Kicking The Props Away Part III

Holiness.  What is holiness?  In my opinion, there is a huge deficiancy in the area of holiness here in the Western Church.  This is another reason why I love IHOP:  they call believers to holiness.  Not that anyone can ever be 100% perfect and holy, but holiness should  be what all believers are striving for.  It’s the enthusiastic “Yes!”  in our spirits that steals God’s heart; our sincere desire to please Him that counts, not  perfection.  Somewhere along the way this message has gotten obscured and clouded.  Now we seem to believe that if we can’t be perfect, then why even try?

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day no doubt believed that they epitomized holiness, yet they were rebuked many times by Jesus himself for their legalism and religiosity.  Today, I think, we misinterpret Jesus’ words against the Pharisees and, because we don’t want to be labeled as “legalistic,” we then err on the side of becoming licentious; since being a Christian is about “a relationship, not rules” we think that all rules and discipline are bad.

Which is so not true.  Jesus said that he came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it.  (Matt. 5:16-18)  The issue then is not relationship or  rules, but relationship and  rules …and  one’s heart posture.  Yes, we are to live in relationship and fellowship with Jesus, but I think it’s pretty safe to say that the clear expectations that Jesus sets forth in His Word about how a believer should live in meekness and holiness can be taken as a personal message staight from Him to us!  And, of course, if we pursue a lifestyle of radical obedience in an effort to earn a right-standing before God, instead of it being and expression our love, devotion and desire to align ourselves with Him and what he values, then we are indeed like the Pharisees. 

*Sigh*  I’m wrestling with this.  Our family is stepping out into living a “fasted lifestyle,” - (fasting food, time, energy, money and words; also known as the “Sermon on the Mount lifestyle.” I plan to expound on this in my next “props” post) – and…it’s hard, misunderstood.  These words from Mike Bickle, the director of IHOP, in his book “The Rewards of Fasting” sum up my thoughts,

I have had many conversations where people urged me to play more and pray less so that I might live a more “balanced” life as they do.  People want you to be happy with what makes them happy.  When you’re happy with something else, they sometimes feel rejected or judged by you.  People often feel judged by the lifestyles of those who do not have the same desire for possessions, comforts and pleasures.  They insist that you need more socializing and entertainment to keep you from getting too far “out there.”  The multitudes called John the Baptist demonized.  (Matt. 11:18)

Now don’t misunderstand me.  I’m not suggesting that I’m anything “like Mike.”  He has “fasted” large amounts of his time and energy in prayer and has striven to live in meekness and holiness over the years.  And I can’t begin to relate to how misunderstood he often feels.  What I guess I relate to in this statement is how it articulates the “great divide” between the “fasted lifestyle” and the western lifestyle (which has, sadly, permeated the Western Church).  The western lifestyle is all about getting – getting a bigger house, more stuff, a better paying job…so that you can buy more stuff – and living in comfort, pleasure and ease.  When you “kick these props” out of the way, you’re definately swimming against the current!  Really, for the most part, you’re percieved as being religious and legalistic (and  wierd).  Which is not at all the posture of my heart.

So…I don’t know where I’m going with all this.  These are just some of my very disjointed thoughts.  Thanks for reading.