Be Holy...

             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)

The Fall occurred because Adam and Eve wanted to be like God, “knowing good and evil.” The rest of us have that same desire, though we may not use “like God” in our discussion. There are some ways we simply can’t be like God, but there are others in which we can. The extent of the likeness may be less than God, but we were made in the image of God, so at least some likeness is unavoidable. Ironically, the things in which God calls us to be like Him are the ones in which we have no interest. Today’s passage is a great example.

What does “Be holy” mean to you? The ancient idea was that being holy meant being given to God for His use. While it still has that meaning, the world has added to it the ideas that holiness is arrogance, presumption, and hypocrisy. The world maintains that what is “holy” is useless, but those who are holy see themselves as chosen and superior when, in fact, they’re probably greater sinners than everyone who isn’t holy. Another idea is that if one is holy, one can no longer enjoy anything except sitting around praying and worshipping.   

In other words, holiness is not only seen as arrogant and hypocritical but also as drudgery. Someone in one of the groups I follow mentioned this, though he didn’t say it this way. He wondered why it was that so many people see spiritual disciplines as impossible or negative. Spiritual disciplines are – or can be – a means to holiness. But they effectively dictate our lives, and we don’t like that. Holiness isn’t easy or convenient. But it’s something we need to work on.