How do you do an inactive action?

Romans 12:2 (ESV), is a familiar verse:

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.

There are seemingly two commands in this verse: “Do not be conformed”; and “be transformed”.   Both verbs are imperatives (that’s a command) and both verbs are passive.  In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence is neither 'a do-er' or a 'be-er', but is acted upon by some other agent or by something unnamed.  It would not be normal for us to speak this way in English.  It’s like telling you to do something that is done to you.  Sounds a little like mumbo jumbo.

I think Jerry Bridges gives us a helpful illustration.  Tommy’s mother says to him, “Go get clean.”   It’s a command; an imperative.  “She knows Tommy cannot cleanse himself. If he tried, all he would do is rearrange the dirt. So she wants Tommy to bring himself under the cleansing action of the soap and water. It is the soap and water that will wash away the sweat and the dirt, but Tommy must bring himself under their cleansing action.” [1]

We as individuals cannot obey Romans 12:2, on our own.  “. . . For apart from me you can do nothing,” Jesus says. (John 15:5, ESV) .  All we can do is place ourselves in the environment and under the conditions where Christ by His Spirit will bring about transformation.  The best place for that is under the Word of God and the influence of the Holy Spirit.

“Paul’s exhortation to be transformed is also in the present tense. This means we are to continue to let ourselves be transformed. It is a continuous process that should be occurring every day of our lives.”[2]

In my experience there are two extremes in Christianity: the pacifist and the activist. (I’m not talking about war and violence.)  I’m speaking of those who say, “God is sovereign, if He wants to change me He will.”   Another group works feverishly thinking that more work and more effort will win the day. However God’s process is inactive action. We need to choose to regularly take ourselves to the shower and trust that the water and soap will do the job. 

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[1] Bridges, Jerry (2014-02-01). The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness (p. 172). NavPress. Kindle Edition.

[2] Ibid, (p. 173).