Overboard Holiness

Christians have become passive about pursuing holiness. That is a blunt statement, but there’s really no better way of putting it. Christians everywhere have become skilled in the art of arguing why they’re okay doing exactly what they’re doing and weak in the realm of killing sin. We are a culture of Christians content with convincing ourselves of our own personal holiness without ever chasing Jesus and striving for the real thing.

            

A comment often heard among people who claim to strive after Christ is, “Don’t go overboard. It is good to try to follow Jesus, but make sure there’s balance.” Ephesians 5:3-4 says, “But among you there must be not even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” I don’t know what your personal definition of overboard is, but God seems to have no problem with going overboard in this culture’s definition of the word.

           

Now obviously those two verses don’t encompass EVERY possible aspect of holiness, but they touch on some very hard and sensitive topics that collectively create many of the things that this culture worships and deals with on a daily basis. Immorality, sex being thrown around, gossip and lack of restraint in speech, lack of intelligence in speech (including social media stupidity), innuendo and other jokes you probably wouldn't tell your grandmother, and the like are mentioned.

           

One of my favorite authors and vloggers Skye Jethani recently tweeted, “If imitation is the highest form of flattery, than Christians have become pop culture’s most devoted admirers.” Daily I am around Christians who are content with keeping their holiness in check with culture and the sin that comes with it. They are fine with where they are in their faith and are very good at persuading that God didn’t really mean “not a hint” when talking about the previously mentioned topics. They reason that God can’t expect them to get rid of all innuendo-because c’mon...it’s sometimes clever-, get rid of all gossip (especially about that really obnoxious person), and as long as you don’t go all the way in a relationship before you’re married, it’s not REALLY sexual immorality…right?

            

What so many Christians miss is that holiness isn’t something we half-heartedly pursue, a side hobby when we feel like it. Radical holiness and pursuit of Jesus is something that should consume us. When God says, “not a hint”, He absolutely means it! Obviously as an innately sinful human you will slip and fall, but falling to temptation is not the same as condoning the sin. It is all a matter of perspective, attitude, and what you choose to pursue. If you fall, you get back up and keep fighting for the prize, but you can’t win the prize if you never enter the fight.

            

This flies blatantly in the face of culture, and many people (including Christians) would be ready to mock someone who pursues holiness at the expense of getting rid of things in their lives that cause them to compromise that holiness. But…why should we care? If you know Jesus, you know how worth getting rid of the things of this world that compromise our holiness would be. We shouldn’t be scared to be referred to as “such a Baptist” or “boring” or “goody two-shoes” (I know, stupid terms, but you get the picture) because as a Christian, you know the truth. Why should we be afraid to follow that truth and radically pursue holiness at the cost of being looked down on for it?

            

It takes boldness to be able to deny the things of this world to be able to become holy like your creator. I’m sure the majority of this post has seemed like I’ve been lecturing, but these words are exactly what God has been drilling into my own heart, and it’s something I’ve been learning daily. It truly is okay to not talk about someone behind their back, not laugh at the coarse joke that all your friends crack up at, and choose to cut out the sexually explicit music from your playlists. God is continually teaching me that holiness is worth more than the acceptance of people, the approval of this culture, and the cheap tricks that allowing sin brings.

           

So this year, my goal is to take God seriously when He says “not a hint”. I will daily choose to follow Him and rid myself of the things that take my eyes from Him, even if it costs me the approval of my peers. He is so worth going overboard for. Radical holiness is beautiful.