Monkey business
Blind adherence can impede our faith.
“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 12:2
“Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” (Matthew 15:7–9)
Jesus spoke these words during a dramatic confrontation with the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They were outraged that His disciples didn’t follow traditional handwashing rituals. But Jesus used Isaiah’s prophecy to expose a deeper issue: outward tradition without inward devotion is meaningless. Authentic worship must spring from the heart, not from mechanical obedience to human customs. Jesus revealed that unchallenged preconceptions could twist God's commands—even turning people against the true spirit of Scripture.
This twisting of truth through tradition, fashion, or groupthink didn’t end in Jesus’ time. It still happens today. That’s why it’s essential to read the Bible and listen to God with a critical mind and innocent heart.
Letting go of preconceived notions frees us to accept God’s purest truth. When we do, we may find great wisdom in our trends and traditions—but we may also realize we’ve missed the mark by copying the mistakes characteristic of our period.
Take prayer time, for example. Setting aside daily moments to talk and listen to God is a time-honored Christian practice. But Scripture calls us to “pray without ceasing.” If we box prayer solely into isolated times, we may deprive ourselves of an ongoing dialogue with God that strengthens and guides us in every moment.
Worldly customs can also infiltrate our faith. The world holds beliefs about sex, media, finances, and family that diverge from those of Christianity—yet we often maneuver the Word to suit the world instead of the other way around. This might make us appear more normal, but does it help us conform to God’s plan and purpose?
There’s a story about a group of zoologists who placed five gorillas in a cage with a ladder and bananas on top. Every time a gorilla tried to climb the ladder, all the gorillas were sprayed with cold water. Soon, whenever any gorilla approached the ladder, the others attacked him to avoid getting sprayed.
Over time, each original gorilla was replaced with a newcomer. Though none of the new gorillas had ever been sprayed—and none knew why climbing the ladder was forbidden—they all continued the attacks. Unquestioned tradition ruled them.
We risk becoming like those gorillas whenever we blindly adhere to habits, trends, and groupthink without truly understanding if they align with God's will.
That’s why Romans 12:2 urges, “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.”
Faith isn’t about following human patterns. It’s about daily renewal—seeing God's truth with fresh eyes, critical minds, and open hearts, even when it challenges what we’ve always known.
Graceful Contemplation
“We must allow the Bible to confront us, to challenge us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency, and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.” — John Stott, "The Incomparable Christ"
Thank you for reading!
April was an amazing month! I celebrated several family birthdays, gathered with family for Easter, and held the premiere of my youth group’s film project! All this and a spring break picnic, too!
