"...to be conformed to the likeness of His Son." 

Romans 8.29

When we were unbelievers we were pressed into the mold

of the world. (Romans12.2) When we get saved we end up

getting pressed into the mold of the church.  We talk, and act,

and worship in certain ways, just because we see our peer

group doing it!  We go right from one mold into another.

But God's Word is pretty plain about whose mold we're to

take on:

"And we,  who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, 

are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing

glory... "

1 Corinthians 3:18

We need to be pressed into the only mold that will

do us any good at all... Jesus.

It seems very few Christians ever escape the mold of religion.

I for one had a great start.  I met Jesus outside of the context

of "religion".  But it didn't take long before I was acting some

roles, and playing some parts,  that really didn't fit me.  And

it happened without me trying.  I just wanted to love God and

I patterned myself after what I saw in the church. 

I  saw and learned a lot of things that had nothing to do with

Jesus,  things I could find nowhere in God's Word.  But there

I was shaped and molded.  But in whose Image?   I've done

some pretty foolish stuff in the name of being spiritual,  just

because it was the latest thing going.   There finally came a

day when I asked myself, "Why am I doing this?  Would

Jesus do this?"   It was foolish!  Just so much spiritual posturing.

The world looks at us and they don't want to have anything to

do with it.  They think this is what knowing Jesus is all about,

and they don't want to have anything to do with Him either! 

And we're to blame.  We represent  Him in some pretty strange

ways sometimes!   Anyway,  there came a time when I really

began questioning why I do what I do.  I realized I had become

pretty religious, and the fact was,  a lot of stuff had to go if I was

going to get real again.  I began praying  for God's help.  I

dropped some doctrines that were pretty hard to find in God's

Word,  and stopped acting in certain ways that just seemed

foolish. I wanted to be pressed into Christ's image.  Wasn't

that the whole point? 

      "...to be conformed to the likeness of His Son"  Romans 8:29

When you go through a self examination like this,  you will feel

the pressure to conform.  Christians can be pretty dogmatic

about things that God says little or nothing about!   It can be

hard to leave the religious and embrace the real.  You may

not get a lot of support.  Suddenly you're not in the mold!  Don't

be surprised if the church looks at you strangely.  And please

make sure that the reason you get the strange looks is not

because you are strange!   Follow His Word, be molded in His

image.  This is a call to be like Jesus!

Also understand that we need the church.  The church is His

body.  You can't just take the head, (Jesus), and leave His

body behind!  If you're going to take the head you have to

take the body too.  They go together!  It's important that we're

in fellowship with each other and connected.  That being

said,  don't mistake following the crowd with following Jesus.

They are often vastly different.  Jesus said, "Come follow me..."

Be true to Jesus, and all that He's called you to be. He did not

create you to be a clone.  Let's not kid ourselves, peer pressure

in the church is strong.

God called you to be in the church, but molded into

Jesus' image.

 "Lord, I want to be more like you, conformed to Your image.

Help me see what that is.   Please help me shed the things that

are just manmade religion,  and strengthen the things that are

making me more like you.   Bring me into real relationship with

You, and your Body, the church."