Non conformity

Well, didn't YOU start a thread that could lead to a dissertation! This is worth talking about since Paul also said that he was "all things to all people" or something like that.

To me, the Amish obviously have it all wrong. And so does any other group that believes that their clothes or outward appearances make them holy or separate or non-conformed.

The answer to your question is in the "renewing of your mind" part of that verse.

He said don't be conformed, BUT be transformed. Conformed, to me, brings up the memory of playing with Play-doh. Remember that? When I was a kid I would find things with texture - like a medallion on a necklace - and press it into the Play-doh. Or sometimes I would wrap the Play-doh around the object and press the Play-doh. The Play-doh is now conformed to the medallion and when I took the medallion away - you can see the imprint in the Play-doh.

That's conforming - allowing the world and its pressures and influences to "mark" you as being the same exact thing - no one can tell the difference between you or the world. Or it could be YOU pressing yourself against these things by embracing them. Same effect.

But transforming? That completely different - literally. I've heard this from preachers 100 times over my life. That word transform is the Greek "metamorphoo" and you already know what English word we get from that.

So what does being not conformed look like?

Well, to me it's when you are "not marked" or "imprinted" by the wickedness of the world and people can tell that you are somehow different -in a good way.

For example, I was having lunch with some friends a while back and the topic of conversation lead to the book, "Fifty Shades of Grey". Several of them looked at me to see what I was going to say and one said, "Ya'll don't tell Kim that ya'll read that nasty book. Ya'll know she didn't read it."

I read a lot. Secular as well as faith-based books. People know that I read a lot. But why did they look at me and how did my other friend know I had not read that book? Because my mind is different - not perfect - not holier than thou - but different. I don't think like that. I don't desire reading material like that. And they know it. I'm not "marked" with that mindset. And its nothing you can "see", but you just know.

Now let me give another example. I used to curse back in the day. No, I used to cuss like a sailor. Around some of these same women. Why? WHO KNOWS?!? Only three or four people even knew that I did, but one day - I was convicted beyond belief and I announced to them that I was sorry for every foul word that I had said in their presence and that it wasn't going to happen anymore. They said, "Oh, that's OK". I said "No, it's NOT OK". I've never sworn around them since and never will.

Do you know why I got convicted? Because they came to expect it and laugh about it. I was "marked" - again, an unseen "imprint" - and I was known as the woman who used THOSE words. I was conformed to that type of speech.

The Holy Spirit transformed my mind on that. He "metamorphoo -ed" me. That invisible, yet detectable "confirmation mark" that I was a foul language user is gone. No one expects it of me anymore.

To tbe conformed? It's to not have the tell-tale mark of wickedness on you.

It's not that you think movie-going or dancing or bathing suits are sins and abstain from them. It's that you know what the acceptable movies, dances, and bathing suits are and you don't bear the mark of inappropriateness to stain you and people can tell the difference without you having to say a word.

You may go and see Ben-Hur with your friends, but they KNOW not to ask to you go and see Magic Mike.