Thou shalt conformeth not...

To quote a very beautiful saying by J.D. Hull, "It is asserted of this elegant creature (he's talking about the Bird of Paradise) that it always flies against the wind, as otherwise, its beautiul, but delicate plummage would be ruffled and spoiled. Those only are the Birds of Paradise, in a spiritual sense, who make good their way against the wind of worldliness; a wind always blowing in the opposite direction to that of heaven."

Being a great lover of nature, I yearned to see how the Lord had created the Bird of Paradise (the bird, not the flower - there is a flower with the same name)... And...And...It looks like this:

Woooooow....awesome!

I love what God's Word says about conformity. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

There's a great societal pressure for Christians to conform to worldly patterns... stereotypes, values, mindsets, pursuits, etc. We are only human of course. Easily distracted by tempting promises of acceptance and gain, rendered insecure when others prosper in their possession of earthly treasures, stumbled by discouragements and tormenting fears, and blinded by dazzling sights that cause our spiritual eyes to abandon their supposed fixation on Christ. But God reminds us not to desire (and in many occasions crave and lust) to take take the world's good things as our portion, forgetting that we have something better at hand. Instead - be transformed by the renewing of the mind!

In the light of this, 3 important things we'd have to remember...

1. Not to be slaves to the world...

Romans 8:15 - 'The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him, we cry, "Abba, Father."

Richard Cecil wrote, "...The believer not only overcomes the world in its deformities, but in its seeming excellencies. Not in the way Alexander and the other conquerors overcame it, but in a much nobler way; for they, so far from overcoming the world were slaves to the world. The man who puts ten thousand other men to death, does not overcome the world. The true conqueror is he who can say with Paul, 'Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,' and 'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation?' Etc. 'Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us.' "

May we not conform or succumb to the fears that torment those who are of this world. Some, in this time of economic crisis, fear retrenchment, paycuts and being financially incapable of providing for their families. Others strife to outdo one another in the organizational hierarchy, not wanting to lose positional security... while many others work themselves to death for the sake of worldly gain, acceptance and achievement. Such are slaves to the world. They know not the pleasure of having been weaned to trust God, who has pre-determined their portions and lots - and who makes our lines fall in pleasant places. They prefer to depend on their own knowledge, strengths and abilities. May we not fall into that vicious trap of pride and fear! Since we've been adopted as sons and daughters of God, let us be secure in His promises for His people - firstly, that He never leaves nor forsakes; secondly, that His love is unfailing. And etc... May we delight in the joy of entering His rest.

2. Not to be slaves to false religion

Corrupt influence. Idolatry (not only limited to worship of wooden carved images or golden statues - but also money, people, studies, work, things - whatever that is exalted or esteemed higher than God in our hearts. Christians beware!). Prosperity gospel. Zeal not based on truth. Philosophy and vain deceit, traditions of men, and rudiments of the world not in keeping with the Word of God. Etc. I remember Pastor Jeya once expounded the verse in 2 Timothy 4:3 - "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions..." It left me trembling with fear to think that I could have sought after anything but sound teaching... and definitely much more selective on the books (even Christian ones) that I now choose to read. But even so, I still sometimes find myself 'munching' on spiritual junkfood, which takes away my appetite for His good wholesome Word. Woe to that! God, help me!

Christians, we have to read the Word of God for ourselves - that we would be able to discern between truth and what is not! Don't just depend on books. Don't just accept what sounds great to our 'itching ears' - those that please and fit our lifestyles... and push away the things that sear intrusion upon our conscience. We've got to remember Hebrews 4:12 - 'For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.' Let His Word judge the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts.

May we thus not conform to the patterns of those who '...have a form of godliness but deny its power....' (2 Timothy 3:5)

3. Not to be slaves to our appetites...

Paul said in Phillippians 3:18-20 - 'For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ...'

I don't think when Paul mentioned 'their god is their stomach', he was only concerned with the people indulging in gluttony. But rather, he was also referring to those who being slaves to their appetites (Romans 16:18) for power, earthly fame and recognition, earthly treasures (Phil 3:19), to the point of using measures such as smooth talk and flattery to deceive naive minds just so that they would get what they want.

In many ways if not all, the world esteems people who can impress. Because of that, we're accustomed to impressing in one way or another to get something we want. One example... to pass the medical practical exams I have grown so used to. One very outrageously funny thing I found when the doctors were teaching us how to examine patients in a mock examination setting - was that we were taught to impress our examiners more than anything... The examination skills were important of course - and you'd of course need to elicit the correct specific physical findings... but, but... to add credit, you'd have to be able to present your findings fluently without fumbling and stuttering all the way from "This is my patient, Mr. X, a Y-year-old Chinese gentleman, who ....", flow from one 'move' to another smoothly and lyrically (It brought back memories of ballet/jazz class), stand with the right posture when you speak, etc. You basically do and say things to flatter the eyes and the ears of the examiners!:P I remember one doctor telling us, "It's all about showmanship!" Then I have seen many doctors who don't necessarily follow the order of steps we've learnt as students when it comes to examining patients.

Likewise, God warns us not to conform to the world in this aspect of achieving our selfish ambitions. Whether it's by cunning flattery, smooth talk, deceit, impressing others, or even through our insincere preaching of 'stuff to suit the itching ears' of people. It is sin. James 3:16 - 'For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.'


God help us! May the words of our mouth and the meditations/attitudes of our hearts be pleasing and acceptable in Your sight. Help us to set apart Christ in our hearts, that we may honor You in the lives You've given us to live. May everything we do glorify You in this world we live in. Amen.