Oct 24 2008
mind molds
Here is a link to today’s reading:
There is a secret to using a Jell-O mold. Those who know the secret can shape Jell-O into to a visual delight. Like a Jell-O mold, our culture works to box in our thoughts and give shape to our attitudes, expectations and actions. Christians must master the secret of resisting this conformity and instead be transformed into the shape (likeness) of Jesus Christ. We do this by letting God’s word renew and mold our minds.
Today’s Challenge:
Become a critic of the Jell-O mold of your culture. Write down how you “fit in” to the world around you. Ask God to help you break free of that mold. Commit to read God’s word and ask God to transform you to the standard of Jesus. (If you need a place to start, try the books of Mark or Luke.)
Textual Reflections:
I love Jello.I love the taste. I love the slow melt as it changes from semi-solid to pure liquid goodness in my mouth. But especially love how the gelatin can so quickly turn from a liquid taking the form of any container and then hold that form after removal. It is a delightful process.
Unfortunately my worldview works the same way. Patterns of thought are not static. Our perceptions about the nature of the world are not permanent. They are moldable. If we are not careful, they can melt take on the shape of any container in which we find ourselves. So we must choose our container carefully.
Which brings us to our text. The key to getting this text is the first word. THe first word is “Therefore.” I am not sure of the origin, but all my life I have have the phrase in my head: “When you find a “therefore” you need to know what it is there for.” Funny, huh? And also true.
If Paul says therefore, we simply must look back and see what he has been talking about. Because he thinks that what he is about to say follows form what he has just said. Assuming he is right, let’s take a look back.
In chapter 11 (which you can read for yourself if you want to check) Paul has been talking about God’s complicated strategy for offering salvation to all people. Paul has made it clear that God desires the good of salvation and kingdom life for all people. God is a God of big mercy. In short he has clarified for them the kind of God they serve and what God desires for all people.
THEREFORE
In this context Paul says “therefore.” Whatever correction he is about to offer follows from what he has just just taught us about the nature of God’s mercy and God’s plan for all people. So with that as background let’s look at what he says.
Offer yourselves as living sacrifices.
Die to your own self.
You can see why we need to go back and check out what the therefore is there for. Apart from the assurance of God’s mercy and God’s power, who could risk offering themselves as a sacrifice to God. Apart from the goodness of God, how could I rationally make any choice but to preserve my life at all cost. (Or, according to the evolutionary imperative, to preserve the life of my offspring.) But precisely in light of God’s nature and God’s promises, I can sacrifice every thing, even my own life as an act of worship to God.
If you do that then you don’t really need to worry about conforming. What can be more non-conforming ot the pattern of the age then to live for God instead of for yourself. But if Paul is right, then this non-conforming lifestyle is also the only rational choice. If God’s plans for us are both eternal and eternally good, than the only rational choice I have is to submit to transformation by God’s renewing influence on our minds.
This perspective is important to me. I know that some people are motivated by a desire not to be evil. (I wish that I was sometimes.) I am much more motivated by a desire not to be stupid. So Paul’s argument that appelas first to rationality as the foundation for morality is important to me. (Paul will argue the other way occasionally as well.) Perhaps you as well have thought, “This may be good but it is rational or reasonable.” In this section, Paul teaches, that offering yourself and a sacrifice in worship and resisting the forming influence of the age is not only good, it is also reasonable, rational and wise.
on the walk
-Ethan
