Conformity to the World

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 


I don't get why people find these verses of scripture so difficult to understand.  Actually, I don't get why Christian people want to continue on with their same old lives after they get saved! 


To me, these verses of Scripture are self-explanatory.  I'm just a person of average intelligence - like the majority of the world......soooo, why are THEY making the Bible harder to understand than it really is?  


Definition of CONFORM:
1. to act in harmony
2. to act in accord with prevailing STANDARDS, ATTITUDES, PRACTICES, etc., of a SOCIETY or group
3. to become similiar in form, nature, or character.


You get the idea?!!


To me - (on verse two) "BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD" means exactly that.  Do not CONFORM to this world means 1. dont act in harmony with the world; 2. don't act according to the prevailing standards, attitudes, & practices of the world; 3. don't become similiar (or like) the world.


So we as Christians, should avoid (as much as is possible having to live in this world) anything associated with, or agreeable to THE WORLD or society.  AND we need to think deeper than most of our shallow minds wants to allow.  Yes, drugs are wrong & illegal.  Yes, smoking & drinking are wrong (that goes back to our bodies being the TEMPLE OF GOD). Yes, sex before marriage (or adultery after marriage) is wrong.  Yes, murder is wrong.  But what about the things we put into our minds?  Whether it's the music we listen to, the things we read, the stuff we watch on tv, the conversations we have with friends, the games we play, etc.   The list goes on and on.  WHAT ABOUT ALL THAT STUFF?  How are we RENEWING our minds if all our minds get is nasty language (conversations, tv, games, music), violence (books, tv, games), unholy living (tv, music,), etc.  And that list can go on and on!!


We, as Christians are not to do as the 'world' does!!  We are to be DIFFERENT!!  A shining light! A beacon of hope! How are we to be all this - IF WE DO AS THE WORLD DOES?!  If we fit in with the world, and do as they do, how are they to see the light, see what's right and wrong?


It's not just about not drinking, not having sex before marriage, not smoking, not killing, etc.  It's about things that the WORLD thinks 'doesn't matter'.  It's about talking different, living different, acting different.  Will someone please tell me how we are to do this if our actions (IN THE LITTLE THINGS) are no different than theirs?!


You can't just 'get saved'.  There has to be a LIFE CHANGE after that.  How are we to win others if we act no different than they do AFTER we get saved?


May everyone have a blessed Easter....and if you are not right with God in ALL you do, my prayer for you is that you make things right before it's too late.