Written and media by Bradley Stubbs.
Today we are conformed to society. Over time, society has used multiple methods of conforming us and instead of pushing back, we have accepted it and so it has affected the way we live. We support things that turn people away from Christ and things that are in direct contrast with the Bible, yet we think we have a relationship with Christ. We are called as Christians to transform the world, not conform to it. People no longer see a difference between Christians and non-Christians. Our witness for Christ is being hindered because we are conformed to the world. The question is how do we reverse this so we can transform the world? It starts with the reexamination of our lives.
Matthew 7:17-23 says, “Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit, you will recognize them. ‘Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” To rebel against society, we have to learn how we have conformed to it.
Source: denofgeek.com
Society conforms us by promoting evil as good. More and more horror movies are being produced, and the gorier and more violent they are, the more hype. Christians are supporting these movies and enjoy being scared. Jesus tells us to fear not, so why are we trying to scare ourselves? Children under the age of fourteen that watch these movies have a higher chance of having anxiety in adulthood. Anxiety is not something God desires for you no matter what age you are, so why would you watch something that can potentially lead to this mental illness? What we see affects our brains directly. What you take in comes out. What you see and hear affects your thoughts and your thoughts then control your actions.
The body does what the brain tells it to. We wonder why people act like villains and go to churches and theaters with harmful intent. It is because what is internalized often comes out. Nowadays many movie main characters are the villain. Members of society see people watching and supporting this behavior, including Christians, and think that if they speak and act as the villain does, maybe people will like them too. When it comes down to it the simple question is, what are you putting in your brain: fear and anxiety or strength and joy? If you are putting fear and anxiety into your brain then you are conforming to the world.
Society also conforms us through our culture. Close your eyes and hold onto the first thing you think of when you hear the word Christmas.
When you think of Christmas and your first thought is not Jesus; you have conformed to society. When kids wake up on Easter morning, do they remember that Jesus rose from the grave and is alive today or do they wonder what they got from the Easter bunny? They probably wonder what they got from the Easter Bunny. If you go to a store and walk down the holiday aisle, there’s a good chance you’ll see Christmas trees and Santa Claus figurines. You may see a few crosses. This is because the world wants you to picture Easter and Christmas as the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and material things. If we as Christians do not push back on that, we cannot be surprised that our youth wants nothing to do with Christ during Easter or Christmas. Society wants to brainwash us when we are young so that when we get old we do not go away from it. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
As Christians, we have to push back on these things society throws at us with the intention of covering up the meaning of sacred days in our Christian faith. Now that we know how we are conformed to society, check out “Unconforming to be Transformative: Part 2” to see how we rebel against worldly things and how to transform others for Christ!
