Lesson 3: Transformation
Arguments about Christian characteristics in the New Testament follow a common pattern. Although they discuss particular specifics, they regard a transformed life as the essential factor.
Paul is very explicit about this in Romans 12: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
He then lists a number of characteristics that result, like sharing your money and goods with other Christians and even strangers, associating with the poorest of the poor, living peaceably with everyone “so far as it depends on you,” and not repaying anyone evil for evil but blessing those who persecute you and even giving food and drink to your enemies.
We hear much the same thing from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount when he speaks of a transformed heart that produces characteristics like sharing what you have with anyone who asks, loving enemies by forgiving them, and never taking vengeance. He sums these up in the Golden Rule that calls for doing unto others what you want them to do to you.
Paul is also talking about love as a quality of a radically transformed life in I Corinthians 13. It is not that love is simply the most essential spiritual gift. It is the standard by which all of them are judged. A message someone claims is directly from God is just noise if it does not express love. Knowing everything there is to know, having enough faith to move mountains, giving away everything you own, and even sacrificing your life is not Christian unless it is done in love. Love, which I have defined as compassion in this series, is then a description of following Jesus. It describes living in a proper relationship with God and other people.
The beauty of recognizing the transformation that takes place in the Christian life is the flexibility it offers. Specific characteristics can change in different periods of history and even in different situations in the present. Love responds to real changing needs.
It also bestows appreciation for practices such as regular worship, reading spiritual material, prayer, contemplation, and conversation with other believers. Love is a habit of the heart developed over time.
And, of course, that makes transformation an ongoing discipline. Martin Luther spoke of repenting daily. That involves constantly rethinking what we have been doing using compassion as the standard.
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