We live in a world that's trying to squeeze us into its mold.  As a child I learned about the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  But I also learned there was an "unholy trinity" - the devil, the world and our flesh.  And I understood the part about the devil and our flesh, but why the world?  Why's that a problem?  The world seemed like a big wonderful place full of possibilities and excitement.  Today, however, it's different.  Seeing our American culture and how the world is shaping us, I fully understand why the world is a part of that unholy trinity.

          For 20 years I've been observing trends in popular music, movies, TV, news and other forms of media.  Why media?  Because in America, media is the mirror to society.  It not only reflects what is happening, it helps make it happen.  The media is a powerful force and means of change.  So if you control the media, you can control how society is shaped.  Today we're being shaped in ways God never intended.

          Paul says in Romans 12:2 (Phillips):  "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its mold, but let God remold your minds from within..."  The world wants to shape us in its mold, but God wants to mold us into better people, living by His standards.  He wants us to live freely, trusting the Gospel of Jesus, the Truth that sets us free.

          People want to be free.  Freedom is a precious treasure and we take great pains to preserve it.  We cherish our freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom of the press.  Freedom always comes with responsibility.  Great people have said the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.  There's no such thing as an absolute freedom.  We may have freedom of speech, but we can't walk into a theater and yell "fire."  We may have freedom to wear what we want, but we can't walk naked down the street.  At work we may have free speech, but if we violate new rules of tolerance, we risk our job.

          This is especially true of the topic of evolution.  People who speak publicly of creation by God risk being scorned - not merely scorned, but considered a threat to society.  Our culture teaches Darwin's theory of evolution as fact in schools, but if the Bible is mentioned, it's a threat to all.  Media, science, and education accept Darwinism as fact.

          Yet most people don't accept evolution without God.  Only 9% of Americans believe humans have evolved from lower forms with no divine intervention.  That means 91% believe God had something to do with how we got here.  But one can rarely profess creationism without risking heaps of criticism.  A Chinese scientist recently said, "In China we can criticize Darwin but not the government.  In America you can criticize the government but not Darwin."

          It's amazing science should think this.  "Science" has two meanings:  (1) A method with measurements and experiments, and an open-minded attitude toward all things.  But, (2) science is also a philosophy of life, called scientific naturalism or materialism.  It insists that nature is all there is.  God had no part in making the world.  It all happened by chance.  Students must believe this without question.  Yet believing in creation is not allowed.  Those who tell us what we must do are unwilling to do it themselves.

          It's all a part of being squeezed into the world's mold.  St. Paul says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world."  I believe it all started with Satan in the Garden of Eden.  In Genesis, Satan said, "Did God really say you'd die if you touched the tree?  Naw - He never said that!  Go ahead - try the fruit.  Everyone's doing it.  Don't worry about God.  He doesn't mean what He says."  Thus the mold was set to shape people.  Today it's still the same Evil One who is behind it.  And he doesn't have our good in mind.  Satan wants our death, but Jesus wants to give us eternal life.

          St. Paul once said to the Ephesians (6:12), "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the spiritual forces of evil..."

          Here's what I believe the world's mold is - five Points:

1.   There are no absolutes -- no higher standard of right or wrong except what people make it.

2.   Sex is morally neutral -- it's natural, so do whatever you like, with whomever, whenever.

3.   Mother Earth is a god -- whatever misuses or abuses the earth must be stopped at all costs.

4.   The truth is within you -- we should fear, love and trust our own opinion above all things.

5.   Tolerance of all belief must be enforced -- no one can judge you because all are equally good.

          That's the mold.  Read a paper, watch a film, and you'll see it.  Listen to the news, or to music, or the TV, and the message is there.  Often it's subtle, but usually it's blatant.  So how do we fight it?  Again the words of St. Paul:  "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its mold, but let God remold your minds from within..."  How do we do that?  God molds us by experience, but I believe there are things we can do to help make it happen.

1.       PRAYER - The disciples said, "Lord, teach us to pray."  Prayer is a heart to heart talk with God.  Prayer begins with faith and an open heart.  Prayer should be a daily exercise of faith, not just a bandaid.

          Two things can help -- a PLACE and a TIME.  Scripture tells us to pray in our closet, a private PLACE, free from disturbance.  We all have places to sleep, to eat, to relax, but rarely to pray.  We also need a TIME for prayer.  Praying only when you feel like it means you'll seldom pray.  Find a PLACE and TIME to pray.

2.       SOLITUDE - The Lord tells us, "Be still and know that I am God."  Being quiet before God is found all over the Bible.  Solitude allows God to put His thoughts into our hearts and minds.  Solitude means silence and contemplation of God in our life.

          Solitude is not natural.  It's hard to be alone in our busy world.  It means we must confront ourselves without friends, work or toys.  Find your time and place to meet God.  Matthew 14:23 says, "He went off alone to pray."  We can do that too!

3.       FASTING - This is tough!  Going without food for any length of time is completely foreign to us.  If you invite friends, you feed them.  If you turn on the TV, you snack.  If you have a church, you have a potluck.  You and I can't have fellowship without food.  Then why encourage fasting?  How can going hungry help you?

          Because fasting cleanses the body and energizes the soul.  The list of Bible people who fasted reads like a "Who's Who of Scripture" -- Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, Jeremiah, Anna, Paul and Jesus Himself.  Fasting is abstaining from food for a time to get in touch with God.  It helps us commune with God.  Fasting and prayer go together.  It's hard, but it's a great blessing.  And it helps in other ways too!

          PRAYER, SOLITUDE and FASTING -- They'll help us fight being molded by the world.  We all must fight the good fight.  We need to resist the world.  We need to get off the couch and on our knees.  We need to speak to God and let Him speak to us.

          "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its mold, but let God remold your minds from within..."  The world takes our money, but Jesus gives us eternal life.  Satan wants us in hell, but God wants us in heaven.  The world gives us empty hopes, but the Spirit gives life-giving faith.

          Jesus went the way of the cross of for us.  He went there because it was the only way.  If He hadn't, we'd have nothing.  You and I need someone to hold onto in life.  The mold of this world gives us nothing but emptiness.  Only in Jesus do we have a life worth living.  Only in Him is our death worth dying.  Without Jesus, life and death are meaningless.  But with Jesus, eternal life begins now and continues forever.  As He said (John 6:47), "He who believes HAS eternal life." It doesn't "will have" but "has" - right now, the minute you believe, eternal life is yours.  Take His free gift right now!  Think what you have to lose!

          Let's pray:  Dear Lord, it's hard to keep from following the world.  Things of this world sound so exciting but it's all empty without You.  Help us fill our emptiness with the fullness of Your grace and love.  Help us fill other empty people with our witness to Your love.  Next weekend when the OAFC youth come, help us get involved in telling others about You and about our church.  Help us be molded by You.  Thanks for all You've done for us, and all You'll do in the future - in heaven!  Amen!

Copyright © 1999 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.