"RADICAL, LUNATIC!"

Romans 12:1-2              (ESV)
"1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, but be TRANSFORMED by the RENEWAL of YOUR MIND, that by TESTING you may DISCERN what is the WILL OF GOD, what is good and acceptable and perfect."



The Apostle Paul was a unique individual.  He is credited as being the author of at least 13 books of the New Testament.  Yet, he spent an inordinate amount if time in jail, as he was considered a "RADICAL, LUNATIC" by the establishment of his time.  Paul didn't seem to mind, as he preached JESUS and HIM crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23) and let the Holy Spirit do the changing of hearts.

Romans 12:2 is a verse that people have memorized for centuries.  The mindset that it leads me to is similar to the "RADICAL, LUNATIC" mindset that Paul was labeled with.  The word "CONFORM" means "to be or BECOME SIMILAR in form, nature, or character."  Don't Rock the boat, don't stir up controversy, don't stand up for Christ and HIS beliefs was not what Paul was all about.  After all, the establishment were the leaders who crucified JESUS CHRIST!  Paul is saying we DO NOT need to BECOME SIMILAR to these people.  We need to be different.

The second portion of the verse says we need to be TRANSFORMED by the RENEWAL of YOUR MIND!  Transformed means "to CHANGE in condition, nature, or character; convert."  I believe what Paul is saying is we need to be willing be a "RADICAL, LUNATIC" for the cause of Christ!  We should not let the establishment leaders determine how we should live our lives, rather the WILL OF GOD should dictate our actions.

It should come as no surprise that the enemy has "RADICAL, LUNATIC" followers who readily give their lives in support of what they believe in.  One has to wonder why the children of a Holy GOD would put more emphasis on making a dollar than serving HIM?  Hosea 4 is a description of what happens when GOD's children turn their backs on GOD.  I am not so sure that being branded a "RADICAL, LUNATIC" by the modern-day establishment leaders would be such a bad thing?  I am pretty sure JESUS CHRIST would have been included in the "RADICAL, LUNATIC" group????