Holy to the Core

During lunch today I was reading an article in Christianity Today (a very well produced and non-cheesy pub I should add) titled "Holy to the Core" by Joel Scandrett. I thought Joel does a great job of detailing how the Christian church has struggled for many years with the term "holiness". Even though many churches today have done a good job of casting off the old legalistic notions (i.e. no dancing, drinking & playing cards) -- a lot of churches are guilty of replacing them with "private, moralistic notions" of sexual purity, financial honesty and commitment to private prayer. While these things are good of course, they miss the bullseye of what being holy is. As Joel says:

"This is partly due to our quest for cultural relevance, which is defended in the name of winning others to Christ. If we talk about holiness with unbelievers, won't that present just another hurdle for them to overcome on their way to Christ?"

"Moral purity is not, first and foremost, what Scripture is talking about. Instead, the most basic meaning of the word 'holy' is to be 'set apart' or 'dedicated' to God - to belong to God. "I will be your God, and you will be my people," says Yahweh (Lev. 26:12, Heb. 8:10). Thus, prior to any consideration of morality, biblical holiness describes a unique relationship that God has established and desires with his people. This relationship has moral ramifications, but it precedes moral behavior. Before we are ever called to be good, we are called to be holy. Unless we rightly understand and affirm the primacy of this relationship, we fall into the inevitable trap of reducing holiness to mere morality."

Tell it like it is, Joel! I know that in my past I have been guilty of reducing my "spirituality" and relationship to God to just following rules of do this and don't do that. In hindsight, I was so dumb. God doesn't want me to follow rules -- he want's me to be in union with him. We don't want our children to just follow our rules -- we want a relationship with them!

Joel goes on to say: "At bottom, God's call to be holy is a radical, all-encompasing claim on our lives, our loves, and our very identities. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ requires nothing less than death to our fallen, egocentric selves in order that we might live in and for him." (Mark 8:35-36)

Have a joy and peace filled day.