A Countercultural Standard For Living
“Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:
If prophecy, use it according to the standard of one’s faith;
if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching;
if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.” - Romans 12:1-8 HCSB
Over the past few months, I have been to the Asheville, NC area three times. I love the beauty of the mountains in spring and summer, and the coolness of the mountains. It somehow make me feel closer to God when I’m on a mountain pinnacle and looking around at the Lord’s creation.
That being said, while there is a church and family element in and around it, Asheville itself is a different kind of place: Bohemian, Hippie, Artsy, Alternative Music, Religions and Lifestyles. Areas of it are very much countercultural to what many would call the norm.
Then on the outskirts, in the rural areas there are those who live off the grid, under the radar totally separated from the rest of the country. They want nothing to do with the cultural norms and trust few outsiders. Countercultural in their own right.
And all that differentness got me thinking... How are we as Believers and Followers of Jesus Christ to live? Shouldn’t we be countercultural. In the world but not of it?
But how do we live such a life.
A Countercultural Standard For Living:
Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.
Do not conform to what the world/age says is ok.
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind so you can discern God’s perfect will.
Do not think of yourself more highly than you should
Think sensibly
Be a functional part of the body of Christ
What if we lived in such a way - Countercultural indeed.
Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem
Photo by my old college classmate Dusty Doddridge
