This last
Sunday I participated in an ordination service. Among us Baptists that is a
worship service in which a local congregation says through its actions it
recognizes in an individual a special call to service by the Lord. It might be
to become a pastor of a church, a deacon-styled servant, or some other
identified task within the church. Ordination says you have been set aside, set
apart, and unfortunately in some cases declared a new person someone else can
blame for something they don’t like!
The church
ordained three men to serve as deacons. The New Testament defines these as
individuals who are to serve the congregation with a heart guided by the Holy
Spirit and carry a positive reputation both within the congregation and the
greater community. In many ways a deacon is called to set the example for the
rest of the church membership to follow. The position of deacon doesn’t give an
individual extra power or control. It does convey extra responsibility. The
role of servant and standard bearer can be a tough one in a world that says social
conformity and personal power are everything.
The service
reminded me in light of the differences between the world and God’s Church
we all should see ourselves as just a bit different from the society around us.
Jesus said we were to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13), the light of the
world (Matthew 5:16), and as Kingdom citizens leaven for society (Matthew 13:33).
He also told his followers to be merciful (Luke 6:36) and perfect in love
(Matthew 5:48) even as their Father in heaven was merciful and perfect. Later in
the New Testament, we are reminded we are to be holy even as our heavenly
Father is holy. (I Peter 1:14-16) All of these statements are a call for us as followers
of Christ to examine our lives and see if we are setting ourselves apart to
identify with Jesus or if we are still identifying with the world.
The Apostle
Paul gives some rather blunt guidance for us in taking this awesome and
sometimes painful step of allowing ourselves to be set apart from the world.
Our God intends for us to be ordained into a special relationship with him that
makes us different from the world. Our actions and the motivations behind that
should be such that the world recognizes we live by a different standard, a
different set of rules, and answer to a different code. Paul says, “Do not
conform any longer to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind; then you will know what God’s will is, his good and pleasing and perfect
will.” (Romans 12:2)
God has
ordained that all who called by the name of his Son Jesus Christ should live
according to a different pattern from the society around them. The transformation
of which Paul speaks is the often referred to process of metamorphosis, the
caterpillar changing into a butterfly. It is only as we become as different
from the world in our motivations and thoughts as a butterfly is from its
caterpillar phase can we be what God calls us to be.
When we live
as individuals who have been set apart by the Spirit of God, then we can be
salt in society that helps preserve the best and eliminates the corruption. As
set apart individuals we can be light that drives away the darkness and allows
the Truth to be revealed. As leaven in our relationships we can permeate
society, enriching it, and helping it to become more than it ever could without
our presence.
When we
practice a lifestyle in which we seek to be perfect in our love, merciful in
our relationships, and holy in our walk with God, then we can be the people of
God Jesus died to create.
