I remember there were lots of distinct groups in school when I was a teenager in the 80s. There were the punk rockers with chains and buttons all over their jackets. There were the goths dressed mostly in black with heavy eyeliner. There were the preppies with the boat shoes and solid coloured polo shirts. There were the metal heads. There were the new wavers with swoopy hair; and more.
Some dressed that way because they had a healthy dose of self esteem, others because they wanted to conform; still others because they didn’t want to conform. In some way everyone was trying to be themselves; or someone else. To fit in; or not. To be seen; or to hide.
In the readings for this Sunday the disciples come to understand what it means to truly be a disciple – the privilege and responsibility that comes with that identity. And, the community that Paul writes to in Rome learns that the charisms we’ve each been given are to be celebrated and outwardly directed in service to each other.
In both passages we witness how the presence of the Spirit in and through us calls for an inner transformation of our entire person. We find ourselves no longer able to conform to the current state of this world, and we are drawn to live into the way of God’s world.
Whether we tie a sweater around our neck or wear an oversized acid-washed jean jacket, our call as Christians is to transform, not conform.
See you Sunday.