Romans 12:1-2: Not conformed, but transformed

Romans 12:1-2 is an interesting commentary upon how to motivate a congregation towards becoming active in evangelism. “Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not be conformed any longer 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.” Notice how the heart of the matter in verse two is NOT what we do, but the way we think, the way we understand the world. Too often, we seek to address the issue of evangelism by introducing a new program for people to become involved in; but if people’s way of thinking isn’t changing, if it isn’t being tranformed by the renewal of their mind with the Word of God, then any evangelism program is doomed from the start. In all we do as Christians, and especially as the Church, renewal of our minds through the Word needs to be foundational, so the way people think is changed, so they can begin to see the world anew – transformed by the Word, able to discern and follow God in his good, pleasing and perfect Will.