Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
I am attempting to examine what this verse really means. How far do we take this verse as a Christian? Does it only apply to the "big issues" or does it apply to things like how we spend our money or what we eat for lunch? In what ways should we be different and in what ways is it okay to blend in to the world's ways? In particular, I have been looking at food issues and how we take care of our body. Should we look like the world in those issues or should we take a strikingly different stance?
We could look around at prominent Christian leaders and observe that they seem to look about the same as the rest of the world. Many are overweight. Many lack the physical stamina through lack of exercise. I want to look at my own life with a critical eye and see if I am trying to not copy the behavior and customs of this world. Because this verse implies that if I don't copy them, God can transform me into a new person by changing the way that I think. Then I will learn that God's will for me is good and pleasing and perfect. Notice I said that I am looking at myself, not others. When I mentioned that popular leaders are not following this standard for their life, I realize that more fingers are pointing back at me if I dare to point one finger at them. So let's make this clear that this is about me, not anyone else. If you see me in a fast food restaurant eating french fries, it will be obvious that I am just like everyone else:)
What are America's habits for eating? Obviously we are missing the mark badly in this area. Take a minute to read the following article on health issues in America.
Excess body weight: A major health issue in America
For many people, the modern American lifestyle has led them to eat more unhealthy foods, eat bigger food portions, and be less physically active. As a result, the number of Americans who are overweight or obese (very overweight) has been rising. About 1 in 3 American adults is now obese, and another 1 in 3 is overweight.
Being overweight or obese can have far-reaching health consequences. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excess body weight increases the risk for:
- Heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Stroke
- Liver and gallbladder disease
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
- Arthritis
- Abnormal menstrual periods and infertility in women
- Certain cancers
Overweight and obese people, on average, do not live as long as people who stay at a healthy body weight throughout their lives.
Not only are more adults overweight or obese, but more children are, too. Among children and teens, about 17% (or 12.5 million) are obese, a rate that has almost tripled since 1980. Some of the same health problems affecting obese adults can also affect obese children. These include heart disease risk factors such as high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, as well as asthma, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, muscle and joint problems, and liver disease. Obese children and teens are also at higher risk for social and psychological problems, such as discrimination and poor self-esteem. Obese children and teens are more likely to be obese as adults.
How many times will we read these statistics and ignore the fact that America is growing weaker and weaker as a nation? Can we continue to rationalize away the issue that is not only an epidemic in America, but the Christians don't look any different from the non-Christians? No stone gets thrown at the speaker if someone points out that Christian divorce rates are the same as non-Christian divorce rates. We are aghast and say this is wrong! But the weight/health issue is protected somehow from debate. It seems okay to be overweight and under-exercised. Just a little nag of discontentment. Just a little depression about the way we look. But no radical alarm that this is not right. We should enjoy health more than anyone. God is saying, "My ways are best. They are good. They are perfect. Try them and you will see." You will never hear this proclaimed from the pulpit. Someone might be embarrassed.
Remember "there is no condemnation in Christ...none." Period. Never. Just a conviction that he wants better for us than the food-addicted, stress-induced cravings, handle-depression-through-eating-ice-cream type life we are choosing. I have said this before. I have lived that way most of my life. However, I am not living that way at the present time and I enjoy life a lot better than I used to. I am seeing that his ways are really better...amazing actually:)
Ponder this verse and see if you are conforming to the world or are you actually choosing a narrow way that very few are walking on these days. Life doesn't have to be so miserable. God wants an abundant life for me and you.
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
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