The second level of discipleship is conformation. The prefix con generally means with. Conformation then describes the level of discipleship where we are living with formation.
We discussed formation in last week’s article. It is the infant level of discipleship. If you missed that article, you can find it at http://www.webbweekly.com.
To continue using Peter’s parenting illustration, conformation would be like raising kids ages 10-18.
During this age, kids learn how to live with the formation their parents have given. They are expected to conform to the rules of the house, and when they don’t, there is correction that helps them to conform. Conformation is a necessary step as a child begins to experience the blessings and consequences of their choices. It is also necessary to keep them away from risky influences. As children get older, parents allow them to make more decisions on their own — while still covered by the safety and security of home. Parents do that to prepare them for the challenges of living independently.
In the discipleship journey, conformation is for disciples who are no longer spiritual infants, but are not mature enough for the responsibilities and risks of independence. They still need to follow rules, and if they get out of line, they still need correction.
Churches have codes of conduct to which parishioners are expected to conform. If a parishioner falls short, the church has corrective measures to confront the problem. This is a good and necessary level of discipleship. Every organized group of Christians should have requirements in place to help their newer disciples break free of sin, steer clear of temptation, and grow in grace.
Like formation, conformation is necessary, but it is not the goal. The completeness of spiritual maturity is the goal. See James 1:4. Friend, don’t ever stop short of freedom.
Imagine how frustrating it would be for a parent to have a 30-year-old still living at home and conforming to the parent’s rules. No parent wants a full-grown adult acting like a teenager and still leaning on them for support, supervision, and rescue. Not only is the child not free — neither is the parent! We want our kids to grow up and begin living independent and productive lives — for their sake and for ours. We want them to be free to pursue their potential. To do so, they must move beyond the conformation level.
That leads us to a discipleship trap: too many disciples like following rules. They find a church with a list of rules they can comfortably conform to, while secretly doing whatever they want. They fool themselves into thinking it is freedom. It is not; it is duplicity. Living two separate lives forces a person to maintain coverups, and that’s a heavy load to carry. It also creates the fear of being caught. Living with something to hide and something to fear is not freedom; it is slavery. Disciples who live in conformity often express that religion is a wearisome obligation. They’re right. Religious legalism is a trap.
Conformation can also be a trap for churches. The temptation is to focus on rule-following because it is easier to achieve than heart-and-mind transformation. Conformation creates disciples that can be controlled. It is less risky, and far less messy. It only requires the enforcement of an agreed-upon outward standard of behavior. The goal is for everyone to look and act the same. Too many churches fall into this legalistic trap, and the results are lukewarm. Jesus made it clear he is not at all pleased with lukewarm. He wants us to be hot with spiritual passion, and legalism falls well short of that goal. See Revelation 3:14-22.
Teenagers can be very good at looking good, while also keeping their parents totally unaware of their secret activities. The same is true for list-following Christians who look good publicly while maintaining a private life that falls well short of real holiness. Jesus called them hypocrites:
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Matthew 23:27-28
This is why Paul urges:
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 12:2
When your mind has been renewed by God’s transformational grace, you will know his good, pleasing and perfect will. You won’t need a list of rules to govern your life. You won’t be forced to conform to a pattern. You will no longer be enslaved to legalism. You will live with nothing to hide. In complete maturity, you will be free to whole-heartedly follow Jesus. You will be free indeed!
Before wrapping up, I want to reaffirm the value of conformation as a level of discipleship. Rule-following will help you to avoid some of the nasty stuff out there in the world. It will also help you to clean up some of the nasty stuff you were doing before Jesus saved you. Yes, conformation is good and necessary. I’m not being critical of it, I’m just challenging you and the church not to get stuck in it. Jesus has so much more in store for you. Again, don’t stop short of freedom!
In our next conversation, we’ll look at the third level of discipleship: reformation.
