Unconformed

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The term “politically correct” is a term often used in conversation when the topic is about the cultural expectations of this world. It first began to be used in the 1970s when the American New Left began using the term. In the essay The Black Woman: An Anthology (1970), Toni Cade Bambara said that “a man cannot be politically correct and a [male] chauvinist, too.” Thereafter, the term was often used as self-critical satire.

Today, if you say something the world deems as offensive you are not politically correct in western culture. Special advocate groups will claim a term as offensive, Hollywood or the news media picks up on it and begins to circulate the idea as being biased or hateful, and then if it goes far enough, legislation is enacted to make it criminal to use such remarks.

In the 1950’s and 60’s, transvestites were considered to have a mental illness, today the world celebrates these lifestyles. Dating back to the mid-nineteenth century, laws were set in place to counter farmers who would dress like native americans to avoid taxes. In New York, dating back to 1845, it was declared a crime to have your “face painted, discolored, covered, or concealed, or [be] otherwise disguised… [while] in a road or public highway.”

What was once offensive is now considered normal and accepted in todays liberal culture.

How do Christians navigate through a myriad of changes in a culture that deviates further from God’s Word?

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The world may change but God’s Word and His standard of Holiness never changes.

The Church that Jesus established was never called to be correct in its assessment of world policy, unfortunately the church has not always upheld the standard that Jesus established.

Jesus’ Standard

Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

Does it matter how a person represents themself in this world? Homosexuality is sinful but is it any more egregious than the sin of adultery or fornication? The modern church has a history of treating people differently based off how they view a particular sin, but does God do the same?

There have been people in the church that have demonstrated very hateful bias against others. The social status of a person, their political affiliation, or even past life decisions have been determining factors in whether some people showed real love or not.

I will stop and posit a thought here: those who have called themselves followers of Christ and practiced these demonstrations of hatred are not a part of Christ’s church. Hatred is equivocal to murder in God’s eyes and though there are no perfect christians, the people who have practiced such open discrimination and hatred are more guilty than the self-righteous crowds in Jesus’ day.

John 8:7 “So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”

The Believers Response

Christians are not in a position to throw stones at anyone. Those who are living in sin have been brought under judgement by God and He does the judging. Condemnation and hatred are satanic qualities of those who live in defiance against God and His people. Why would a follower of Christ want to exhibit anything that resembles satan?

People can fight to change their laws, advocate for leadership that exhibits godly values, or they can share love and grace to those who are wrestling with their identity–but bringing condemnation is not their right. Protecting children and families is vital as well as governing over the church and keeping it pure, but we must guard our own minds against the filth of this world first.

When Jesus prayed for His people, His prayer revealed God’s heart….

John 17:11 “And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”

If the love of the church does not only meet but exceed the love the world demonstrates, it will lose the opportunity to transform the world for Christ. Jesus holds the key to life, hope, and happiness, and the world doesn’t know it. Believers have to show them all of the qualities that Jesus exemplified and the way they do it is to become more like Christ.

I recently focused writing on the work of the Holy Spirit—becoming like Jesus is a key component of the Spirit’s work in believers life. Submitting to the Spirit is a process of allowing the attributes of God, what He values, and how He sees the world to become the attributes of the believer.

Believers are not called to conform to this world, they are called to conform to the work of the Spirit in their lives. They way they are to respond to the world is how God responds…..in Love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

The world makes claims like “love is love”, but they are wrong. The world doesn’t know what true love is because they don’t know the love of God. Sensual love is a very small part of love’s expression and yet that is what the world chooses to focus on. The perfect manifestation of love was exhibited by Jesus at the cross, when believers live like Jesus then godly love flows from God through His people. Every element of godly love is exhibited like a prism of colors as the love of God is manifest to the world through His people.

Since God’s people are called to express His love toward others, they can’t allow anything to obstruct that expression.

Not being politically correct is to not accept sin as being normal. Christians must learn to speak in the language the world hears without compromising their position. Expressing the gospel takes craftiness and wisdom so as not to eliminate others from hearing the testimony the Lord has called them to present.

Whether a believer is talking to a person who has given themselves over to a common cultural ideology or a political position, all believers must be able to look past the lifestyle and see the person for how God sees them—-as valuable.

Can you do it?

Can you get past your cultural beliefs and biases to exemplify Jesus to the world? If you can, you are ready to share the gospel of law and grace to those who need to hear it.

True believers can remain uncompromised and still show love unconditionally, I pray that those you influence will see your expression of faith and believe—–it is through love God’s people will change the world.