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Holier Than Thou

 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (I Peter 1:15-16)

 

According to various Bible dictionaries, being holy involves being separate, set-apart, or sacred. We see God’s call for the Jews to be holy often in the Old Testament. They are repeatedly commanded to not imitate or integrate with the other nations. Every time they did, they got in trouble. In the New Testament, Jesus warned the disciples not to love the world or the things in the world. That’s what Peter’s warning is about. We are to be holy…separate… set apart…sacred.

Immediately, the alarm bells ring. Oh no! We mustn’t be so heavenly-minded that we’re no earthly good! Oh no! Heaven forbid that we become “holier than thou.” Isn’t that what the Pharisees were rebuked for? Aren’t we to love sinners? Didn’t Jesus eat with sinners? How are we to reach them if we aren’t willing to be among them?

It seems as if holiness is like wealth. “Rich enough” always means having more money than you do, but not enough that you feel poor. The accusation of “holier than thou” begins whenever we feel uncomfortable with the level of someone’s holiness in comparison to ours. Don’t misunderstand. There are people who parade themselves around as holy in order to get power or approval from others.

But I suspect that the accusation of “holier than thou” or “too heavenly minded to be any earthly good” not only shifts to suit the individual but is also being used as ad hominem. If they disagree with you, your argument can be declared of no value because you are “holier than thou.” That doesn’t mean you’re wrong. Those whose focus is on our being “any earthly good” have set their sights too low.

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