“Don’t copy the behaviours and customs of this world, but …” (12: 2 NLT).
“Don’t copy the behaviour 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.” Romans 12:2 NLT[1]
Greetings my friend and welcome to another day, a precious and invaluable privilege.
Let me share some thoughts with you from the above passage; and I will quickly add that I am not preaching, and I am not a Pastor. I am just a servant (Minister) of God, who is learning to use His words as basis for life, just like people generally have philosophies or convictions that shape their life. So ordinarily, your religious persuasion should not be a concern.
Yes, the above passage is heavily loaded and can be divided into 5 parts. I will be dealing with the first part – “Don’t copy the behaviours and customs of this world, which has been highlighted as the key passage above. It is a command and an instruction, given to be obeyed, not necessarily up for discussion or debate; and God who gave the command has not left us in the dark with the “how to” of how to obey and achieve the goal of this command. This “how to’ is not the focus of this piece; wait for it, and you will soon have it in subsequent sharing. But why is it important as a command? Part of the answer is contained in the full text, reproduced above; but it is also not for consideration now. For our sharing, I like to say that part of the reason, put in the context of our experience as a people and nation, is to be seen in the behaviours and customs that characterise us. These are represented by behaviours and values which include: an older person is never wrong; ko mean; sorry sir/ma, said only to stop being corrected and challenged to make changes; leaders take advantage, oppress, exploit, etc., but must not be resisted or challenged, otherwise you face being brutalised; the national treasury is for those who have put themselves in positions of authority, others should wait for their turn; the general populace are not entitled to a decent life, and should be grateful for any little thing (tokenism) those in power do so in frequently, but especially when they are asking for your vote; good governance, justice and the provision of amenities and facilities are not meant for the people; and they must not complain if they love to be alive; leaders and people in positions of authority demand and deserve the singing of their praises, because they are wealthy, most, if not all of which they have stolen from the national treasury.
The components of the elements of the thoughts that comprise our behaviours and customs are as unlimited as they are negative and destructive. But they have a glaring impact: they have traumatised our psyche, and prevented and blunted our ability to think and reason objectively – the way of dictators. So, friends, I ask you, have you put yourself or been put into this mould? Actually, it is an
automatic default for all who do not have a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ! Trash; nonsense; etc you would say; but wait a minute. Let me take you to the wisdom of your Maker, especially if you do not believe that you fell from … nowhere, but through the interaction between a man and a woman!
Since they didn’t bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose. And then all hell broke loose: rampant evil, grabbing and grasping, vicious backstabbing. They made life hell on earth with their envy, wanton killing, bickering, and cheating. Look at them: mean-spirited, venomous, fork-tongued God-bashers. Bullies, swaggerers, insufferable windbags! They keep inventing new ways of wrecking lives. They ditch their parents when they get in the way. Stupid, slimy, cruel, cold-blooded. And it’s not as if they don’t know better. They know perfectly well they’re spitting in God’s face. And they don’t care—worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best! Romans 1:28-32 MSG[2]
Sad and mind-bugling I suppose to read the above. You may protest, but everyone born into this world after the first and disastrous rebellion in history – the rebellion of Lucifer, the archangel against his Maker and God, have reprobate; depraved; corrupt; base; and condemned mind! And just before I leave that thought, for our leaders who commit terrible crimes because their subjects resist them or even revolt, kindly hear that God the Maker and Creator of the entire universe did not send out the armoury to crush the rebellion of Lucifer (now called Satan), though he could have done that with just a whisper! So, you (our leaders) got your pattern from Satan, the one who always wants to play god and have absolute authority. But that is where we all find ourselves. Education; culture and exposure may have some moderating effect; but these negative and wicked behaviours rear their horrible heads once we are out of the place of their influence; or in the midst of those or systems that are steeped in these negative virtues, just as we have in Nigeria. Therefore, here lies the reason and rationale for you to urgently obey this instruction.
As your friend, I have come to know that these behaviours and customs of the world are generated by the god of this world –Satan, and his three-pronged goal is to steal, kill and destroy. What is more, because of his activities, those who follow him, whether knowingly or not, have been given a corrupt (reprobate) mind that can do only what is not right; like their master Satan. Their actions amount ot killing, stealing and destroying those and places where they find themselves, because of their depraved minds. Do you wonder at the horrendous actions of some of us, especially those who rule over us; yes those who rule over us in all spheres of life – government/politics; economy/business; social; religious; and cultural spheres. You may quiver, fume, and be dismissive in protest, because I should think that you will fall into one of these categories. But check your actions – the things you have aided; done; permitted to be done and not done – what were and has been their impact? I leave you to answer that
question. Those who know me know that I have been at conflicts with them over such corrupt behaviours at the cost of losing positions and privileges. So if you don’t want to continue in this negative pattern that will lead you to punishment from God here now and later in eternal damnation, accept the directive from your Maker, the Almighty God, and act on it quickly. Like we all know every action has a reaction, and for those who do evil they will get evil, raised to the hundredth power in return as their reaction from God.
Hmmm, this may have been heavy for some of us; it is usually not the easiest thing to be introspective; or accept to be challenged, especially in our comfort zone or areas that we do not want others to know about. But as your friend, that is what I intend to do – to challenge us, myself inclusive; to challenge our consciences; our motivations and purpose, among others on this side of eternity. I am passionate and forthright at upholding the standards of our Maker, the Almighty God as much as I know and understand them, and … I make no apologies. I have His boldness; braveness and courage to stand against evil wherever I see it; because I am continuously working on and obeying this instruction not to copy the behaviours and customs of this world. This is aside from the main reason of being obedient to my Lord, my Maker, and the One Who Sustains Me.
But let me stop here today, and give you the opportunity to digest it. I’ll come again; meanwhile your reactions or responses as the case may be are welcomed.
Have a blessed day, my friend.
Atsenuwa@ Passionate.Forthright.
[1] Rom.12:2:NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.2.NLT
[2] Rom.1:28-32:MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/rom.1.28-32.MSG
