{"id":10019,"date":"2021-10-22T12:43:37","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T16:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/?p=10019"},"modified":"2021-10-22T12:43:38","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T16:43:38","slug":"are-we-seeing-transformed-lives-in-our-churches-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/2021\/10\/are-we-seeing-transformed-lives-in-our-churches-today.html","title":{"rendered":"Are we seeing transformed lives in our churches today?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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“I\u00a0beseech\u00a0you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies\u00a0a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,\u00a0which is\u00a0your\u00a0reasonable service.\u00a0And\u00a0do not be conformed to this world, but\u00a0be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may\u00a0prove what\u00a0is\u00a0that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” \u2013 Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 12th chapter of the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he exhorted believers to offer themselves wholly to God, so that they would no longer be “conformed to this world,” but “transformed” by the renewing of their minds. The word “conformed” has the idea of abiding by an outward system or way of life, so that the individual looks and behaves in a way identical to that system. In this case, the system that Paul warned about was the fallen and sinful system or culture of this world. The believer in Jesus is not to look nor think like the world’s culture. Instead, they are to live transformed lives!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Greek, the word translated “transform,” is \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u03bf\u03c1\u03c6\u03cc\u03c9 (metamorpho\u014d<\/em>). It is the origin of the word “metamorphosis.” Like a butterfly from a caterpillar, it means to change completely into something new. Believing in Jesus and offering oneself to Him wholly, results in life transformation. As Paul wrote the Corinthians, “Therefore, if anyone\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0in Christ,\u00a0he is<\/em>\u00a0a new creation;\u00a0old things have passed away; behold, all things have become\u00a0new” (1 Cor. 5:17).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But are we seeing transformed lives in our churches today? Lives that are markedly different than they were before? Sadly, the answer is often not. Many who claim to be Christ-followers in America today, are almost indistinguishable in their beliefs and behaviors from those of the world. They claim Christ, but they continue to conform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, several disturbing national trends are being observed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n