St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote the great booklet Uniformity with God’s Will. It got me thinking about seeking what God wants from us and the way we phrase it. Typically we hear about conforming our will to God’s. So when I read the title of his work it got me thinking more seriously about word choice.
Conformity or uniformity? Or is there even a real difference?
I always thought conformity was a fine word to use. Conforming your will to what God wills sounded good to me.
But through uniformity with God’s Will we are making our will uniform with His, which is a positive and peaceful approach. Conformity, on the other hand, connotes a grudging and reluctant attitude.
Sometimes we feel we’re simply “conforming” to God’s Will, particularly when resisting temptations. But uniformity to His Will is our wanting of all that God wants, not merely doing what we are supposed to do.
Conformity or uniformity. Is there any difference to you?
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