“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:1-2
These fleshy meat sacks that house our souls and spirits are to be made a living sacrifice to the Lord Jesus Christ. We should adorn them with modest apparel and keep them holy by avoiding adultery, fornication, pornography, fast food, sugars, “bad” cholesterol, tattoos, face piercings, body piercings, self harm, and anything else that makes our “temples” unholy.
We should treat our bodies like we would treat our church.
This is our “reasonable service.” This is not something that should be viewed as “extra” or as some major undertaking – it is reasonable. It is a service to God, just like everything we do should be.
This world tells us to do the opposite in many of these cases. Fast food, especially during this pandemic, has never been more popular. Pornography is one of the largest industries in the world – upwards of $15 Billion per year, making it bigger than the NFL and Netflix. most major superstars, especially athletes, are covered in tattoos.
We are not to be conformed to this. We can be transformed by asking God to renew our minds, and stop filling our minds with filth. We often engage in a constant battle with the habits and desires of the “old man,” but we become new when we are saved. If we constantly give in to our lusts, the renewing of our minds will not fully transform us as God intends, and conforming to the world becomes much easier.
Many Christians, including myself, have taken a strong stance against and refuse to conform to COVID lockdowns and other draconian restrictions, but how many of those same people, including myself, quickly conform to the world in other aspects.
We should all ask ourselves, “am I in the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God?”
For me, the answer is a resounding, “no.”
That does not mean that God loves me any less, but that I could stand to love him more.
Simmons' Opinions 