conformity

So, Let’s Talk About Conformity to the World

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Many people make excuses to do things to live their lives as they desire. They make excuses not to conform to God. They say well this is how it was when the Bible was written, or that was made unnecessary by Jesus Christ going to the cross and then raising from the dead on the third day. These excuses say one thing. These people are not truly seeking to have a relationship with God. They are just the religious lukewarm who Christ has vomited out of the Body of Christ long ago and aren’t worthy of being even listened to.

Why make such a harsh statement? Well let us turn to the Word of God.

Romans 12:1-2 NKJV – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

A key command given in these verses:

“Do not be conformed to this world.”

Conformed – G4964 – suschématizó – conform to, fashion yourself according to. Conform to the same pattern.

Let us turn to a main example of this. The placing of tattoos upon your body once you have accepted being a child of God through Jesus Christ.

And here it comes. The railing and complaining.

Let us just use the verses given above and apply this to what can be seen in the world about us. Has there not been TV shows that have a contest between the best tattoo artists within the world that place their artwork onto their fellow human beings? The answer is yes.

Then this is definite proof that tattoos are something that those of the world seek after. Then per just the verses above those that profess to being a follower of Christ should avoid placing this artwork upon their bodies.

However, we shall dig even deeper into the Word of God, plus at the end of this I will share a dream I was given from God in the mid-1980s. But let us get to the first part:

In three separate places within the Gospels Jesus Christ teaches this about the law and prophets:

Matthew 22:34-40 NKJV – But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 5:17-19 NKJV – “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 16:13-17 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

It makes it very clear that the commandments taught in Exodus, Deuteronomy and Leviticus are still in effect. The ONLY exception is those about making sacrifices, because Jesus Christ going to the cross ended only these commands.

With that said this means this law is still in effect:

Leviticus 19:28 NKJV – You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD.

Recently I heard of a lady making comments that if this law was still in effect, then those laws surrounding it were in effect as will. My answer to that is. Yes, they are. Now why make this statement?

Ephesians 6:10-12 NKJV – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

When people place tattoos upon them, especially Christian imagery, which is in defiance of this commandment:

Exodus 20:4-6 NKJV – “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Those that do this surrender to the evil spirits that have been given dominion over the world at this time. We are in a spiritual warfare, which includes how we live our daily lives including how we dress. How we cut our hair. Where we live as well as our choice of personal transport.

2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT – Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Once again this conformity to the world applies to how people dress. How they desire to live and what as well as how they get about if they seek to own a vehicle. This is why this is taught in 1 Timothy 6:

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Now as promised the dream:

It was about a year or so after I was born again. It was another of what is called a vivid dream. I have many of them, most I am not able to shared, but this one was.

I found myself inside of a store, but the racks and shelves were ransacked. I was in chains and in a line. In front of me and behind were others, they all wore a grey jumper. I looked down and found myself to be wearing the same.

Several half-naked people that were mostly tattooed and pierced were directing us. One stood on the top of the shelves shouting and laughing as he lashed out with a whip. As it snapped, I heard him say:

“Where is your God now? Why doesn’t He come and get you?” He said things like this repeatedly as he herded the line toward the back of the store. Soon after a twelve-year-old boy, tattooed like the others, came running down one of the hallways made by the shelves. He stopped, as he laughed and held up by the hair the head of a woman and all those that were herding those in chains roared with laughter.

Once we reached our goal, I saw a line of cots set against the back wall and we those chained together were placed into these cots. After a time one by one the cots to my left were emptied, then it was my time. They made me get up and walk through a door at the back of the store. All went black.

Revelation 20:4 NKJV – And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Like I stated, I had this dream in the mid-1980s. In this time there were tattoos, but they were not as extreme in the number of people having them or the number of tattoos upon their bodies. The very fact that tattoos have exploded in numbers and even entered into the religious communities speaks volumes.

Please note that I did say within Christianity. For those that are true to Christ choose to follow His commands and teachings and so are without tattoos. The only exception to this is those that got tattoos before their salvation and due to the fact that they cannot afford to get them removed.

With this we see that our need to be separate from the world is not just an act of obedience, but also shows that by doing so we wear the armor of God within the spiritual warfare that has been ongoing since Satan and his fellow angels were cast out of heaven.

Those that conform to the world, like getting tattoos. Refusing to wear this armor as an act of defiance against God Himself through Jesus Christ and in fact are in open rebellion against their Savior by getting tattoos. A permanent marking upon their skin in defiance against their Creator.

Why say this?

Because their own personal wants and desires are more important than following the commands and teachings found with the Word of God.

Blog for Podcast #175 (Conformity)

bible, Bible study, Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Romans 12:1-2 NKJV – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

“And do not be conformed to this world.”

This is a powerful statement. This is something most that profess that they are “Christian” refuse to do or accept.

The most obvious example of this is those that pursue money. The big house or houses. The multiple vehicles. The fancy clothes and jewelry. This is the world as shown here:

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Another form of conforming is tattoos. 1 in every 5 people throughout the world has a tattoo, which means any that gets these after coming to Christ is living in sin.

This is the greatest challenge and the greatest failure in Christianity. But Jesus knew that this is the way it would be.

Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV – “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

“For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction.”

And yes, those that are living the two examples I just gave are on the road to destruction. However, in their eyes they are not, which again the Holy Spirit knew would occur.

Hebrews 6:4-6 NKJV – For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

2 Peter 2:20-22 NKJV – For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.

“They ‘then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.’”

What constitutes living a truly “holy life?” Well in three different gospels this is clearly spelled out. Here is one of these times:

Mark 10:17-22 NKJV – Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,’ ‘DO NOT MURDER,’ ‘DO NOT STEAL,’ ‘DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.'” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Most still frown at this command. Yes command. This is mandatory to be a follower, a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Luke 14:25-27 NKJV – Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:33 NKJV – So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Let us look at this from a different angle. Those that will say “Lord, lord:”

Matthew 7:21-27 NKJV – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Every single person who refuses to downsize or place religious tattoos upon their bodies once becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is building their house of salvation upon the sand. Accordingly, when the time comes and the trials come, which they will and do. Most will falter and fail, and their house will be washed away, which is their salvation through Jesus Christ the Rock. Yet again they don’t wish to hear these truths, but this is what the Bible teaches.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

“For which some have strayed from the faith.” Meaning they have abandoned their salvation for the love of worldly possessions and money. All because they wish to conform to the world.

What else is seen as conformity to the world?

That is actually easy to answer. Whatever, the majority is doing is conformity. For those that are not of the world will not reflect the world. As Christians we are called to reflect Christ, thus the name.

If we are not ready to help those in need. If we are not spreading the Word of God. That is conformity. For most only care for their own wellbeing and care nothing for any others. This is exactly how most act, which means it is a world mentality. It is a mentality that has been growing by leaps and bounds since the removal of God from the schools in the 1960s.

Tattoos have increased exponentially. The coloring of one’s hair away from what we were born with, as well as what is the current hairstyle. All points to following the world and not Christ. In fact, we are shown how women should present themselves to the world.

 1 Timothy 2:8-10 NKJV – I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

One way someone shows they follow God is made clear here at the end of these verses: “with good works.” Later in this first letter to Timothy this is pushed home again for those that pursue earthly wealth.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 NKJV – Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Most wish to deny “works,” which again shows a conformity to the world. For Christ makes this very clear in Luke:

Luke 16:13-17 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

“For what is highly esteemed among men.” aka the world. “Is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Conformity is an abomination in the sight of God. Which has I have shown time and again places those that conform on the same level as the antichrist and those that will follow and worship that person.

Is this really how you wish to live? Do you really want to stand before the Great White Thone in judgement and not the Throne of worship?

Time is quickly running out to fix your relationship with your Savior Jesus Christ if you profess to being “Christian.” Very soon the trumpets will blow and upon the second blast those that conform will be left behind. Which is something none should pursue, but most now do.

For Christ made it clear that few walk the narrow path. Why? Because they do not conform and strive to follow the commandments given by Christ. Commandments which shall never end until the end of the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ.

God Bless