One of the internal conflicts those of the Christian faith wrestle with is that Jesus says His Kingdom is not of this world, yet we live in it. Accordingly, we have the doctrine of nonconformity.
Nonconformity Applied
We buy and sell, eat and sleep, dress and bathe, use language and experience culture. Reading through the Gospels we discover that the way of Christ is of a new code of conduct, a lifestyle different from what we’re used to. But we still interact with others who do not live by that same code.
How is this all supposed to go together?
We as humans have a tendency toward formulas. We look to them to answer our problems and use them to teach our lessons. Yet the issues we face cannot be solved by formulas. Life is too complex, too dynamic to fit into an easy step-by-step guide on how to live.
Unfortunately, though, we’ve tried formulas to resolve the conflict of following Christ, who is of another world, while we ourselves reside in this one.
We’ve looked at the world and decided we’ll do the opposite. We’ve treated it as though not being like the world is the goal. As if all Christ calls us to is being different. The world wears fancy hats, we shall wear black ones. The world wears beards, we won’t (depending on the era in which our church addressed the issue). The world listens to pop music, we listen to classical music.
There’s nothing wrong in and of itself with doing things different from the world. The problem comes when we spiritualize what we decide to do instead. I call it principlizing applications.
Ever heard someone argue classical music is godlier because it’s better for your health? Or ever had someone try to tell you harmony touches one aspect of your life, rhythm another, and beat yet another? It’s formulaic thinking. They spiritualize their preferred application of worshipful, God-honoring music. It sounds convincing, as though it really is what God wants everyone to do.
We’ve done this to almost every area of our lives. Especially dress.
If you are modest, you will dress this way. . .
If you are holy, you will do these things. . .
If you are not of this world, here’s how we’ll know. . .
Living sold out means reading more scripture, spending more time in prayer, dressing differently, not watching certain movies—the list is endless.
But the call of Christ is much greater than dedication to certain disciplines and separation from the world.
Nonconformity According to Jesus
Jesus doesn’t want us to just not conform. He wants us to be completely reconciled back to how God originally intended for us to live.
Having a hunger for God’s Word comes after something else is done in my heart. Realizing my dependency on God and therefore constantly communing with Him through prayer happens naturally after a different transformation has taken place.
We’ve put the cart before the ox.
We’ve focused on doing certain applications before teaching and instilling what causes anyone to want to apply in the first place. And when applications are principlized, when results of holiness emphasized as the way to be holy, we are just as conformed to the world as those we’re busy running away from.
Question: When you think of the Christian faith, of holiness and what it means to be a Christian, do you tend to think of things you do or things you believe? Share in the comments.
[Coming up] Nonconformity: a dangerous alternative
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