The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-09-10
NONCONFORMITY
TO THIS WORLD
Is Obedience to and Love of
Christianity.
PLEASE GOD lNSTEAOOF MEN
1t is by Presenting Your Bodies Liv-
ing Sacrifice Wholly Accepta-
BILE Unto God Which is Your
Reasonable Service"

DR.. B. D. Gray, pastor of the First Bap-
fist Church, preached an eloquent sermon
on the subject of Non conformity" yester-
day morning. His text was from Romans
Xxi:2. And be Not Conformed to this
World" In part DIR. Gray said
" Non conformity in English ecclesiasti-
cal history had hard time The prestige
and power of the establishment were
against it, The non-conformed paid for
his convictions in fines, ilnprisonments,
stripes, the scaffold, the stake, death. For
non-conformity the fires of Smithfield were
kindled, Bedford Jail became the home of
the immortal tinker and thousands en-
dured tortures, not accepting delverance.
In our own country the non-conformst had
his experience in fines, stripes and impris-
onments. But non-conformity made great
and heroic souls of our forefathers. It
purchased for us at a great price soul
liberty and freedom Of conscience.
II bring before you non-conformity to
this world The greatest enemy to vital
godliness and a conquering Christianity
are not the arguments of infidels and
skeptics, but the worldly conformity of
professed Christians. Our foes are they not
of our own household. Worldliness has so
come into many of our lives that the line
of demarkation between the church and
the world is Looted out. The world is in
the church, instead of the church being in
the world. Alas, so many professed Chris
tians are not only in the world, they are
of 1t! We need con-conforimty to the
world. Why does Paul urge con-conformi-
ty? Because of the mercies of God? See
the great facts and arguments of the
eleven preceding chapters in the Roman
epistle! God, through Christs life, suffer
ings, death, resurrection, ascension and in
tercession, brings life and immortality to
us. We were dead in trespasses and sins;
God quickened us. By the sacrifice of his
Son, we are called justified, sanctifed, and
shall be glorified Nothing can separate us
from Gods love. These unexampled 'mer-
cies should move us to non-conformity TO
the world.
How shall we attain to this non-con-
formity? Paul tells us, 1T is by present.
ing your bodies a living sacrifice, holy
acceptable unto God, which is your rea-
sonable service Our bodies should be
laid on the altar of Gods service, living
sacrifice, not dead one like the animal
offered on the Jewish affairs. AS the sacr-
flee of the olden times was to be without
spot or blemish, so our bodies, ourselves,
are to be given pure and holy to Gods SER
vice, otherwise the offering will not be ac-
ceptable. Then, our souls need to be trans
figured, even as the face and garments of
our Lord were TRANSPORTED in the holy
mount This must be done by the re-
newal of our hearts by the Holy Spirit
Thus body and soul together, the whole
man, should be presented to God So the
remedy for 'non-conformity to this world
Is conformity to Christ.
1.-The man changed, TRANSPORTED fash
Toned after the image of Christ is just
that far non-conformist to this world.
He prefers the prayer meeting to the thea
ter, or the dance, and finds more pleasure
in honoring God than in pleasing men.
The pleasures of this world are destroying
the usefulness of thousands of nominal
Christians.
"Why this non-conformity and this trans
fguration? What is the purpose of it all?
Let Paul answer. Hear him! That We
may prove what is that good and accepta-
BILE and perfect will of Cod To know
Gods will and to do it-that should be our
chief concern"