Conformed Or Transformed?
Stories
LECTIONARY TALES FOR THE PULPIT
Series III, Cycle A
This little verse packs a lot of punch. It has many words that are full of meaning, full of insight, full of information about what God wants for us as a community of God.
Conformed: To be conformed is to mold or form one's behavior in accordance with a particular pattern. Some of us need a certain label on our back pants pocket to feel we're acceptable; others pierce their bodies to fit in with a certain crowd; still others drive a particular car to seem worthy. The ideal would be to mold our behavior in accordance to God's pattern.
World: The world in which we live now, not the future or the past. We live in the world the way it is right now. It may not be the way we want it to be, but it is the way it is.
Transformed: The root of transformed is from the Greek mete--morph, to be changed, changed into, or to become. We recall the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. We see the metamorphosis of an awkward teenager into a composed, confident adult.
Renew: Refreshed, alive again, ready to go on again. We need periods of renewal so that we can go out into our daily lives, in the world in which we live, to be the people God wants us to be.
Discern: A discernment is a testing of sorts: an examination, a discovery, an interpretation. We can discern things when we discover the particulars, when we examine it thoroughly and ask God for an interpretation.
Will of God: God's will is that we be the people we were meant to be, and people who live in peace, act mercifully and justly, and who walk in God's love and light. The will of God is that which would please God.
Good: Would this be moral goodness? Or someone's positive worth? God wants positive aspects in our lives and wants us in turn to bring about positive growth and attitudes.
Acceptable: Something that is pleasing to someone is considered acceptable.
Perfect: Perfection is the ultimate goal. It is complete, truly genuine, and fully accomplished.
So many words, such a little sentence. Paul told the Christian community in Rome that he would be visiting them. Paul did not yet begin or visit the church in Rome, which was started around the year 49--50, but Paul wanted to introduce himself to them since he intended to pass through Rome on his way to Spain. He was asking them to be members - fully participating members - of the people of God.
Paul reminded the members of this new community that they have been given God--given talents, resources, and responsibilities, not only toward one another, but as a church body. They must work together. They must renew their minds so that they can discern and understand the will of God. They must do what is good and acceptable.
Paul told them that if they conform to God's will, they would be transformed in doing God's will. Amen!
Conformed: To be conformed is to mold or form one's behavior in accordance with a particular pattern. Some of us need a certain label on our back pants pocket to feel we're acceptable; others pierce their bodies to fit in with a certain crowd; still others drive a particular car to seem worthy. The ideal would be to mold our behavior in accordance to God's pattern.
World: The world in which we live now, not the future or the past. We live in the world the way it is right now. It may not be the way we want it to be, but it is the way it is.
Transformed: The root of transformed is from the Greek mete--morph, to be changed, changed into, or to become. We recall the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. We see the metamorphosis of an awkward teenager into a composed, confident adult.
Renew: Refreshed, alive again, ready to go on again. We need periods of renewal so that we can go out into our daily lives, in the world in which we live, to be the people God wants us to be.
Discern: A discernment is a testing of sorts: an examination, a discovery, an interpretation. We can discern things when we discover the particulars, when we examine it thoroughly and ask God for an interpretation.
Will of God: God's will is that we be the people we were meant to be, and people who live in peace, act mercifully and justly, and who walk in God's love and light. The will of God is that which would please God.
Good: Would this be moral goodness? Or someone's positive worth? God wants positive aspects in our lives and wants us in turn to bring about positive growth and attitudes.
Acceptable: Something that is pleasing to someone is considered acceptable.
Perfect: Perfection is the ultimate goal. It is complete, truly genuine, and fully accomplished.
So many words, such a little sentence. Paul told the Christian community in Rome that he would be visiting them. Paul did not yet begin or visit the church in Rome, which was started around the year 49--50, but Paul wanted to introduce himself to them since he intended to pass through Rome on his way to Spain. He was asking them to be members - fully participating members - of the people of God.
Paul reminded the members of this new community that they have been given God--given talents, resources, and responsibilities, not only toward one another, but as a church body. They must work together. They must renew their minds so that they can discern and understand the will of God. They must do what is good and acceptable.
Paul told them that if they conform to God's will, they would be transformed in doing God's will. Amen!
