Do Not Be Conformed

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

1 John 5:19

Every day I hear another story of the magnitude of the ungodliness of our nation. I am reminded by John that the world lies in the power of the evil one. We should never be surprised how the ungodly act because we know they belong to Satan. Peter wrote to all believers, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”(1 Peter 4:12)  Right before that when talking about unbelievers fulfilling all the desires of the flesh he writes, “With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” (1 Peter 4:4-5) As followers of Christ we are never to conform to what the world says is OK.

We live in some very dark days, not unlike the believers of John and Peter's days. We do not live in a Christian nation, we live in a “Greek culture.” What do I mean by that? It the days of the early church, during the first century, sexual immorality was an accepted part of the culture of the day. During that time men who were married would engage intimately with both men and women frequently for recreation. Sex within marriage was for procreation. It was not out of bounds for men and some women to be involved with multiple partners. That is why Peter said “they are surprised” that you don’t engage in that type of activity.

As we read and listen to the news in our country today, you can see that the same concerns that the apostles had for the early church are the same concerns we deal with today. Of the millennials today (1982-1999), aged 18-33, only 26% are married, those of my parents’ generation, the silent generation (1920-1940), 65% were marred. The acceptance of homosexual relationships by millennials is 70% (http://www.pewforum.org/2015/07/29/graphics-slideshow-changing-attitudes-on-gay-marriage/). Did you grasp that? 7 out of 10 millennials believe there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. What does all this mean? The fact is, nothing has changed from what the early church had to deal with. There will always be believers that God has chosen to be His that will be called to act differently than the world. We must remember that we are not of this world and that we are passing through this world looking forward to eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Look at just a few of the verses about believers being aliens and foreigners here:

• If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:19)

• Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36)

• I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (John 17:14)

If you are a follower of Christ there is good news, no not good, awesome news. For we know that there is nothing that can snatch us out of the hand of God. No matter how bad it gets, no matter how depraved our nation becomes, we know that all this is just temporary. However, as long as we are living on this earth we are to obey the instruction pf Paul, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark