Thinking rightly with renewed minds (Romans 12:2-3)
Christians are those who are living sacrifices, giving our lives to the service of God. We are to be different from the world around us, as we read in Romans 12:2-3:
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. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (Rom. 12:2-3 ESV)
If you live out this not conforming and transforming, then the second half of v2 makes sense. A renewed mind, informed by the word of God and the gospel, then has to interact with the world we live in. This means that what we believe is a very practical thing. As we strive to live as God instructs, we will be able to discern, to work out, that this is really a better way of living. Living as God’s people leads to contentment that living for things never can.
This also reminds us that we are not to live just by following commands. There are not commands for everything, every issue we might face. Christians are to have renewed minds, to understand God’s principles for living, to be always guided by grace and love. And we should apply this to whatever we come across in our lives. There will be things that there are no commands about, but we as Christians should discuss, test, and work out what is good and acceptable and perfect to do. What should we do with the rise of AI? How do we live as believers in a modern workplace with its Pride days and diversity policies? How should we think about where we live and what visa to apply for? What is driving our decisions with these things? In these and so many other questions, our minds, renewed by the Scriptures, need to consider what is good and acceptable and perfect to God. The question to really ask is: ‘What does it look like to be fully devoted to God in this situation?’
This will change how we think about ourselves, as v3 points out. The temptation of pride is far deeper than we would like to admit. Even when we do something for someone else, we would often like other people to see it and notice! And pride is an even bigger issue if you have some role or job that is respected in the world, or if you have money, or if you manage other people. Or if you have a leadership role in the church.
We must not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but to think with sober judgement. Sober means reasonably and in light of the gospel. Each according to the faith that God has assigned. I assume, in the context, this means we are all different in our amount of faith. I think it means that as we have more faith, we have a better understanding of who we are. It doesn’t matter if in the world you are powerful, wealthy, or important. You must not bring that into the church. We are all saved sinners, equal in God’s sight. Doctors among us are not more important, neither are pastors. Our unity and community are built on our being equal, not setting up a hierarchy like the world does so easily. The focus must always be on God and not on us.
We are called, as Christians, to be different to the world around us. We are to be transformed; not a little different, but so different that our lives will make no sense to those who watch on who do not know Jesus.