Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Jan/74

Contributor - W. Vic. Wybenga

Title - Meditation

Topic - Change

Do not be conformed to this world:but be transformed by the renewal of your mind . . .

Romans 12: 2

An accelerated rate of change; the breaking up of the conventional and expected elements; a complete shift in patterns and feelings of experience, and consequently, a shift in norms and values; in broad terms, that constitutes this present age. Imposed upon the human consciousness is the burden of a painfully fresh perception. From its sometimes violent dislocating of the familiar, the old question of man's nature and destiny emerges with fresh relevancy and unexpected urgency.

Change not merely occurs according to an inviolable "law of nature'. Life is an irresistible religious response to the eternal questions concerning meaning and purpose of the universe and of life itself. Consequently, life is worship, and worship of whom shows up most quickly in the pattern of form man gives to society, to life). But if this man, filled with an overwhelming passion to find out his individual place and responsibility, dies without ever finding out; if he tries to answer eternal questions from within his time-limited bounds of experience, then he stands face to face with a flat and inexplicable world. Then he considers anyone a fool who would seek moralities of reconciliation in all this. Then the monster of despair darkens the windows of his outlook.

In that age we live as Christians. In such a world we try to cope with the issues, we struggle to carry the torch of hope, of outlook over to the next generation. Especially in relation to young people, evasively and cunningly we employ terms as "generation gap" and "communication barriers". But youth is not simply a matter of age: You meet people 75 years young and others 16 years old.

No, the urgency of today is related to being conformed to this world, to the paralyzing despair filtrating into life. Don't bel misled if this despair is not seen on the surface. Young people too hide what is going on within. Outwardly they may show no concern about anything, their response may be emotionless, witty, sarcastic: faded blue jeans is a must, unisex is the trend. They are tempted to take a number of side-trips in charismatic experience, in fraternal gatherings, in unrelated projects of world-renewing, all mostly in conformity to this world and age; all of which have little value, unless it is centred in a renewed mind, transformed by the Word of God.

Is it not so that, even we who are in the process of being transformed by the renewing of our mind, often yet pose a false dilemma?

The friction is not between young and old, new or tradition; we all are in need of a renewing of our mind. We as Christians may never lose sight of the fact that our perceptiveness of the Gospel is quite impaired. The norms we hold often have more to do with humanistic common sense than with the Gospel. The contents which we ascribe to concepts such as love, freedom, justice, responsibility and community are seldom based on deeply evangelical insight. Rather it is often a hodgepodge of libertarian, rationalistic or other prejudices. The mind-renewing power of the Word of God is received only by letting ourselves be governed by the Spirit of God's Law, the Spirit which also drives us out to carefully examine and evaluate the nature and spirit of this age.

In today's world, where religions of all sorts are evident everywhere, and competing for converts in an unprecedented way, it is more important than ever to have sound teaching. Young people from every walk of life have given evidence that they do not shun the sacrificial life which is so central to the Christian life. The challenge of our age is to go forth to the mighty conflict in this His glorious day.

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.