Recent political rhetoric was filled with the word and idea of change. A new president was elected on the hope of change. The concept of change holds hope in the Scriptures too. When Paul writes the Romans he says, “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed…” Being transformed is being changed, and in Scripture the call is to be changed into the likeness, the mind, the image of Christ for the sake of the world. The hope of salvation is offered in this change.
Being like Christ in the world will change the world. Having the mind of kindness, goodness, forgiveness rather than the cultural mind set of fear and suspicion will bring great change everywhere we live it. The way of the world without change is not working in many ways. The earth under our feet is being assaulted as if there are not billions of us who share this home together. The air above our heads is being poluted with unclean toxins that we breathe daily. The animals with whom we share the planet are being crowded out of habitats. Our neighbors are losing homes and jobs, and afraid they will get sick and need medical help for which they cannot pay. Something needs to change.
One of my spiritual giants is Robert Mulholland who uses a few simple questions to measure the change of one’s life that marks transformation. Here are his questions to ask yourself:
- Am I more loving than I was a year ago?
- Am I more forgiving than I was a year ago?
- Am I more patient?
- Am I more kind?
- Do I have more joy?
You get the drift. Change in one’s life is measurable. When we are truly being transformed there is an outward component to the transformation, for as Dr. Mulholland says, ” we are being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.” The outward fruit of the inward change will be justice, love, and all the fruit of the Spirit of God. Our change will matter to the world and to God. From politics to the most personal points of our faith, may we invite and live the change that looks like hope for the world. Amen.
