"Be Not Conformed" (Romans 12.2, A.v.)

by R. Armstrong, Toronto | Category: Crossroads | Nov 1969

Rome was the seat of world power when Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans. Her armies were trained to conquer. Power was idolized by the Romans as was learning by the Greeks.

The nucleus of the church of God in Rome was probably made up of Romans who were saved at Jerusalem during Pentecost, and, besides additions from the preaching of the Word, there was growth resulting from other Christians moving to the world capital. Romans 16 shows many of these to have been intimate friends of Paul although he had not at that time visited Rome.

Whether it be to God's people in an ancient Roman society, or in the space age, the challenge, "be not conformed" is a difficult one to hear and obey. We live in a generation when crowd pressures unconsciously condition our minds to move with popular opinion, not against it. They bid us never to stand for an unpopular cause, or to be found in a small minority.

But Paul says, we have a mandate from God to be nonconformists to this world and its system. Our hallmark should be conviction not conformity. The word "conformed" in Romans 12.2 is the Greek word sunschematizo which means, "to assume an outward expression that is patterned after something else, which does not come from within, and is not representative of one's inward nature". Paul exhorts us not to be patterned after this world; not to masquerade in the garments of the world.

Paul also wrote, "Our citizenship is in heaven", or "we are a colony of heaven" (Philippians 3.20). Philippi was a Roman colony, and those in the church there understood what Paul meant by the Spirit's word. When Rome decided to colonize a province, a small group of trained people was sent to establish Roman customs and culture, and these colonists held fast their allegiance to Rome. In this setting a powerful minority spread the influence of Roman culture in other lands. They were men of deep conviction.

We, too, have a responsibility, in an unchristian world to spread the gospel of Christ and the ideals of the kingdom of God. We must "preach Christ and Him crucified", and "tell the vision" of a higher and more noble order of things to come. We should, in the little time left, live as a heavenly people.

In contemplation of the Christ of the cross, one desires only to bow in humble adoration before the mystery of Love whose depths no one can sound, and of whose eternal purposes we have only touched the outskirts. He came from the "bosom of the Father", to reveal Him, and by His coming to earth we have seen something of His majestic glory:

"Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory" (Isaiah 6.3).

R. Armstrong, Toronto | Nov 1969
Crossroads