Theological Buzzwords: 'Transformation', what is it? A theological explanation.
Monday, February 23, 2009 at 3:46PM I was asked by a friend to give an overview of my understanding of the concept of transformation. Here is my attempt at expressing my understanding of the much used concept of transformation.
What is transformation?
The concept of Transformation is linked to a movement of change from one state of being to another.
In Christian terms the movement is always in the same direction, i.e., from a state of sin, brokenness, emptiness and Godlesness to a state of life, blessing, wholeness and adherence to God’s will. The New Testament uses a particular word for this process, it is the Greek word metamorphasou (from which we derive our English word for the transforming process of simple life forms such as a worm to a butterfly).
We are commanded in Romans 12:2 "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." Here you can clearly see the movement of being transformed FROM the standards of this world (that lead ultimately to death and destruction – whether these be physical death such as poverty, death as a result of sexual sin, abuse of alcohol etc., or spiritual death as a result of our separation from God, other persons and ourselves (e.g., like what one finds in a bad marriage, or in a nation where the political and social violence as a result of separation between different groups).
God’s fundamental desire is to transform us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ (Phil 2:5) - and because that is God’s mission, that should also be the mission of the Church and every member of the body of Christ, as it was Christ's mission (Lk 4:43). It should be our aim to transform both the structures of society to reflect the structures of God’s will (most often expressed in the Bible through the use of the term 'the Kingdom of God' he basiliea tou theou – which literally means 'the place in which God reigns’, or ‘the sphere in which in God is King'. So for some Christians mission means transforming structures in society (such as economic structures and political structures) to more closely represent the structures that are present in God’s Kingdom (i.e., they are more just, more loving, more gracious, they are structures that give life, that seek equality, that include people, that build them up, that display God’s image and beauty and recognize it in people and places).
The second approach to transformation (that goes hand in hand with the first) is the transformation of the individuals that make up society and populate the structures of society. The best way to transform individuals is not just to transform the social and physical things around them (e.g., giving them new clothes, building them new buildings and roads etc.) rather it is to change their very nature! A sinful, selfish nature (which is the natural way of this world) will always lead to destruction, greed and death (Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23), but when one can bring people into a relationship of Christian discipleship (i.e., help them to form the disciplines that 'transform' their minds and hearts to be the same as the mind and heart of Christ Jesus), then society changes from the inside out! Even poor people can bless others, even the powerless in a society can bring about loving, holy and God honoring change!
So, this is my understanding of transformation (or at least that which I can express at the moment). It is both spiritual and physical. It deals both with individuals and with groups and structures in society. For the individual there are two elements to transformation. First there is the nature of a transformed person.
What is the nature of a transformed person? It is the same gracious, loving, life giving nature as that of Christ Jesus.
Then there is the character of the transformed person (i.e., the tangible characteristics of the transformed nature) these characteristics are the same as those expressed in the Biblical understanding of God's Kingdom. You can see that a person is transformed because the people and structures around them begin to be transformed into the image of Christ and the values of the Kingdom of God.
2. How can we strengthen the Church for the ministry of transformation?
Before the Church can be God's agent of Transformation in society it will first need transformation itself.
I think there are two fundamental steps. First, I think the Church itself needs transformation! It needs to be transformed from a self centered institution to a God directed mission movement. When the individuals and structures of the Church are encountered by Christ and come to understand His will for their lives and surroundings the Church can be changed! People will see that they ARE the Church at work, at school, at the shops, in their political decisions, in the way they handle their money etc., Such Churches are powerful in transforming society.
Prayer is the first step in this process. The second step is connecting people with places and instances where they can discern the will of God! We will soon find that God does not truly worry about styles of worship, what people wear to Church or how much water we’re baptized in! God could care less about this petty issues when within walking distance of most Churches in South Africa there are children dying of malnutrition, people who are dying of HIV AIDS, relationships being destroyed by alcohol and drugs... The list could go on and on. Sadly I think very few Christians, and very few Christian Churches actually know what God’s will is for them and their surroundings!
So, we need to work for the renewal and conversion of both Christians and the Christian Church – a transformation FROM our selfish will TO a rediscovery and obedience to God's perfect and loving will, and strengthening the body of Christ to be courageous enough to bring God's will to bear on society. When we have been saturated in prayer, fully connected with a loving God, and we walk into our world, ever person, every structure, every institution takes on a new meaning. We have a chance to bring transformation to bear in every action, every encounter, every decision...
In theological terms we have often spoken of this as a balance between personal holiness (i.e., complete devotion to God) and social holiness (complete devotion towards achieving the will of God in society). You cannot have personal holiness without social holiness (i.e., you cannot say you love God, yet not love those whom God loves. And, God’s love is tangible and real – it is expressed in food, shelter, clothing, healing, acceptance...)
So, I hope that gives some idea of my understanding of the concepts of transformation?
I would love to hear your views on Transformation!
On that note, with regards to the relationship between Personal Holiness and Social holiness you can read this paper I presented at the Oxford Institute some years ago (it has since been revised, published in a journal and later in my book 'Methodism in Southern Africa: A celebration of Wesleyan Mission')
Reader Comments (3)
I am just past the final draft of an M.Th. thesis on Christian transformational leadership. I have read a heap of literature, yet I think it would be true to say that, while it describes how one may be a transformational leader, there is not one description of what the transformation is. I note, doing a quick scan of your vocabulary, that you refer e.g. to values and character, yet not e.g. to faith and Spirit. Would this imply a form of imitative Christianity?
P.S. There's a very interesting debate here on "the fundamental question for the moral life" -- Gula vs. Stortz: http://www.gtu.edu/news-events/events/lectures-and-addresses/distinguished-faculty-lectures/distinguished-faculty-lecture
This looks like a good outline for your chapter in our new book. Keep going!!!