Assimilation

The goal of a culture has always been assimilation. The temptation to assimilate is alluring. With it comes acceptance, popularity, the avoidance of conflict, the ease of hiding one's convictions, the comfort of being "one of the boys." There is, perhaps on the surface no logical reason to not fit in.
It really comes down to a simple choice--do I, no matter what the cost--live by God's standards or the world's? Whose approval do I want? What will my treasures be--and all those intangible things mentioned above are "treasures." Yes, it's a love issue, an issue of the heart. Will I love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength? Will I love my neighbor as myself? To hide the love of Christ from those around me is the most hateful thing I can do, is it not? Do I understand as Paul asserts that all those "things" the world wants me to embrace are really the rubbish that keeps me from the one thing that truly matters--"to know Him, to press on daily to a deeper understanding of why He has chosen me to follow Him. His desire for me is that I be made conformable to His life style, a life of sacrificial dying to myself in order to lovingly serve others. That is the only treasure worth gaining. All else is "fool's gold." Yes, we are fools when we pursue the tarnished allure of the world. We are the poorest creatures, sad, empty shells of the fullness that can be found only in walking with Him. No one is emptier than the believer who is full of himself, conforming to the world, callously betraying those he calls his friends, denying the sacrificial love that bought Him out of slavery to the world and into the freedom of Christ.

"Take the world, but give me Jesus. All its joys are but a name; but His love abideth ever, thro' eternal years the same."

"Into the love of Jesus deeper and deeper I go, seeking to know the reason why He should love me so"

"Choose you this day whom you will serve."

"Purpose in your heart."