Imagine the upheaval in the first century when Jesus introduced a new and living way to connect with God, moving beyond strict adherence to religious law. This transformation not only reshaped people’s perceptions of God but also revolutionized their daily practices. In the book of Acts, we see individuals transitioning from merely living “for God” to living “in God” through the gift of the Spirit.
In Galatians, Paul recounts an incident with the great apostle Peter. Peter, who had been eating with Gentile believers—those who had embraced Christ but did not follow Jewish laws—suddenly changed his behavior out of fear of criticism from other believers.
This incident reflects a condition I call “chameliosis” (pronounced ka-meal-ee-oh-sis). It describes the tendency of sincere, well-meaning individuals to shift their opinions based on their company or to adopt new mindsets after reading a book or perusing a website on any given topic. This trend is particularly relevant for those striving to grow in mind and heart, especially as pluralism, much like in the first century, becomes increasingly prevalent.
A lack of deep spirituality and profound communion with God often leads to verbally sophisticated chameleons, both in doctrine and experience. Surface-level Christians frequently adapt to the spiritual trends of the day, reflecting the latest religious ideas they encounter. For a time, they mimic the views and concepts of an author with striking similarity.
Sadly, in some cases, inward spiritual transformation never materializes because individuals only experience the vocabulary, not the power of God. It’s often easier to recognize “chameliosis” in others than in oneself. As Jeremiah 17:9 warns: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” This verse highlights the inherent deceptiveness and complexity of the human heart, underscoring our need for the Spirit’s help with daily insight and guidance.
The risk of adopting the latest buzzwords of transformation or the newest spiritual jargon is particularly significant for seminarians and leaders eager to fast-track their degrees or accelerate their spiritual growth.
Throughout the decades I have spent working in Christian higher education, I have seen sincere individuals with sophisticated and intimidating vocabularies fall prey to this condition. Sadly, their behavior and continual criticism of God’s Church and others are not just negative but sinful. In some cases, education can create an intellectual barrier to being teachable, emboldening one to resist any form of spiritual authority. This resistance often leads to a misplaced fear of God, forgetting, as Peter did, that God is always at the table too.
However, this same pride, deception, and “chameliosis” are evident in ministry leaders and pastors who desire to be perceived as learned and well-read. They seek fast-tracked educational credentials without humbling themselves to the process of diligently studying significant theologians and thinkers from centuries past to the present. And church-goers in the pew are not immune to the same condition.
Remember the feeling of reading something in middle school, passing the test, but realizing you hadn’t truly learned anything—you had just memorized the answers? This describes millions of undisciplined disciples, “un-follower” followers, a type of Christians who lack a deep, inward connection with Christ. They seem lost when asked how God has personally transformed their lives. “Chameliosis” is the deception of believing one has changed simply by learning the vocabulary. For the chameleon, there is such theological and experiential buoyancy that they drift with whatever current is flowing, yet, like memorizing answers in middle school, little of it integrates into their daily Christian life.
There are practices we can adopt to position our hearts for deeper spiritual growth. The biblical fruits of the Spirit and the freely given gifts of the Spirit are excellent remedies for the common case of “chameliosis.” In my view, personal suffering is a heavier, more accelerated dose that the Spirit uses to keep us from terminal self-deception. God the Spirit, always guiding His people toward the ultimate day of new beginnings, often allows the suffering we experience in this life to form and reform the deepest parts of ourselves.
There are no shortcuts to absorbing wisdom in the spiritual realm, which is why comfort and ease never stay long at your house. Change is the highway we travel to what God is going to do next in our lives. Unfortunately, “chameliosis” is the counterfeit to a life truly being transformed by the renewing of the mind. Your transformation and development are ongoing, as anyone who has been in charge for a while knows. What we are rarely told as young leaders is that our transformation often comes with disappointment, unmet expectations, and even vocational embarrassment.
This condition can affect leaders, pastors, and even highly educated religious scholars. These individuals may develop and display an impressive vocabulary that convinces those under their influence, yet no real transformation is occurring in their souls. Instead, they are merely adopting the latest terminology or theological trends—a clear case of “chameliosis.”
If my assertions resonate with your experience, consider integrating these growth tips to nurture your inner life:
- Remain Open
While it’s important to remain open to new ideas and read for growth, it’s equally crucial to formulate solid (doxastic) beliefs about what Jesus and His teachings mean to you personally. Paul, in Romans, urges us not to be “conformed” to this world but to be “transformed” by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). This transformation happens from the inside out, driven by the Spirit’s personal, transformative work in our lives, through God’s Word, and within the faith community surrounding us.
- Monitor Your Hunger and Motivations
There’s a difference between being genuinely impacted by an author’s words that radiate intimacy with God and merely feeling as though you share that intimacy because you’ve read about it. “Chameliosis” can lead individuals to move from one book, author, or church to the next, never truly connecting with God on a deep level. This condition deceives us into thinking we’re growing spiritually when, in reality, there’s no genuine transformation.
- Understand the Context to Illuminate Content
A significant challenge in universities, seminaries, and even among sincere Christians is the lack of connection to God’s larger story. The desire to succeed in the moment can distract us from the patient journey of growth and learning. The best defense against “chameliosis” is keeping an inner eye on our motives. It’s easy to be captivated by the personal power and organizational successes of leaders and to emulate their actions. However, as a leadership coach, I’ve seen leaders who appeared ineffective but were, in fact, performing real leadership for the benefit of their organizations and people. Conversely, I’ve seen thriving organizations where the leader received more credit than deserved due to the environment and context.
The key takeaway is that embracing inner transformation safeguards us from becoming mere spiritual chameleons, swayed by leadership trends, powerful personalities, or big budgets. While it’s important to remain open to external influences, we must prioritize the inward work of the Spirit, engaging not just our thoughts but the deepest parts of our being. Stay hungry for God Himself, not just for information or career advancement. This genuine hunger and openness to the Spirit’s transformative power anchor us in authentic spiritual growth and prevent the deception of superficial change.