We can be conformed to this world in many ways. Even those who self-consciously reject worldly philosophies can sometimes slip into a more subtle, and therefore less noticeable, kind of conformity. When we do this, we can easily become an oblivious sheep in wolves’ clothing.

Do not be conformed to this world,  but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

I worked on the editorial team of Tabletalk magazine for over a decade, and one of my favorite pieces of art was featured on the cover of the November 2002 issue. The issue was titled “The Myth of Influence,” and it depicted a sheep dressed up as a wolf surrounded by a pack of wolves, who are clearly not fooled. That issue addressed the subject of Christian leaders attempting to influence the world by conforming to the world.

I don’t recall all of the details of the various articles in that issue of Tabletalk, but I’ve never forgotten the cover. I think it’s the obliviousness of the sheep to the danger surrounding him, or the vacuous look in his eyes, or a combination of both that gets me. This sheep apparently thinks he has pulled the wool over the eyes of the fierce predators surrounding him, but the only one he has fooled is himself.

Most Christians are aware of Jesus’s warning to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:15). There, Jesus is warning His followers that false prophets will come, and they will often have all the outward appearances of a true sheep. He notes, however, that we will know them by their fruits.

I think this piece of artwork reminds us of a different danger, the danger Paul mentions in Romans 12:2. It warns us about the danger of Christians – us – becoming conformed to the world. And let me be clear that I’m not pointing my finger at anyone in particular here because whenever I do that and the dust settles, I usually discover that I’m pointing at a mirror. I’m talking about a very real danger we all face.

We can be conformed to this world in many ways. Even those who self-consciously reject worldly philosophies can sometimes slip into a more subtle, and therefore less noticeable, kind of conformity. When we do this, we can easily become an oblivious sheep in wolves’ clothing.

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