“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

“Be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2”

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- His good, pleasing, and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2)”

“..:It is important that we excercise the gifts we have been given. It's important that we develop and live in constant discipline.Do not wrapp yourselves in this world and its bankrupt values. Live in constant renewal and transformation of your minds.Do not allow this world and mediocrity mold you in its own image.Instead, be transformed from the inside out by always renewing your mind.By doing so, you will not only master your minds, but you will have a better access to identifying your gifts and talents and make a better use of them…And with that in mind, you will not only be bless yourself,But you'll be able to bless many along the way:.”

“But should we accept this negative view of power? Is power all bad? Specifically, can Christians share in this devaluation of power and discipline as inherently evil? Can we who claim to be disciples - who are called and predestined to be conformed to the likeness of the Son (Rom. 8:29) - be opposed to discipline and formation as such? Can we who are called to be subject to the Lord of life really agree with the liberal Enlightenment notion of the autonomous self? Are we not above all called to subject ourselves to our Domine and conform to his image? Of course, we are called not to conform to the patterns of 'this world' (Rom. 12:2) or to our previous evil desires (1 Peter 1:14), but that is a call not to nonconformity as such but rather to an alternative conformity through a counterformation in Christ, a transformation and renewal directed toward conformity to his image. By appropriating the liberal Enlightenment notion of negative freedom and participating in its nonconformist resistance to discipline (and hence a resistance to the classical spiritual disciplines), Christians are in fact being conformed to the patterns of this world (contra Rom. 12:2).”

“Order cannot possibly be brought about through conformity to a pattern, under any circumstances.”