In writing Romans 12:2, the Apostle Paul offered an implicit truth:  The majority is wrong.  Look again at what he wrote:  ²Don’t copy the behavior 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  When Paul told us "Don't copy the behavior and customs of the world," he was saying in effect:  The majority is wrong.

Why do I say that?  Because the "world" is the majority.  As followers of Jesus Christ we are a minority.  We always have been, and the Bible itself would lead us to believe that this side of heaven we always will be.  In the Old Testament it was always a faithful "remnant" who remained true to God.  Not the majority.  In the New Testament Jesus said, "The gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to life and only a few find it.  (Matthew 7:14)  Remember, a majority of the Israelites voted not to enter the Promised Land, because a majority (10 out of 12!) of the spies who investigated the land told the people that while the land was amazing the challenges were too great.  The result?  40 YEARS of additional wandering in the wilderness for the Israelites.  A majority of the Israelites gathered in Jerusalem when Jesus was brought before them by Pilate voted for Jesus to be crucified.  You may think those are extreme examples.  I'll give you that.  But look around at the "world" today.  What behaviors and customs are endorsed by the majority?  Let's sample a few:   If it feels good, ________ (do it).  Security can be gained by having enough __________ (money).  If a marriage is hard get a ________ (divorce, and find an easy one).  There is no personal force of _________ (evil, i.e. the devil) in the world.   All religions lead to the _______ (same) result.   I could go on, but these "truths" propagated by the world stand in direct opposition to the truths and ways of God. 

If we want to live effectively and abundantly as followers of Jesus, then we must let Him renew our minds, because what the world decides is good or normative will seldom bring Him glory or us eternal gain.  The majority is wrong so often in the world when it comes to behaviors and customs, that if a behavior or custom is popularized by majority of the world, we would usually find ourselves doing the right thing by doing the opposite.  Again, the statement is a bit extreme, but God's ways ARE extreme, and usually extremely different from the world's.  Am I advocating abandoning the world and taking up residence as a hermit in some remote place?  Not at all! I'm advocating engaging the world with the behaviors and customs of Jesus, so the world will see the blessings of a truly alternative lifestyle!  When we use the phrase alternative lifestyle in the world today, we mean a lifestyle that stands against the accepted norms of society--which in America were once based on the norms expressed in the Bible. (In fact, representative democracies such as our own DEPEND on a strong moral foundation, or they fail.)  The alternative lifestyle I'm advocating is one that puts Jesus first, and seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness as the first order of all we think, say and do.  That kind of lifestyle is exactly what Paul tells us will happen when we stop conforming  to or being molded by the behaviors and customs of this world and are transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving us enough to offer us an alternative lifestyle to the ways of a sinful, fallen world.  Thank You for offering us abundant and enduring life.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may be and become all You call us to be by the renewing of our minds and hearts. This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.