Why Transformation?

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds" (St. Paul, Romans 12:2)

The purpose of writing on the subject of transformation is to help readers and supporters of SoulCare understand the significance of this word to me in my work. Drawing on the above passage from St Paul's letter to the Romans I make an important series of distinctions between conformation, information and transformation. The last is the word I choose to describe my work as a therapist, educator, seminar leader and pastor. There are a number of reasons for this.

"It is one thing to take the opinions and needs of others into account. It is quite another to be shaped by them".

Firstly, many people are much more inclined to "conformation" - that is, they allow themselves to be defined by the claims and needs of those around them. It is one thing to take the opinions and needs of others into account, it is quite another to be shaped by them. When we are shaped by the beliefs and opinions of others, we lose our authentic "self", our voice* disappears, and we are unable to make our own unique and God-given contribution to the world.

This can lead to inauthentic living. Living in fear of the opinions of others, rather than living from the core of our true Self **(made in the image and likeness of God) we become compressed selves, living solely to please others. People caught in this trap then lose their capacity to say "yes" or "no" to the deeper parts of themselves in favour of the need to say "yes" or "no" to the (apparently) more powerful people around them. They are governed by fear of these others rather than the "fear of the Lord" (healthy respect).

"The word transformation...
calls us to move above and beyond mindless conformity".

The word "transformation", however, is a potent word calling us to move above and beyond mindless conformity. Interestingly, its Greek root is the foundation of the English word, metamorphosis, which is used to describe the radical transformation that a caterpillar makes in the journey to becoming a butterfly. The caterpillar must engage in battle if it is to be transformed into a beautiful butterfly, or else it is doomed to be a caterpillar for all of its days. Easy prey for predators!

The Biblical "old self" is the conforming self, the needy self, afraid to step out in faith, choosing instead to mimic the values of the social order of which it is a part (families, friends, subcultures, nations, and churches with their variant theological traditions). But the new Self, the core, made in the image and likeness of God needs to step out from the shadows into the light and realise its own God-given destiny (Eph 4:22-24, Col 3:9, 10).

Transformation then differs sharply from conformation and leads to a totally new, exhilarating and challenging way of life. This does not take place without pain or struggle, but it does lead to a richer and fuller life.

Transformation also differs from information, the current preoccupation of our age. Whenever social problems arise, it is fashionable to then provide courses which "educate" people into different ways of thinking and behaving. While this can be helpful and lead to change, information gleaned at courses and seminars is frequently not acted on for very long, and simply accumulates in the brain. It becomes something I know I should do, but that is as far as it goes. The information is sterile, passive and unfruitful.

Frequently, acquiring information can become a substitute for action. Instead of doing we attend seminars, read more books, establish innumerable committees, replacing action with busyness. I am not saying that information is not valuable, or that research is to be avoided, but what I find is that many people avoid action by focussing on getting more and more information. Thus they often fail to act, they do not implement the steps required to achieve meaningful growth.

It is not knowing what we know that counts; it is doing what we know. To be useful, to be transforming, information must be activated. We have to become "doers' of the word of God (not hearers only, James 1:22). This implies receptivity and a willingness to embrace change, to choose to act and think differently, and to stick at it until change has become part of us, we have been "transformed".

In my work I am keen to see men and women realize as much of their God-given potential as they can, so that the lives they lead are genuinely fruitful and fulfilling. The truest and deepest happiness that we are capable of comes from leading lives in harmony with our Creator's purpose for us.

I am certain that our Creator's desire is for us to live full and fulfilling lives . Jesus said that he came so that people could have "full lives" (John 10:10). Not "full" in the sense of overbusy, overcommitted and overworked, but full in the sense of richly fulfilled, a deep satisfaction and contentment, which marks and shapes all of life. He also meant, I believe, a life grounded in a solid relationship with Himself, which is what Jesus came to assist us to achieve.

When St Paul wrote the words at the head of this article, it was to encourage readers to avoid the trap of conformity and the blandness it produces, by entering into the fullness of God's plan for their lives, to experience mental and spiritual transformation, the realisation of their own God-given destiny.

Transformation, then, is about going beyond conformity and information, living life on an altogether different plane of existence. It is about pressing on to cultivate a transcendent set of attitudes which produce a particular kind of lifestyle. A lifestyle enriched by a positive relationship to God, to the Self, to Others and to the Earth on which we live.

* - see separate article on Voice

** - I make a distinction between the true Self (made in the image and likeness of God) and the old self, or inauthentic self, which has conformed to this world and has essentially ‘sold out’ its own integrity in favour of a fawning compliance to the pressures around them.