The Nonconformist In You

Colossians 3:1-11

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. (Colossians 3:10)

THE CANDIDATE MADE PROMISES before the election, and he was completely sincere. He was a newcomer wanting to make a difference, not a jaded politician. For now, his goals were local; but down the road, they were much bigger. And his fresh, reassuring words made his growing body of supporters hope he would succeed. But once he was in office, something changed. He began to work the system. He made compromises, not because he wanted to break promises but because it seemed like the only way to get things done. He conformed to the culture of his surroundings—the same culture his supporters wanted to change.

Whose story is this? No one’s in particular, but almost everyone’s who has entered any area of society—government, law, education, church, media, or anywhere else—with an eye toward change. Multitudes of people have embarked upon their life of work with a change-the-world attitude, only to find that they are the ones who change. Why? Perhaps it’s because the system is inevitably bigger than they are. Or maybe it’s because the temptations to compromise are just too great. But it’s also true that many have not learned how to carry the character and ways of God into places that contradict his character and ways. We forget the Spirit within us.

Conformity is a social phenomenon. It may also be a spiritual one. Every Kingdom citizen is called to be a conformist toward God and a nonconformist toward the world’s systems. We see this displayed in the lives of Joseph and Daniel, who served God powerfully in very ungodly kingdoms because they knew who they were and remained faithful to the one who, in his sovereignty, had allowed them to be there. You have the same ability and, if you’re willing, the same godly stubbornness. In the Kingdom of God, salt is not meant to lose its flavor, and light is not meant to dim. Let the Spirit change the environment within you; then trust the power within you to change the world around you.

{Holy Spirit, you are not a compromiser. Neither do you want me to be a casualty of the system. Show me the third way—the way of innovation, of breakthrough, of power to change. Open doors for your transforming ways. Amen.