Romans 12 [The Message]

Do we conform or are we transformed? We are called to be different, not in an attention-grabbing way, but in a way that reflects God’s glory to the sinking culture around us.

My parents were raised in a church culture that took great pride in being different. Their standard of holiness, especially for the women, was how long your skirt and sleeves were, how little makeup you used, and abstaining from shaving your legs. You shouldn’t cut your hair and my mom wasn’t even supposed to wear a wedding ring when she married. You get the point.

The Christian’s standard is not based upon the world’s styles or norms, but on God’s Word. It’s an inner standard that’s reflected in true modesty and an excellence of demeanor that tells the onlookers there is a Holy God in heaven we are wanting to please. His indwelling grace is our fuel.