Be Ye Transformed

     When David decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, he first used an oxcart; similar to what the Philistines had done.  David probably was not intentionally trying to be like the heathen, but simply moved the cart that way because it had been returned to Israel in a cart.  Still, they suffered terrible consequences by moving the Ark that way.  Then David realized how God wanted the Ark to be moved;  and when he did it God's way he had God's blessing. 

     Often, as Christians, we do the same thing in many areas.  We tend to copy the world around us in our music, clothing, finances, view of the family, understanding of the state, and numerous other things. Therefore, God tells us "...be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..."  We should actively be searching the scriptures so we may do all things to the glory of God. 

     One way we do this, is by searching to see what Scripture says about a certain thing.  The Bereans did this when they checked out the teachings of Paul with the Bible.  When we hear the teachings of some man or when we are thinking about some issue, we should think, "What does the Bible say about this?"  And then search and see.  The primary way we study the Bible though, is to simply read the Scriptures, memorize portions, and copy it down.  As we put the Bible in our minds and think about it, the Holy Spirit will teach us things that we should be doing to be conformed to the image of Christ. 

     When one opens the Bible and begins to read, he will first find that, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."  Nevertheless, numerous great Christians of the past and present have unwittingly accepted the world's theories about the age and origins of the earth.  Being conformed to the world in this area has led to terrible consequences.  There were other compromises, though, that led to the acceptance, by Christians, of an old earth.  

     Francis Bacon, who is often credited with formulating the scientific method, believed that one could understand the world, without the Bible.  Galileo Galilei claimed that one can use science to interpret the Bible.  Galileo said the Bible tells us how to go to heaven, but not how the heavens go.  Johannes Kepler said, science is "thinking God's thoughts after Him."  This sounds great, but, it places science as a standard alongside the Bible.  When one has two standards, he must sort out their reconciliation if they appear to disagree.  And thus, his mind is ultimately the standard.  When people accepted the teachings of Copernicus, even though they believed the Bible taught of a geocentric universe, they were then ready to accept science when it supposedly taught that the earth was very old. 

     If we want to not be conformed to this world, but rather be transformed by the renewing of our mind, we aught to hold the Bible as our ultimate authority in every area of life, from science, to various issues of our culture.