I think that, for the most part, we get holiness wrong. OK, it's defined as "set apart", but that can be a lot of things. For most "hard-core" Christians, it means I'm set apart by homeschooling, hating Harry Potter, not watching TV, voting Republican, homophobia, and just holding on until Jesus comes back to destroy this wicked world.
Hmm.
I think holiness has more to do with what we are turning toward than what we are turning from. What really sets us apart is our capacity for authentic faith, genuine love and concern, and hope in God as redeemer. All these things are only made possible through Jesus Christ and his transforming our hearts and minds.
I found this quote from Tim Keller:
Jesus’ teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing, religious people of his day. However, in the main, our churches today do not have this effect. The kind of outsiders Jesus attracted are not attracted to contemporary churches, even our most avant-garde ones. We tend to draw conservative, buttoned-down, moralistic people. The licentious and liberated or the broken and marginal avoid church. That can only mean one thing. If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishoners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did.
I've gone to homes that have a welcome mat at the door and a ravenous pit bull in the yard. I think, oftentimes, that's what we communicate. "Oh, please, come on in, Jesus loves you. Oh, no? That's a shame, at least we tried!"
Here's what Paul had to say to people like this:
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
OK, I'm done...
Mr Sears,
ReplyDeleteWhat God wants is our worship, praise and love. What God does is empower, move, inspire and change us once we are saved by Him.
I am not sure what in the world you are really trying to say in your post here. But holiness is the setting apart of something or someone for purpose. With regard to Christians that purpose is worship, love and praise of our God. This praise, worship and love find expression in right kind of living according to God's standard of right living...the Bible calls that righteousness.
I think we see eye to eye. I think many people tend to use holiness as a means of separating ourselves from the very world that God calls us to engage. That we warp righteousness into self-righteousness that fails to point to God as the author of that righteousness.
ReplyDeleteWe tend to make the means our end, that is, we focus on the externals, while we lose what God really wants (worship, praise, love).
Our call to reach the nations is fueled by this very thing. Unfortunately, I think we have a tendency to contract rather than expand, to create barriers to those who we are trying to reach rather than building bridges, letting our light shine so that God gets the glory, not us.
Thanks for the conversation!
Oh yeah, one more thought. I think our mission should be clear to those we are called to reach. Unfortunately, many people who are searching for authentic faith find that the Christian church is the last place they'll find it.
ReplyDeleteI preached on this last Sunday, concerning Jesus' woes to the Pharisees. They lost sight of their mission, and it warped everything else.
But now, these remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.
I agree we are to engage the world but we should certainly look different from them. We are not called to join the world in its sin. This is what Biblical holiness and righteousness are all about.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Kyle! Some use there "holiness" to gain attention, to set themselves above others rather than apart. They use phrases like "Jesus Freak" or "set apart" to justify what is really in my humble opinion, is really just judgment in disguise.
ReplyDeleteIt's great and I'm all for you if you want to live your life different by not watching tv or voting a certain party, but it does not make someone more holy than me. I watch tv and I love Harry Potter and yet I make a difference everyday to the people around me. I have people at work constantly in awe that I am able to handle a particularly trying time with such grace and faith. I get to tell them it's easy when you have Jesus. The funny part is that these same people know I watch Grey's Anatomy and we get to talk about it on Fridays!
I pray that I am making a difference to those that don't know Christ they way I do! I guess I'm blending in while yet being set apart. And, yes I am also a Jesus Freak because I love him so!
By the way, I am getting baptized on Sunday! I feel like it is time even though it's been 4 years since I accepted Christ. I was baptized at 10 yrs old, but feel like this time is different. Say a pray for me?!
I just read my online devotion after posting a comment on your blog and below is what part of it said....
ReplyDelete"You are saved for more than goodness. You are saved to bridge others to God. Fruit ceases to exist when character becomes a contest of who is the most spiritual or who does the most good. Much fruit that remains is the result of God working through a humble, obedient, and submitted life for His glory!"
I rest my case.
@James,
ReplyDeleteI agree that we are not to join the world in its sin, but we are to join the world as ambassadors of Christ. Jesus was often accused of joining the world in its sin, but his "apartness" was spiritual, not physical. If our mission is Christ's mission, then we SEEK the lost and lead them to Him.
@Sonya,
Like you said, "You shall know them by their fruit." I spoke on the seven woes that Jesus spoke against the Pharisees. In it, he says that they strain out the gnat (an unclean animal) but swallow a camel (also unclean). Essentially, they are practicing the finer points of righteousness, but missing out on the big stuff (mercy, love, grace).
Thanks for all of the conversation! My blog hasn't seen this much activity in a while.
btw, James, I would love to know how you found the blog. Do you live in Hutto?
Jesus went to where the sinners were but He did not participate in their sin. There is a huge difference.
ReplyDeleteSonya,
We are set apart and saved to different living and that difference does mean we refrain from as well as begin new activity. If God is at work in your heart he is there to change you mind, will and emotions so you might will and act according to His purpose. We must be very careful about what we put in our heart and mind. The heart is the wellspring of life as Proverbs tells us and to be flippant about what we allow to enter it is unwise. If you are making an arguement that it doesn't matter what you watch you are sorely mistaken.
According to the religious people, Jesus did participate in their sin. He "worked" on the Sabbath, appeared to be drunk, touched lepers, and didn't force his disciples to ceremoniously wash their hands, among other things.
ReplyDeleteI guess what I'm getting at is that our mission should be the main thing. What is required of you? To do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there shouldn't be a change in mindset and behavior (sanctification). However, I believe that many are being set free from the bonds of sin only to put on the bonds of religion. I know I have in the past.
James, thanks again for the conversation. I'm still interested in knowing how you found my little corner of the internets. :)
Hey Kim,
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining the discussion! I'll attempt to answer your questions in the best way that this format allows. :) Let me know if I miss something or if I'm unclear.
First, concerning teaching the entire counsel of God. I deliberately do that with every sermon I preach and most Bible studies I teach. Obviously we are all sinners in need of redemption. Jesus calls us out of our sin and into redemption. I don't think we'll disagree there. Actually, I am a big fan of expository teaching, and utilize it almost exclusively in Bible study and preaching for the very reason you stated.
Regarding the process of holiness: Romans 12:1-2. It is through the renewing of our mind, which impacts values, which impact behaviors. This is where I go back to the statement of trading our bonds of sin for bonds of religion. Our entire perspective changes when we find faith in Christ. It begins there, not with behaviors (those come as we are transformed).
Don't read this post as an endorsement for sin. Nothing of the sort! I was just remarking on this "ivory tower" mentality that we tend to communicate. "God's grace saved me, but you better clean up your act!"
Again, I'm not saying the we should redefine what sin is, but I do think we need to evaluate our response to it. Instead of "hanging on 'til Jesus comes" we need to actively engage the people of this world, knowing that, as sinners, the thing they need most is grace and forgiveness, not judgment and condemnation. I look forward to the day when the world will be set right, but it should cause us to sing a song to the nations that the Lord reigns, not shout punishment upon them.
Regarding homeschooling, politics, etc. More power to you. No judgment here. My concern is that we make these things the benchmark of our holiness, instead of love, grace, compassion, service, etc.
I hope that you'll find that I take orthodoxy as seriously as I do orthopraxy.
Kyle, it's obvious you had to get something off of your chest. Hope you feel better.
ReplyDeleteOne question...if my life resembles your first paragraph, does that invalidate authentic faith in my life?
Hey Brent!
ReplyDeleteI think your question is what's getting me in trouble. :)
My response: Absolutely not! I think it can be authentic faith. I guess what motivated this post is the thought that if I vote Democrat, read Harry Potter, and make it a point to hang out with people outside of the church, then my faith is less authentic.
If all we can point to is the "stands" we take, but there's no real impact being made in the world around us, then I think it should cause us to stop and think what our faith is about. Is it selfish? Then we are merely putting spiritual clothes on sinful mindsets.
Thanks for helping me cut to the chase! I hope this clears stuff up.
What, you voted Democrat and read Harry Potter....sinner!!!
ReplyDeleteJust kidding, I love you man. Lines w/o actions is dead. Hmm, that reminds me of a Bible verse...
If you can vote for Obama you have problems with your relationship with Christ. Anyone who can vote for someone who believes in infanticide is either not a Christian or in a place where they simply have no viable relationship with Him at this time.
ReplyDeleteHanging out with non-Christians...great
Watching Harry Potter...pretty mild stuff really
I think we need to be very careful how we equate various activities as to their measure of righteousness. God has called us to a Gospel (and the life it produces) that will be rejected by the world...important we accept that fact.
James
ReplyDeleteLet us not forget McCain's transgressions of adultery. Should I not have cast my vote for him because of his sin? Do I have no viable relationship with Christ because of it?
We are not a perfect people. We make our choices and will be judged by them someday. But to say to someone, who is a pastor, they have no viable relationship with Christ because of a political choice, only shows immaturity in your words and serves no purpose but division. Yes, you are wise in your understanding of our calling to be different from the world, but unwise in your blanket assessment of an individual believer whom you obviously know nothing about, but would be in awe of his courage and unwielding drive to serve and reach this world for Christ.
All believers are on the same path growing in righteousness. If we make a wrong choice, God doesn't cast us aside. He corrects us and helps us to keep going forward, hoping we take ahold of his wisdom to make better choices later.
So let's do away with divisive language towards our own. It serves no purpose other than to tear down, and friend, you seem wise enough to know this is not His agenda to our brothers or His commands to the church.
Brent,
ReplyDeleteHey, if someone wants to repent of their vote for a man who supports abortion and infanticide I am all for it.
To equate adultery, a sin in a man's past, with the determination to support and provide for the future murder of millions is pretty silly.
I guess if you are looking for milktoast I am not your man. Some of the strongest language from the mouth of Jesus was for those within the faith of Israel who had gone radically, arrogantly astray.
I pray God will end the killing of the innocent and convict the heart of those who continue to elect their killers.
Hey everyone,
ReplyDeleteI fear that the comments have left the original topic for discussion and are no longer proving to be edifying. The original intent of this post was to talk about our mission in Christ, not politics.
If you would like to continue the discussion elsewhere, I invite you to provide a link to your blog below.
Again, thanks for the discussion!
No problem Kyle.
ReplyDeleteRespectful,
Brent
Kyle & Brent,
ReplyDeleteMichael and I miss you guys and glad to see things are going well.
I've been following your blogs for awhile and read this passage a couple of days ago and it really captured what I was going through. Since then the comments have certainly taken off.
I do not want to go off on a political rabbit trail so I will simply say that I voted for Obama (the why can be left for another day). When some that I know and some that I work with found out that I voted Democratic they accused me of not being a Christian and too liberal to be a "cultural warrior." This left me feeling hurt, angry and saddened. I turned to a trusted mentor and his wife. They are in their sixties and Church has always played a huge role in their life. They are two of the kindest, most giving people that I know but they are.... Democrats. They have been hurst numerous times by those that hold the belief that you cannot be a true Christian and be a Democrat. This couple and I have a strong enough faith to not turn away from God or the church because of this judgement. However, would a new believer or even a person who was unsaved turn easily to Church when faced with such derision and "in your face" judgement. A bad rap that church goers and Christians have is that of being hypocrits. Who are we to sit in judgement of our brother? I am not a theologian and I cannot quote chapter and verse but I do know that when Jesus walked the Earth he sought out those that society shrinked from. When we are judging eachother we are not being holy but rather holier than thou and when we are doing that we cannot reach those that Jesus reached for first.
Glad that I could join in and so glad that others out there are feeling the same thing that I am.
Mirenda Walden