A Saturday Night Thought for Lord's Day Worship (August 19, 2007)

David F. Wells, one of the most insightful and widely respected Christian theologians and cultural analysts of our times, has recently said: "In our time, understanding our culture takes on an urgency because this culture is so intrusive and so powerful in its capacity to shape our souls and minds that if we are not pushing back from an explicitly biblical, Christian point of view – we are going to get swallowed up." Wells is absolutely right, and Paul's inspired and prophetic words are more timely than ever as we have contemplated them in Philippians 1:27-28 – "let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents."

So as we prepare to praise God in this congregation today, let me exhort you, dear brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2).