DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

Conform, conform, I really must conform,

To think that I should be myself would cause me alarm!

These are partial lyrics from a song I learned during my middle school years – yes, I can remember that far back!  Mrs. Fulk  got together youth from area Churches and prepared a musical.  I was one of the 20 or so youth that volunteered.  It was a come one come all group that practiced for several months before going public.  We sang probably 10ish songs, without music, and there were readings in between songs.  I remember where I stood, stage left, second in, first row in a Church that wasn’t my own, and that I had bad middle schooler hair.  You know exactly what I’m talking about.   Isn’t it crazy the things we remember.  Unfortunately, I’m better at forgetting than remembering.  I don’t remember too much about it.   I can’t remember the theme of the musical.  I don’t remember any song or speaking part.  In fact, the only thing I do remember are the partial lyrics above.  But these words and the tune have stuck in my mind for about 40 years now.  I have recalled these words hundreds of times throughout the years.  They speak volumes.  I don’t know why these particular words have stuck with me, or maybe I do.  Anyway, I can’t think of these lyrics without thinking of Romans 12:2:

And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Conform is a funny word.  What does it mean anyway?  In the original Greek, conform is the word summorphizo, “to make of like form with another person or thing.”  In Latin, “con” means together and “form” means make – to make something like something else.  In English conform is a verb (action) means “to be similar or identical; to be in agreement or harmony; to be compliant; to act in accordance with prevailing standards or customs.”   To be alike.  To think alike.  To be in agreement.  To be in harmony.  To be compliant.  To be the same.  To be popular.  To go along with the crowd. To meld with the world.  Who doesn’t want to be like everybody else?  Who doesn’t want to be like Mike?   I do.  I think if we’re honest we all do.

My chickens are nonconformists.  My prevailing standard is to get chores done before 8:00 p.m.  They don’t have that same standard.  That causes some friction.  We are not harmonious when I want them to do one thing and they want to do another.  Have you ever tried to catch a chicken that didn’t want to be caught?  My chickens do not conform to my way of thinking.  They are independent thinkers.  Remember poor Diane on Cheers? “People, people work with me, work with me!”  She was trying to get folks to sing.  Her crowd was having nothing of it.  They were not compliant nor would they conform.  I’ve used that phrase on my chickens to no avail.

Here’s the problem, Brother Paul’s message from God says “don’t”.

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.  (NLT)

So, what’s Paul saying here?  Simple.  Don’t be conformed, be transformed.  Okay.   Don’t be like everybody else.  Don’t go along with the crowd.  Don’t follow the prevailing standards or customs of this world.  If everyone’s jumping off a bridge…heard that haven’t you?  Could you ask me to do something just a little bit harder (she said sarcastically)?  Obedience, Beth.  So, we are not to be like everybody else.  Fine.  How do we do that, or not do that?  How do we get from conformer to transformed?  God says through Paul that we are to let him transform us into new people.

How are we transformed?  What does that even mean?  Here we go again.  Translated from the Greek word metamorphoo, to change into another form, to become different.  In English transform is also a verb (get busy) meaning “to undergo a change in form, appearance, or character; become transformed.”  Butterflies.  So, it means to change one thing into something else.  To convert one thing to another.  To reconstruct something into something else.  To make over — redo.  To turn around – change.  To change something that wasn’t into something that is.

Got it, I just convert, reconstruct, makeover, turn around, change.  That’s exactly it!  Sounds easy, right?  Just make a change.  Get a makeover.  Go the other way.  Be independent.  Dare to be different.  You go girl!

Wrong!!

Paul says “let God transform you into a new person”.  First, we have to recognize that only God can transform or change us.  If we think we can do anything without His power, we think more highly of ourselves than we ought.  Ouch, sorry.  We must recognize that we are powerless without the Most Powerful.  Second, check out the word “let”.  I don’t know about you, but this is the hardest part for me.  It’s easy for me to say God is powerful enough to change me.  It’s harder to humble myself enough, to throw all that I am at His feet, to let Him change me.  You see, the call to conform, to be like everyone else, to think like everyone else, to go along with prevailing standards and customs (the world) is an incredibly strong force.  I am not powerful enough, in my own strength, to fight the urge to conform.

But this isn’t what you were taught when you learned about Christ.  Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception.  Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.  You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness – righteous, holy, and true.  Ephesians 4:20-24

Brother Paul tells us again what God wants us to do.  Change our thoughts and attitudes – yikes!  Out with the old, in with the new!  Conforming is the easier route.  It requires nothing of me – no newness involved, I’m already there.  There’s no resistance in conforming, no call to be different.  Transforming is a heart wrenching, life-long journey but this life-long journey does just that – leads to life.  This journey is a one-way journey, God’s way.  We are not to be changed by the world – from the outside in — we are to let God change us — from the inside out.  Are we willing to let God change us into the people He wants us to be?  Are we willing to throw off the old self?  Are we willing to allow Him to change our thoughts and attitudes?  I hope.  You see, God’s message from Paul doesn’t say:  “Beth,  it’s okay to conform and just be transformed when you feel like it.”  God’s not making a suggestion or a request.  He’s giving a command.

How do we become nonconformists?  By being watchful and observant for the world seeping into our thoughts, minds, actions, attitudes, lives.   Remember, we are powerless to be unworldly on our own.  Pick up The Book.  Read it.  Our lives should conform to The Book, not The Book to our lives.  The Book is all about the character of God — who He is.   We are to mirror that character to the world, not let the world’s character be what we reflect.  Humble yourself and let God reveal himself to you.  He’s waiting to do so.  Knowing God is the only way to be truly transformed.