The command is clear. God expects us to be like Him. He expects us to be holy. Here are two examples from Scripture.
“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy." Leviticus 19:2 (NIV)
"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)
But what exactly does this mean? How can I be holy? God's Holiness is the very thing that separates Him from......well everything. This command is quite the tall task. It's one that I believe has been interpreted in the negative all too often. However...it's not a negative command at all.
I often hear people speak of holiness as a list of rules that must avoided. Don't go to movies. Don't smoke. Don't drink alchohol. Don't dress that way. Don't curse. Don't watch TV. Don't listen to that kind of music. Don't use new technology. etc. The list can go on and on. This kind of "holiness" is a life that has it's focus on what you do not do. It's exactly what the Pharisees did in Jesus day.
A life of holiness does separate from those things that are not like God. However, for many, though the journey of holiness, has become a satisfying life of self righteousness. It may be very easy to define one as a "Good Christian" by what one does not do. Is this the kind of life that God wants us to live? Does God want us to be known by what we avoid? Does God want us to be known by our rules? Don't get me wrong...there is plenty of things we should not do. But are these don't's keeping us from a life of saying yes to the do's?
I speak from experience. I lived a life of legalism. I thought that by keeping a certain list of do's and dont's....I was ok. I was a "person who pleased God". Well....that only goes so far. What naturally happens is that the list continues to gets bigger. You add more rules to the list. Your list may have included even some of your preferences. You know....those things that are not etched in stone...but are the way you think it should be. Then your preferences turn into "truth" for everybody. You don't watch PG movies....so nobody else should either. You prefer classical music and hymns so you then think that everybody else should as well. And if anybody dares disagree with your list....then they are not holy. Hmmmmm, does this sound familiar? Is that what God said? Be holy so everybody else can be holy like you? That was me. Is that you?
Holiness is a life of freedom of exploring God and imitating Him. I will never measure up...but that's ok. The journey is the best part. So what does a life of holiness look like? (to be continued)
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