被世界同化或被神改變？
By Jim Langley
你會不會覺得我們很容易被周遭的文化影響，用世界或社會的標準來做事，變得跟其他人一樣？大部分的人都會跟著流行的風潮，無論是娛樂、流行書籍、網路或是社交媒體認可的行為，甚至是價值觀和信仰。
1977 年，有一首流行歌曲「你照亮了我的生命」(You light up my life) 登上了音樂排行榜的榜首。不久，世界上許多地方的人都在唱歌或哼唱著：「你照亮了我的生命」。這麼多年來，我們仍然聽到它在婚禮上演出。這聽起來很甜蜜吧！歌曲結束的時候，歌詞說：「當感覺如此美好時，是不會錯的！」這聽起來沒有甚麼問題，許多人甚至把它當作個人座右銘。隨著時間的推移，它變成了「如果感覺對了，那就去做吧！」40 多年後，這種想法仍然在人們的思想和心中佔有主導地位。
在商場上我們常常會看到跟隨著感覺做而帶來苦果的例子。例如，其他人快速的成功很吸引我們， 我們也跟隨他們的腳步，希望能有同樣的結果。在從事保險的生涯中，我就看到一些同事短期成功了但最終卻失敗了。因為他們快速成功的計劃讓自己失去了開拓未來業務的能力，甚至帶來了巨額的罰款和坐牢。因為感覺是會欺騙我們的。
我們也看到有一些公司因為不道德的商業行為而失去了信譽，之後必須花費好幾百萬做行銷活動， 改善已經嚴重受損的企業形象。這就是因為「感覺好，就去做。」的文化，所以少數高層管理人員才會制定出不道德的計畫， 較低階的管理人員也因為追求個人利益和聲望而做出欺騙性的策略。
使徒保羅警告羅馬教會的信徒，不要去隨從這個世界的思想和行為。他說：「所以，弟兄們，我以 神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭，是聖潔的，是神所喜悅的；你們如此事奉乃是理所當然的。不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為 神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。」 (羅馬書 12 章 1-2 節)。
保羅告訴我們身為基督的追隨者，應當如何活著，取悅我們的主。羅馬書12 章2 節 有一個翻譯版本說：「不要讓這個世界把你擠進它的模子裡。不是順應這個世界，我們要改變成耶穌–我們的救世主和主的形象，我們在工作時，祂的力量會與我們同在。」
我們可能說服自己說：「按照這個世界方法做事沒有甚麼壞處，也不會有甚麼後果。」但是不管好壞，世界都會對我們產生一定的影響。二千年前，保羅就提出了這個問題，到今天這個問題仍然存在。唯一不同的是，在這個節奏快速的世界，一個糟糕的決定會產生很大的影響，一個城市錯誤的決定會影響到成千上萬的人，甚至是世界上許多其他地方的億萬人民。
那麼，我們要如何能避免被世界同化而是被神改變呢？以下是我的兩個建議：
把上帝放在首位。我們要是委身於神、信任他，而不是我們自己的才能。主會滿足我們的需要。「你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。」 (馬太福音 6章33節).
把別人放在第二位。當我們花時間考慮別人最大的利益時，就能避免許多的妥協和不道德的決定，為自己省去了很多麻煩。「凡事不可結黨，不可貪圖虛浮的榮耀；只要存心謙卑，各人看別人比自己強。各人不要單顧自己的事，也要顧別人的事。」 (腓立比書 2章3-4節).
Jim Langley擔任人壽和健康保險經紀人期間已有30多年，他的寫作經歷也是。近年來，他的熱情轉向寫下他與上帝的個人關係。他的目標是鼓勵其他人來親近上帝。他是CBMC的長期會員，在2014年開始撰寫「終場四分之一戰略」
反省與問題討論
在職場上－你的企業或是組織當中，你觀察到受到世界影響的部分有哪些？ 你能想出一個例子，是當你覺得這個世界是錯的，所以你有意識地努力避免和同年齡的人做同樣的事嗎? 這個你所做的「與這個世界不同」的決定之後產生了甚麼影響？ 為什麼相信「感覺」和「直覺」做事會造成很多問題？你以前曾相信過「當感覺如此美好，是不會錯的！」這樣的想法嗎？你從中學到了什麼教訓？ 在你看來「心意變化而更新」是什麼意思？我們要如何努力做到這一點？
注意: 如果你手上有聖經，想要閱讀更多相關的經文， 請參考下面的經文:
(因經文較長，考慮到篇幅和新舊約經文，您可以參閱下列未列出的經文:箴言11:3、11:21、14:12、20:23、 22:3、馬太福音5:19-24)
箴言10章9節
10:9 行正直路的，步步安穩；走彎曲道的，必致敗露。
箴言11章1節
11:1 詭詐的天平為耶和華所憎惡；公平的法碼為他所喜悅。
箴言12章15節
12:15 愚妄人所行的，在自己眼中看為正直；惟智慧人肯聽人的勸教。
箴言28章2節
28:2 邦國因有罪過，君王就多更換；因有聰明知識的人，國必長存。
馬太福音5章43-48節
5:43 「你們聽見有話說：『當愛你的鄰舍，恨你的仇敵。』
5:44 只是我告訴你們，要愛你們的仇敵，為那逼迫你們的禱告。
5:45 這樣就可以作你們天父的兒子；因為他叫日頭照好人，也照歹人；降雨給義人，也給不義的人。
5:46 你們若單愛那愛你們的人，有甚麼賞賜呢？就是稅吏不也是這樣行嗎？
5:47 你們若單請你弟兄的安，比人有甚麼長處呢？就是外邦人不也是這樣行嗎？
5:48 所以，你們要完全，像你們的天父完全一樣。」
CONFORMING – OR BEING TRANSFORMED?
By Jim Langley
Have you noticed how easily we get caught up in doing things the way our culture dictates, becoming squeezed into the world”s mold? We find almost everyone conforming to the current trends, adopting the behaviors, values and beliefs endorsed by the entertainment media, popular books, the Internet and social media.
In 1977, a popular song rose to the top of the music charts. Soon people in many parts of the world were singing or humming, “You Light Up My Life.” For years we heard it performed at weddings. A sweet sentiment, right? The closing line, “it can”t be wrong when it feels so right,” sounded innocent enough, and many people adopted it as a personal creed. Over time it morphed into, “if it feels good, do it!” More than 40 years later, this attitude still holds sway in people”s minds and hearts.
We often see this in the business world. We become enticed by the quick successes of others and follow their lead, hoping to experience similar results. Over my insurance career, I have seen some of my colleagues fall into practices that led to short-term success, but ultimate failure. Sometimes their schemes caused them to lose their ability to conduct future business, even huge financial penalties and prison time. Feelings can deceive.
On a larger scale, we have seen companies fall out of favor due to unethical business practices. Business institutions spend millions on strategic marketing campaigns to improve severely damaged corporate images. It only takes a few top level executives to hatch devious plans, but in the “if it feels good, do it” culture, we also see lower-level executives buying into deceptive strategies in the quest for personal gain and prestige.
Addressing members of the church in Rome, the apostle Paul warned against conforming to thinking and practices we see in the world around us. He wrote, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God”s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. 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 12:1-2).
Paul was saying this is how we, as Christ”s followers, are to live, seeking to please our Master. One translation of Romans 12:2 warns, “don”t let the world squeeze you into its mold.” Rather than conforming to the pattern of this world, we are to be transformed into the image of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, by His power at work in us.
We might succeed in deluding ourselves that there is no harm in conforming to the ways of this world, that there are no consequences. But there are always repercussions for our actions, good or bad. Paul addressed this problem nearly 2,000 years ago, but today not much has changed. The only difference is the magnitude of the impact our bad decisions can have in this fast-paced world, when a misguided decision made in one city can affect thousands, even millions of people in many other parts of the world.
So how can we avoid being “conformed” so that we can be transformed by God? Here are two suggestions:
Put God first. We are promised that the Lord will meet our needs if we trust in Him, not our own devices. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
Put others second. When we take time to consider the best interests of others before ourselves, the likelihood of avoiding compromising, unethical decisions rises exponentially. And we save ourselves a lot of trouble. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
© 2018, all rights reserved. Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his personal relationship with God. His goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. A long-time member of CBMC, he started writing “Fourth Quarter Strategies” in 2014.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
What are some of the ways that you have observed business – even at the organization where you work – being influenced by the culture that surrounds us? Can you think of a time when you consciously strived to avoid actions commonly practiced by your peers because you felt they were wrong? What was the impact of this decision to not be “conformed to the pattern of this world”? Why is trusting in our feelings, going according to what some people call “gut instinct,” often so problematic? Have you ever espoused the philosophy, “How can it be wrong when it feels so right?” What did you learn from that? In your view, what does it mean to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind”? How should we strive to do that?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 10:9, 11:1,3, 21, 12:15, 14:12, 20:23, 22:3, 28:2; Matthew 5:19-24,43-48
