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

A few years ago I purchase a t-shirt with the words “Free Thinker” printed on the front. The phrase speaks to the idea of asking questions and challenging the status quo. In our ever changing society where Christian values are challenged in nearly every aspect of our lives, we may once again have more in common with the early followers of Christ who refused to comply with the majority of the people in the culture.

I think most of us like to think we are the round pegs being forced into square holes, but how many of us willingly conform to what is expected of us at the end of the day? We may think “peer pressure”, refers to the pressure to conform that young men and women experience in their teens. But, if we’re honest we are all pressured to conform at one level or another well into adulthood.

When Paul wrote the verse above he was saying that not conforming to expectations of others is more than what we say “no” to in our lives. As Christians we are to say yes to living in such a way that doesn’t conform. We say yes to speaking the truth even when it may be uncomfortable. We say yes to speaking up on behalf of others in need – even if it is unpopular. We say yes to keeping our marriage vows. We say yes to doing the right thing when the wrong thing is more convenient.

What would you add?

Secondly, Paul tells us to be “transformed by the renewal of your mind.” This transformation enables the first part of Paul’s challenge. It’s hard to not conform to the world’s way of doing things if our minds are filled with the standards of the world around us. In order to renew our minds, we must be intentional.

Do the things that fill our minds lead us to more Godly thinking or are we trapped by the outside thoughts that are influencing us?

It’s a legitimate question, don’t you think?