Day after day, we see culture tell us something new that is acceptable. Unfortunately, the new acceptable behaviors are generally ways to fuel selfish desires. Culture continues to tell us to focus on self. Self-this. Self-that. Not that taking care of ourselves if wrong, we should be stewarding our minds, bodies, and hearts well, but that’s not always the focus the world puts on self.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2, English Standard Version. Bolded words are to match definitions, not copied from text)

Mercy - compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.
Sacrifice – an act of slaughtering an animal or person, or surrendering a possession as an offering to God
Holy – dedicated or consecrated to God; sacred
Conformed – comply with standards; behave according to socially acceptable standards
Transformed – make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of
Renewal – replacing or repair of something that is worn out or broken
Discern – distinguish with difficulty by sight or with other senses
Will – the faculty by which a person decides on and initiates action

Now that we’ve read the definitions (all from dictionary.com), let’s go back and read Romans 12:1-2 again. It doesn’t matter what the world is telling us is acceptable. We’re not to behave according to what society considers acceptable standards.

Some would argue that there’s no need to look at rules when we have grace, but there’s still a beneficial piece of scripture to chat about that wasn’t law but Jesus himself explaining what the heart posture of citizens of the Kingdom should be. Jesus was teaching how the people of his time should be transformed and be both salt and light to others. He was challenging them to be different, to be transformed and to consider how living according to kingdom standards would be much better than the world’s standards. Since Jesus is also God, He’s omniscient, knowing everything. Should we stop to think that maybe he understood the sin pattern of humans and tailored his teachings to fit the pattern? Over and over throughout the history of both the early Church and today’s Church, we see people conform to the world, fall to sin, turn to God. Rinse and repeat. So, the passage in Romans 12, along with the passages in Matthew 5-7, are still totally fitting for us today!

Grab a bible and flip right to Matthew 5. We’ve all heard about the Beatitudes, being salt and light, the Lord’s prayer, laying up your treasures, and all the other smaller parts found through chapters 5-7. This is all one sermon. Jesus sat down on the side of a hill and preached this message. He looked at the characteristics of our hearts and explained how we need some heart changes. Characteristics that are different so that we can be seen by the world as different. So that our differences aren’t anything about us, but a chance to give God glory.

When we live a life of glorifying God, we stand out. We are salt; preserving the truth, flavoring the people and making those who see God’s goodness thirsty themselves. We are light; dispelling enemy lies, shining for the Kingdom and helping others see truth.

When we live a life of glorifying God, we’re living counterculture. We’re standing for the Kingdom of Heaven. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21, ESV)

When our hearts are transformed because God has made us a new creation, we’re bound to live counterculture because we are different. We are now focused more on the eternal home than the earthly home. So living with an eternal mindset with always break the mold of the selfish worldly mindset. Live counterculture and make huge waves for the Kingdom.

Living Counterculture