This 20th letter of John Newton’s 41 on religious subjects was never more needed. My paraphrased abridgement keeps corresponding paragraphs.
“On Spiritual Nonconformity”
1. “Do not be conformed to this world” (Rom 12.2) is the biblical mandate. This requires a middle course between a sinful imitation of the world on the one hand and becoming unnecessarily odd on the other, which tends to spring from a misguided, self-righteous scrupulosity joined with a failure to understand the spirit and liberty of the gospel. I must be brief, but those of a truly spiritual mind who desire to be led by the Word and Spirit of God do not need a long and elaborate discussion anyway.
2. “This world” in the text means the unbelievers of the world. They neither fear God nor love Him, and they do not live holily. We must not adopt their godless mindset or sinful habits. But we are not allowed to isolate ourselves from them altogether or to restrict ourselves, just to be different from them, where the Word of God has left us free. Many have erred in these ways.
3. For example, some have withdrawn from society into deserts and cloisters in order to become more holy. That might work if only we could go there without taking along our own wicked hearts! Besides, we Christians have a responsibility to be the salt and the light in the world (Matt 5.13–16). Historically, social isolationism for the sake of spirituality has led to even more depravity. Those misguided souls became much worse in private.
4. Another mistake is to think we must cut ourselves off from typical relationships in a family and household. True piety teaches us how to be good husbands, wives, parents, children, or whatever roles and duties we have by the appointment of Providence. These relationships are common to human experience, but we can fulfill them in a distinctively godly way.
5. Some have erroneously thought they must practice asceticism to be very holy, denying themselves the moderate use of comforts and conveniences, which are allowable if consistent with the socioeconomic context in which God places us. Self-righteousness loves to parade self-deprivation in things morally indifferent. Even sincere persons have hurt themselves by unwarranted austerity. True, there is always the danger of overindulgence in legitimate pleasures, but people also go to unhealthy extremes in avoiding it. That is not spirituality! The Hindus in India, as gross idolaters, make the strictest superstitious Christians look loose in comparison! All this arises from ignorance and externalism. It gratifies sinful desires in a different way but every bit as much as loose living does. The godly know that they may enjoy God’s good gifts with a clear conscience (1 Tim 4.1–5).
6. So what does it mean to avoid conformity to this world? Basically, two things are in view—that we embrace our identity and the proper lifestyle of those who are traveling to heaven as citizens of Christ’s kingdom, and that we quit thinking and living in our former sinful ways. True Christians are only partly renewed and must beware of slipping back spiritually. Let me suggest three areas of special concern.
7. First, do not conform to the world’s spirit. Outwardly, we do many of the same things they do, but from totally different principles. For example, we both work, but they do it for self-advancement, and we, from a sense of duty and a purpose of helping others and glorifying God. When they are successful, they boast; when times are tough, they worry. The Christian submits to Providence and gives thanks in all things.
8. Second, do not conform to the world’s maxims. They live by certain assumed rules and standards that often turn God’s moral law upside down. They call evil good and good evil (Isa 5.20). We must judge everything by Scripture and ignore what is politically-correct. We must not be ashamed to identify with Jesus Christ and His beloved people, cost us what it may.
9. Third, do not conform to the world’s entertainments. We should mix with them as far as our Christian duty calls, but no further (2 Cor 6.14–15). They have many unwholesome gatherings and activities where genuine piety is completely unwelcome. If we are supposed to make the best use of our time (Eph 5.16), to walk worthy of God (1 Thess 2.12), to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Col 3.17), to follow His example (1 Pet 2.21), and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2.12), then how can we justify adopting their frivolous, sinful entertainment culture?
10. A true Christian’s greatest desires are to enjoy an inner communion with God and to show others the power of His grace. The more we conform to this sinful world, the more we shall be disappointed in these holy aspirations. Fire and water are not more opposite! Surely you know this from experience. Just try to pray after polluting your heart with their dainties! Try going straight from some depraved performance to study your Bible! If you see no difference, then you have become grossly insensitive. Don’t be one of those supposed Christians who have no problem with partying on Saturday night and partaking of the Lord’s Supper on Sunday morning!
11. Nor can we show others His powerful grace if we conform to the world. In fact, our hypocrisy only dishonors Him. To whatever degree we are inconsistent, unbelievers will interpret our conduct as saying that Christianity is not really all it is cracked up to be, and that we cannot be happy without wallowing in their filthy slop! Worldly Christians, if there be such a thing, grieve the godly, mislead the weak, and embolden the wicked. May God make us prize our Christian liberty and preserve us from worldliness!
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Let the legalists cry license and the licentious cry legalism, but I think Newton quite nails it with admirable pastoral wisdom and biblical fidelity. Ω