"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2
“We have to question a Christianity that has so distorted the doctrine of grace that a simple call to obedience is mistaken for legalism. Challenging people to live the normal Christian life rather than accommodate themselves to sin is not a guilt trip or manipulation.” K.P. Yohannon - The Road to Reality.
It seems that there is a growing trend among Christians that being saved means to acknowledge Jesus, but it isn’t necessary to live a life that is different from anyone else. We can still say what we want, dress how we want and do what we want. It’s nobody’s business. As long as no one gets hurt, it doesn’t matter. This concept contradicts what the Bible says about being set apart from the world. 1 John 3:7-10 is clear about what God expects from people who claim to be His: living righteously and loving others.
Jesus said that we do not belong to this world. (John 17:16) As Jesus was praying for his disciples, he prayed for us too. (vs. 20) Jesus said in verse 19 that he gave himself as a holy sacrifice so that we can be made holy through His truth. He gave his disciples and us a job to do, to spread the gospel. Why then do so many Christians live lives that are no different from the rest of the world? Jesus set us apart for Himself. He wants to use us in awesome ways. Many of us, though, are content to stay right where we are, not willing to let go of worldly mindsets. We are to be God’s witnesses to a lost world. If we don’t act, look or speak any differently than the world, how will anyone be able to tell us apart? Do we want them to be able? 2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us, “We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.” Did you get that? God is making His appeal through us! We are his instruments, his mouthpieces. What are our lives saying? Do they match what we profess? In Mark 7:6, Jesus said, “These people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me.”
Romans 12:2 says that God will transform us into new people by changing the way we think IF we will let him. The problem with many Christians and people in general is that they don’t want to change the way they think. They don’t want anyone, even God, telling them to change their behavior. It’s my life, right? Well, no. If we have accepted Jesus as our savior, we belong to him. We are no longer our own for we were bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 7:23, 6:20)
Our Speech
The way we speak affects others. We are told in God’s word to put away filthy language, coarse joking and idle talk. (Ephesians 5:4) We are told to edify and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Romans 14:19) Why would someone listen to me tell them about Jesus when they just heard me gossiping about a co-worker? Why would they want to go to church with me and sing praises to God when they just heard me cursing or telling a dirty joke? Or if I'm alway critical and negative about everyone?
Our Bodies
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 says that we are to honor God with our bodies. Verse 18 speaks of sexual sins, and unfortunately the number of divorces among Christians due to infidilety reveals that this is a real vice among God's people. Verses 19-20 clearly tell us that our bodies and our spirits belong to God. How do we take care of ourselves? What habits do we have that are destroying our bodies? How do we present our bodies, which are temples of the Holy Ghost, to the world?
We are an example to the next generation. Why would our daughters listen when we tell them to respect themselves and to value inner beauty over outer beauty when Christian women are preoccupied with appearance and wear clothes that are far too revealing? 1 Timothy 2:9 tells us that we should dress modestly, with decency and good sense.
When we teach our sons to respect women, we need to be respectable women. The only man’s attention that a Christian woman should try to obtain is her own husband’s. Married or single, we still live by the same precept. The way we dress does affect other people, and if we dress provocatively, the attention we get is always negative, whether we realize it or not. Some husbands want their wives to dress in such a manner as to draw attention from other men. Yes, a husband should be attracted to his wife and be proud of who she is. But persuading her to dress daringly so that he can feel better about himself is a heart issue that he needs to pray about. Husbands are to protect and cherish their wives, not put her on display.
Our Behavior
Is our behavior Christ-like? If people know we profess to be Christians, they are watching what we do. Ephesians 5: 1 says we are to be imitators of Christ. We should remember that we are Christ’s witnesses in words and in action. How do we behave in traffic with our Jesus fish symbol or cross decal on our back window? How do we treat the forgetful waitress? What kind of events do we attend or which movies do we go see?
Yes, we are free in Christ. Galatians 5:13, however, says, “For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh…” In Romans 14:13-23, Paul talks about not using our freedom to be a stumbling block for others. Our freedom in Christ is not so that we can continue to sin, but it is so that we can be free from the bondage of sin. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.” 1 Peter 2:24
We as Christians must realize that we have been called to live a life of obedience to God. That, in it-self, will set us apart. Jesus said if we love Him, we will keep his commandments. (John 14:15) He doesn’t call us to live differently because he wants to ruin our fun. He knows what is best for us and for others around us. He wants our lives to reflect his glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Who will we, as children of God, reflect: the world and its ever-changing notions of right and wrong or Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today and forever?
“Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”1 Peter 2:9 Peculiar here means different, chosen for God by God. We have been taken from darkness to light. We are children of the light. Let’s live like it!