Genesis 1:27

God decided to use Himself as a model for His masterpiece. Mankind exemplifies the image of the Creator. While we are not perfect but marred by sin, we share His attributes and emotions. He was not finished designing though.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hand—remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

-Ephesians 2:10-13

Christians are erected into the image of Christ. Through this action, He molded us into a design that would bring Him glory and honor as we sought to do good works. He connected those willing to come to Him with His chosen people. It is through the blood of Jesus that mankind has hope, has been redeemed.  and has been molded into an image pleasing to the Father.

Don Wright’s handiwork shows meticulous care and patience. That is evident when looking at the finished products. God’s handiwork is the same. Examining the life of a long-time Christian, the fingerprints of God are evident. A person is transformed into the image of Christ as they observe the glory of the Lord.

Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. -2 Corinthians 3:17-18

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

-Colossians 1:13-15

In both of these passages, the word Paul uses in this passage for image is “eikona” which can also be translated “icon or statue.” Jesus is that “icon, image, statue” of God. As a Christian spends time with Christ in study, prayer, and practice, they begin to resemble the “statue” in whose image we were created.

I Never Knew You—Matthew 7

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and in Your Name cast out demons, and in Your Name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ -Matthew 7:21-23

Those are among the most terrifying verses in Scripture. To think that someone could spend their entire lives working for the cause of Christ only to be turned away on Judgement Day is enough to make even the most faithful servant doubt their own promised salvation. Is God planning to hoodwink those who have committed their lives to Him?

The short answer is, “No, God has always and will always be faithful.” That being said, what does this statement by Jesus mean? Until I was finishing up a Bible study at Wendle and Clairice’s last week, I had never taken a very close look at this passage. Notice the last half of verse 23 is in all-caps. Translators do this to help the reader recognize a passage is a direct quotation from the Old Testament. This statement is part of Psalm 6. That being the case, consideration of the psalm is necessary to better understand what Jesus is referring to and who He is directing this comment towards.

David is in trouble. Surrounded constantly with those seeking to do him harm, he does not seem to know who to trust. As a result David turns to the Lord for comfort and peace. It is in this setting that he writes in verse 8 of the psalm, the words we hear Jesus echo in Matthew 7:23.

With Psalm 6 in mind, consider Matthew 7:15-23. Jesus has just warned those listening to beware of false prophets calling them ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing (7:15). He says these people will be known by their fruit (7:16-20). In light of David’s words, Jesus seems to be referring to those on the inside, appearing to work for and honor God. These are people who are seeking to be “near” Jesus for the honor, authority, power, and recognition serving Him has to offer. These people are focused on what they can personally get out of “working” for God but are enemies of the cross of Christ in actuality.

Was Jesus referring to the Pharisees or to those who would be a part of the new church? This is unclear, but it is likely He is addressing both since He blasts the Pharisees in Matthew 23 calling them hypocrites for the way they conduct their lives in light of their teachings. The New Testament writers warn constantly about false teachers (see Philippians 3:1-2, 2 Peter 2, and 1 John 4 as examples).

God is faithful. He has made great promises to Christians about a restored relationship and eternal homes with Him in Heaven. All of the promises He made in the Old Testament were fulfilled. God has always and will always be faithful. He will not hoodwink His people.

Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah- Psalm 148

One of my absolute favorite songs in our hymnals is William J. Kirkpatrick’s Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, which echoes the words of Psalm 148. When I was younger, I liked the song because it was upbeat and fast-paced, but I did not understand the reason behind praising God. He seemed a bit arrogant and hypocritical to me because He told people to praise Him but then instructed the same people to be humble and not seek praise themselves. It was not until I was in college that I truly began to understand the song and by extension the Psalm from which it was based.

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light! Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens! Let them praise the Name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.

-Psalm 148:1-6

Creation is commanded to praise God because of what He has done for it. He spoke. It came into being. He is the Architect, the Creator, the Establisher, the Law-Maker, and the Word. Because of these roles, God is worthy of praise and honor. The psalmist continues to elaborate on this praise-giving creation until verses 11-12.

Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; Both young men and virgins; Old men and children. -Psalm 148:11-12

Mankind. Men, created in the image of God, and women, created from the image of man and thereby in the image of their Creator (1 Corinthians 11:7), are given free-will to determine whether to love God or spurn Him. Too often choosing to cast aside God’s decrees and even deny His existence. God brings an indictment on His people more than once because of their refusal to offer Him glory, honor, and praise.

Isaiah begins his book by comparing Israel’s faithfulness to that of an ox and donkey.

Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks, Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have revolted against Me. An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master’s manger, But Israel does not know, My people do not understand. -Isaiah 1:2-3

Israel, His people, comes up lacking. Let us be as wise and faithful to God as the ox and donkey. Let us seek to honor our Creator and King with every breath because He alone is worthy. Remember, He spoke and everything came into being. He is the Architect, the Creator, the Establisher, the Law-Maker, and the Word.