Resistance Movement

All around the world, people are challenging the way things are, with Resistance Movements.
The variety is enormous - from the Occupy Wall Street clones, so much in the news these days, to the Greek populace, whose Prime Minister has offered a referendum. The media tend to brand most of these movements as fringe and somewhat wacky. But they didn't take that view of the wartime Resistance Movements in continental Europe, together challenging the German war machine. Their courage and sacrifice were praised and their actions were effective.
 St. Paul reminds his friends in Rome that as followers of Jesus, they are part of a resistance movement. They are to resist the power of the culture all around them, in order to be true to Christ. '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)
The translator, JB Phillips, had a very striking way to express that resistance. 'Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within'.
Every day, we are being squeezed by our culture - the news we hear, the shops we visit, the TV we watch, our ordinary conversations with friends and colleague. All the time, we are being invited to share the prevailing materialist values and aspirations. But there is another way to live, which puts God at the centre of everything. Only the Lord can develop that world view within us - and we need to cooperate with Him if we are to have renewed minds.
Today, we can either be drifting along with the dying culture around us, or be part of the life-giving Resistance Movement that Jesus has brought into being. Your call!
Best wishes,
Richard