Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)
In the epistle to the church in Rome, the Apostle Paul makes an earnest appeal for the new Christians there to put away their former way of life in debauchery; to be transformed to a radically different sort of people.
The ancient Greek word for “transformation” is “metamorphosis”. Anybody who got through elementary school science knows what that means; the radical physical change of a life form, such as a caterpillar into a butterfly or a tadpole into a frog.
Paul was not merely admonishing these new believers to morally improve their lives. He wanted them to understand the importance of becoming a completely new creature.
Other theological analogies call this process dying to self and being resurrected to a whole new being, free from the bondage of a sinful nature and dedicated to holiness before the Lord. Every new believer is strongly encouraged to repent (turn from their sinful ways) and be baptized as a witness that they intend to live in obedience to Jesus Christ as a renewed person.
We live in a day very much resembling the ancient Roman socio-political climate. That fact was blatantly displayed by the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. I must confess that my immediate reaction was less than “Christian.” I was astonished, outraged, and sad to see the parody of DaVinci’s masterpiece depicting the Lord’s last supper with his disciples.
The characters portraying those in the painting were obviously meant to stun our senses. They seemed to represent persons who proudly flaunted “an anything goes” community and to suggest that somehow Jesus would approve of it. That is gross blasphemy.
Thinking about it more, I tried to blow it off as merely another “Bud Light” bad judgment advertising error. But as I further pondered the issue, I could see it as another ploy of Satan, one devised to turn our hearts toward hatred and our eyes off the Lord and his Word.
Jesus was mocked in this world, but even as he was suffering beyond imagination, he prayed that the Father would forgive those who put him on the cross. He had come into this world, not to condemn the world but to save it by his shed blood. He came to proclaim the Kingdom of God, to urge sinners to repent from their evil ways, and to be reconciled to their Creator.
The first chapter of Romans presents us with the results of wicked rebellion against the Almighty. It depicts a lot of what we witness today. My Mama was right when she taught me that times might change, but people don’t. The Bible confirms that fact from Genesis through Revelation.
Rebellion has been around forever, always being self-destructive. World history illustrates that the downfall of great nations was preceded by a gradual moral decline. The USA is not immune. Evil has gradually become normalized, even celebrated. It feels like our beloved nation is already teetering on the edge of moral collapse.
.Part of the problem stems from a post-modern version of Jesus, which focuses solely on his unconditional love for all mankind.
Yes, Jesus is the epitome of love and grace, of forgiveness and restoration to anyone who will embrace his teaching. “Whosoever” is perhaps the most diverse, equitable, and inclusive word that I can imagine. Yet, there is the conditional word, “will.”
Some folks don’t like conditional words. They can’t fathom that a truly loving Jesus would let anyone go to hell, regardless of their evil lifestyle. But Jesus contradicts that notion, and we dare not omit or add to the Scripture to suit ourselves, nor live as we please without fear of the consequences.
The current temptation is to reinvent the person of Jesus Christ. If we could conform him to the pattern of this world then he would naturally affirm us … unconditionally. After all, if someone really loves you, they will always embrace your total being and behavior. They would never, ever confront you, much less punish you. Therefore, we need to take “everlasting suffering” with a grain of salt. Really?
Parsing the meaning of words doesn’t change the fact that whatever “hell” might be, it isn’t a happy place or state of being. Jesus makes this clear. He came to save us from it. The idea that we can minimize the warnings of Jesus as well as the testimony of Scripture is dangerously misleading.
Presenting our Savior and Lord as a nicer, more agreeable human might make him more attractive to the world, but it would contradict his own teachings. After all, he didn’t come just to win a personality contest.
I cannot judge anybody. I am well aware of that. However, I cannot approve of ungodly behavior. There is a standard the Bible presents to which we all must conform if we expect to reap its promises. We cannot edit things out of Scripture simply because we struggle to comply and obey its commands.
If Jesus isn’t Lord and the Bible isn’t the Word of God, then the mockers would be justified. But I believe and rest my eternal life on those precepts. Furthermore, I will testify of them to anyone who will listen.
I fully understand that the ultimate enemies of the faith are not the deceived and rebellious people but are actually spiritual powers of evil that are at war with the Kingdom of God and those who dare to worship him. God loves even the most deranged people, but he requires everyone to repent and obey him.
Saint Peter assures us that God is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, yet everyone must come to repentance. He warns us that the Day of the Lord will come suddenly, and this world will be utterly destroyed. He reminds us to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to that day and speed its coming (2 Peter 3:9-12).
I am a Bible believing Evangelical Christian, fully aware that I will never be understood or appreciated by those who are not. I will be mocked by those who belong to this world. I will be accused of hatred, bigotry, and intolerance merely because I believe that Jesus is Lord and that there are no other means of salvation apart from his shed blood. That’s foolishness to a lot of folks and a stumbling block to others.
So, I must embrace my foolishness, bearing humiliation, mockery, and possible persecution. I will try to give a solid witness by word and deed to those who will listen and watch, then move on. My prize is not in this world.
Peter further encourages me: “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:13-16)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
God bless you.
LeRoy
[LeRoy Curtis is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Asbury Theological Seminary. He served four years as a U.S. Naval Officer after which he became a pastor, Bible professor, educator, author, and missionary living in E. Africa for eight years where he and his wife developed a curriculum of biblical studies for untrained pastors in rural Kenya. His passion for training young church leaders takes him to various parts of the U.S., Latin America, and Africa. He and Judy are currently residing in Carrollton, Georgia.]
If polls are accurate, 80% of the evangelical electorate has completely abandoned any fealty to morality by championing a leader who never encountered a biblical commandment that he didn’t immediately violate. Indeed, it would be difficult to identify someone whose attitudes and behaviors are more contrary to the Galilean who is the putative leader of their faith.
Somehow Rev. Curtis seems to have missed the obvious. Evangelical Christianity long ago abandoned conformity to biblical principles in exchange for raw power. It has conformed in every imaginable way to secular power-seeking machinations without even a nod to its founder’s directives. Evangelicals today are sure of one thing: They know much better than Jehovah how to get his work done in this world, so he should stand back and let them maneuver.
Rev. Curtis can’t reverse this trend because the reversal of conformity from the world to conformity to the world is a ship that sailed so long ago that Evangelicals can’t even remember it.
“As followers of one universal Christ, we should be the most joyous of people. Not fearful, not angry, not condemning–we proclaim that we are all loved and forgiven. No exceptions. Anything less is not “good news”.
“With all due respect, your reaction to the Olympics opening ceremony was disappointing. Even if it was a mockery of The Last Supper, as you assumed, why take offense? It was art. It was Paris. It was a party. Frankly, it sounds like a place our Lord would feel right at home in!”
Well said, Suz!
Fearful, angry, condemning, looking for some reason to take offense — this seems to be what defines a lot of evangelicals these days, and it is turning people away from Jesus.
LeRoy says:
“I am a Bible believing Evangelical Christian, fully aware that I will never be understood or appreciated by those who are not. I will be mocked by those who belong to this world. I will be accused of hatred, bigotry, and intolerance merely because I believe that Jesus is Lord and that there are no other means of salvation apart from his shed blood. That’s foolishness to a lot of folks and a stumbling block to others.”
I don’t know who he believes, in Georgia in 2024, is mocking him for believing Jesus is Lord. That seems unlikely.
If they are accusing him of intolerance, hatred, and bigotry, it’s not because he professes Jesus is Lord. It might be that they think he is being hateful, bigoted, or intolerant for his conclusion that Jesus wouldn’t want transfolk at His table?
Buck up, LeRoy. Jesus is big enough to handle people mistaking a gay catwalk bacchanal for His last supper (maybe Jesus found the daVinci version inaccurate, who is to say?), and you are too. No one is treading on you, sweetie. 💜
Dearest VJax–au contraire, it is YOU that said it so well! Thank you!
Dear Mr. Curtis–Why is it so difficult for us to accept the gospel of Jesus the Christ? That is, the good news?
Specifically, that He has accomplished it all, singlehandedly; and our…salvation, redemption, reconciliation, our very life is gifted to us. No strings attached. That is grace.
I believe the wonder of that truth becomes the reason we desire to follow Christ, walking in love, as he instructed. But His gift certainly doesn’t depend on that.
As Robert Farrar Capon (late Episcopal priest and author) scoffs, “But God commended His love to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…on the condition that after a reasonable length of time we would be the kind of people no one would ever have to die for, in the first place, otherwise the whole deal is off!”
As followers of one universal Christ, we should be the most joyous of people. Not fearful, not angry, not condemning–we proclaim that we are all loved and forgiven. No exceptions. Anything less is not “good news”.
With all due respect, your reaction to the Olympics opening ceremony was disappointing. Even if it was a mockery of The Last Supper, as you assumed, why take offense? It was art. It was Paris. It was a party. Frankly, it sounds like a place our Lord would feel right at home in!