Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June/88

Contributor - Peggy Humby

Title - Guest Editorial

Topic - Editorial

In Romans 12:2 we are admonished to no longer conform to the "pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV)

We all know this verse and I am sure that many of you like me have puzzled over it. in a world that is apparently falling apart the idea of not being a part of the "pattern of this world" is almost certainly a pleasant thought and the idea of "being transformed by the renewing of your mind" thrills me. It means that I can spend most of my time in renewing my mind and learning God's perfect will for me!

However, the alarm rings, another day dawns and out I go into the world and wonder what God has in store for me.

It is not easy to be a Christian in today's world, we always have to be on our guard. Is it possible to be successful and still retain your beliefs and convictions? Have you ever thought that your job (whatever it is) is your mission? Most of us went to school, graduated, went on to higher levels of learning, graduated and went to work at the best job we could find, maybe never considering that this is what God wanted for us.

If you are feeling the pressures of the "world", maybe this has been your thinking, but how about thinking about your job in the secular world as being God's mission for you. In John 17 Jesus prays for his disciples and says:

"For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them, I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours ... I will remain in the world no longer but they are still in the world and I am coming to you. Holy Father protect them by the power of your name - the name you gave me - so that they may be one as we are one ... I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but protect them from the evil one ... As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." NIV v.8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 18

As modern-day disciples we are "covered" by this prayer and should take any opportunities available to us to show by our deeds and words that we are indeed "of the world but not conformed to it".

In the pages of this month's Pioneer you will find some articles that will make you think about this conformity and it is my prayer that as the pressures of the world increase we will be able to withstand them by studying God's word and find out God's will for us.

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