“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).
What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of your mind? How do we go about renewing our mind?
The text makes it clear that having a renewed and renewing mind is to the key to:
- not conform to the pattern of this world
- having the ability to test and approve what God’s will is
The word for conform means to be shaped/molded. Imagine an artist conforming/shaping/molding metal or clay into shape by applying pressure to make a particular image. Paul says that the world is constantly conforming/shaping/molding us into its pattern. The world pressures followers of Jesus to think like, act like, and speak like everyone else in the world.
The Apostle Paul tells us not to be conformed into the pattern of this world. Instead we are to have renewed and renewing minds. So, we are back to the original question: How do we go about renewing our mind? We renew our mind by letting God’s truth revealed through God’s word conform/shape/mold us. We do this by submitting to God’s word.
What does that look like when God’s word conforms/shapes/molds us?
Being shaped by God’s word doesn’t mean that we only think about Christian things. Being shaped by God’s word means that we learn to think about everything from a Christian perspective – we start to see everything through the lens of God’s word.
Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world. Instead, God’s word is to shape and mold us into the pattern of Christ.
Praxis: Faith in Action 