Back to the Borg, but Not
The first post in this miniseries drew attention to the fictional “Borg,” an alien species in a television show whose cultural uniqueness was absolute, unquestioned, irresistible conformity. Among the Borg, all sense of individuality was sacrificed to the reality of the whole. The Borg were not plural, though there were millions of them. The Borg were singular in objectives, values, goals, and methods. There one cultural directive was the propagation of the whole. Reproduction through assimilation was their one social purpose, the reason for their existence.
I drew our attention to the Borg because our current culture buzzes with the hope and efforts of social conformity. You can see it in the growing demand for mask mandates and forced vaccinations. Societal conformity is the goal of cancel culture and the cry for acceptance of critical race theory. The demand for conformity is even evident in the LGBTQ+ movement and the focus on gender identity, where two genders are abhorrent to those who wish there was only “human” and biologically-determined gender a non-issue. God made them two, the world works to make them (n)one.
Christian, God has a plan for you that does not conform to the plan the world has for you. In Romans 1:1-7, Paul describes our life in Christ as one of doulos (slave). He then describes the ascent into the role of doulos as two simultaneous works of God: kletos (called, selected and assigned) and aphoridzo (set apart, severed, separated). It is to that second gracious work of God we now turn our attention.
In 2 Corinthians 6, Paul makes the point that the church should be fundamentally different than the world, that the saint should live a life fundamentally different than the sinner, that the believer should be altogether, radically different than the unbeliever:
. . . what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God . . .
He then goes on to quote Leviticus 26:12, Isaiah 52:11, and 2 Samuel 7:14, all which point to the unique relationship God creates between Himself and His chosen people. In 2 Corinthians 6:17, quoting Isaiah 52:11, where, in the English versions we see the word “separate,” Paul uses the Greek word aphoridzo, the same word he uses of himself and, by implication, of true believers in Romans 1:1.
God’s work, God’s will, God’s intent for each and every sinner He calls to faith in Christ and service to Christ is that, from the moment we yield to His irresistible call to forgiveness, hope, and new life right through to the moment we follow Him through the doors of death into eternal glory, we live in this world as different from the world as He is different from the world. Aphoridzo means “set apart, separate, severed from.” Our position in Christ, as doulos, is one of separation from the world, separateness from the ways and means and methods and values and desires of the world, severed from the lure of the world and connected once and for all to Jesus Christ.
Why then, I wonder, do we waste so much time and energy and effort trying to fit in to the world and get the world to like us, accept us, exalt us? Why do we work so hard and long so deeply for what the world has? Why do we lust for the pleasures the world offers? Why do we seek the rewards the world extends? Why, O why is Christ not enough for those whom He loved and died for? The world has never, can never love us like Christ, even to the point of dying for us, and yet we will work harder to gain the ardor of the world than bask in the affection of Jesus Christ.
If there is any one single common bit of evidence that supports the assertion of a general love for the world among Christians, I would point us to the decline of faithful participation (not just attendance, though that is part of participation) in public worship. I would point us to the increasing lack of commitment and service among Christian church membership. I would point us to the lackadaisical, consumeristic approach many, many Christians have toward their churches. I would point to packed entertainment venues and fully staffed workplaces on Sundays while churches languish. And the reason? I am convinced it is because many people who identify as Christian love the world more than they love Christ and they prove it in their lives by loving the things the world loves more than the things Christ loves. They prove it in their personal priorities.
Christian, if you are truly of Christ, if you truly belong to Him, you no longer belong to the world. You have been set apart, separated, severed, aphoridzo. Your life, by virtue of Him to Whom you belong, ought to reflect His character, His values, His moral nature, His spiritual uniqueness, His sovereign authority, His glorious Person!
This word, aphoridzo, is used three times in the New Testament. It is used in Acts 13:2 where Barnabas and Saul are identified by the Holy Spirit, from among a group of worshiping Christians, for a special mission.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
It stands to reason, then, that God “sets apart” His people for His work. Are we asking God to identify the work He has for us? Are we asking God to lead us into the ministry He has prepared beforehand for us to do (see Ephesians 2:10)? Why not, Christian? If you seek your work in the world for your benefit, why would you not seek your ministry in the world for Christ’s benefit?
The second occurrence of aphoridzo is in the text we’re focusing on in this miniseries, Romans 1:1,
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God . . .
Here Paul reveals He is set apart for the gospel of God. More than just set apart to preach and teach the gospel, Paul means He is separated from the world to the gospel by God. He is set apart to love the gospel, live the gospel, advance the gospel, serve the gospel, prioritize the gospel, trust the gospel, filter all life and opportunity through the gospel. The gospel is to become his moral life compass, the foundation of every decision, the direction of every action, the substance of every consideration.
The gospel of God is not simply to be for him one belief among many but the ONE conviction to which all others must conform. I had a bout with kidney stones recently. On the Saturday night the pain started, I went to the office and took down the Family Physician Desk Reference from the shelf. I began to sort through descriptions of symptoms and potential diagnoses. But I didn’t want a list of what the pain could be. I wanted to know what the pain was, what the problem was. I wanted to know what to do about what I was suffering, and for that, I couldn’t use one diagnosis among many. I needed one diagnosis that would guide every decision thereafter.
In our spiritual living as douloi (slaves) of Christ Jesus, there is one defining wisdom: the gospel of God. The gospel of God, the good news of Jesus Christ, and by good news we mean all the revelation of God relative to Jesus, His Person and His work. Whether you are parenting, or job hunting, or communicating with employees, or any other of the myriad activities you engage in and opportunities you pursue, the gospel should be fundamental and central to every area of your life.
Here’s an example: Your kid wants to take a job that will require them to work every Sunday. You should be asking: What impact does the gospel have on this question? What impact will this decision have on the gospel for my kid? What impact will this decision have on others regarding the gospel through my kid? I don’t mean to dictate the answers to these questions, but I do mean to spur you on to asking the questions!
Finally, Paul uses the word aphoridzo in Galatians 1:15,
But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone . . .
The sense here is that God set apart Paul in order to reveal His Son, first to Paul, and then through Paul to the Gentile world. I can imagine you might be tired of hearing this from me by now, but God’s mission in the world is to fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14.) God intends every elect person saved by grace through faith in Christ to participate in His mission to fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory. God intends no bench warmers among His people. He sets us apart to reveal Christ to us and then to reveal Christ through us to the world.
So I ask you, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow douloi, called to represent Christ and set apart from the gospel, can the world tell the difference between you and them?
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