Scripture reference: Romans 12:2

For this particular verse I would like to refer to Dr. William Barclay. (1907-1978) He was a world-renowned New Testament interpreter and Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at Glasgow University in Scotland. He wrote over fifty books, and was best know for his deep understanding of the Greek of Paul's day. That is very important to this discussion. For understanding this verse comes down to understanding the words translated as "conformed," and "transformed."

First, in verse one Paul is basically saying that instead of just saying we are going to church to worship God, we should say we are going to work, to the store, to the office, to school to worship God. In other words, we should worship God in everything we do.

This requires a radical change. We must be not conformed to the world but transformed from it. Here Paul uses two almost untranslatable Greek words; words which have taken almost sentences to express. The word he uses to be conformed to the world is suschematizesthai; its root is schema, which means the outward form that varies from year to year and from day to day. One's schema is not the same at age 17 as it is at 70. Nor is it the same when going to work or school as it is when dressed for a special occasion. It is continuously altering. So Paul says: Don't try to match your life to all the fashions of this world; don't be like a chameleon which takes its color from its surroundings. In other words, don't be one way at work or school, one way with your best friends, and another way at church.

The word Paul uses for being transformed from the world is metamorphousthai. Its root is morphe, which means the essential unchanging shape of anything. We do not have the same schema at 17 and 70, but we have the same morphe. When we are dressed for work or school we do not have the same schema as when we are dressed for a fancy night out, but we have the same morphe. The outward appearance changes, but inwardly we are the same. So Paul says that to truly worship and serve God we must change, not our outward form, but our inward personality. We must live a life kata Christon or kata pneuma, dominated by Christ or the Spirit.

Paul says this inward change happens by the renewal of your mind. The word he uses for renewal is anakainosis. The root of this word is kainos which means new in point of character and nature. When Christ comes into our life our way of thinking about what is good, right, nice, fun, and everything else changes. We see the world and ourselves differently.

As a result of this change we are able to worship and praise God in everything we do every moment of the day. Whether at work or school, at home or out with friends, being in the church building or in the car. For it is what is going on in our inward personality where true worship occurs, not what we are doing or listening to outwardly.

May the Lord bless you with His Holy Spirit at all time and in all the moments of your life. Amen.