A Debilitating Disease within the Body of Christ

Has this generation of Christians lost the meaning to the word "holy"? It often appears it has to the casual observer.  Just within my lifetime, and I'm not very old, the church has drastically moved away from any attempt at holy living, from being separate and distinct from the world around us. The reasons are many, but I believe the root issue is that most American Christians simply don't identify with the necessity to be a holy people.The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines the word holy:

Biblical use of the term “holy” has to do primarily with God’s separating from the world that which He chooses to devote to Himself. As God’s redemptive plan unfolded through the OT, the “holy” became associated with the character of God’s separated people conforming to His revealed law. When the time became ripe for the saving work of Jesus Christ, His redeemed people came to be known as saints (literally, “holy ones”). The cross made this possible by inaugurating the fulfillment of the preparatory OT teachings on the holy, opening the way for God’s Holy Spirit to indwell His people. [Cabal Ted, “Holy,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 772.]

Holman goes on to note that holiness is not an option for God's people, but an ethical mandate:

God’s chosen people, in separation from the world, are called to an ethical life in conformity to His revealed word. The command to His people is to “be holy; for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44–45; cp. 19:2; 20:26). This demand is not abrogated with the coming of Christ but is to find its fulfillment in the Christian community (1 Cor. 7:34; Eph. 1:4; Col. 1:22; 1 Pet. 1:16). Christians are to perfect “holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1 NASB). If necessary, God will discipline the followers of Christ for their own good so they “can share His holiness” (Heb. 12:10 HCSB). [Cabal Ted, “Holy,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 773.]

Unfortunately, holiness and separation are foreign topics within today's church. One would be hard pressed to find substantial areas of difference or distinctiveness between the world and the Christian. Too many of us are satisfied with an intellectual knowledge of God and His Word, yet too inconvenienced to put into action the teachings of His Word.

In his commentary on the Epistle of James, Charles Swindoll identifies the lack of distinction as a "crippling disease" within the Church:

A debilitating “disease” is crippling the body of Christ—a syndrome so common that it seems to affect every believer with either a mild or acute case. This insidious condition neutralizes the church’s impact and nullifies her testimony. It can diminish effectiveness and paralyze production. The problem? A rupture between confession and deed … theology and action … hearing and doing. For too many of us Christians, God’s Word fails to make it from the head to the heart. And for many more, His Word gets lodged between the heart and the hands.

A. W. Tozer vividly portrays the situation:

So wide is the gulf that separates theory from practice in the church that an inquiring stranger who chances upon both would scarcely dream that there was any relation between them. An intelligent observer of our human scene who heard the Sunday morning sermon and later watched the Sunday afternoon conduct of those who had heard it would conclude that he has been examining two distinct and contrary religions.…

It appears that too many Christians want to enjoy the thrill of feeling right but are not willing to endure the inconvenience of being right. So the divorce between theory and practice becomes permanent in fact, though in word the union is declared to be eternal. Truth sits forsaken and grieves till her professed followers come home for a brief visit, but she sees them depart again when the bills become due.

Is there coming a time in the not too distant future when Pastors will need to be more concerned about transformed lives than the size of their Sunday crowd? We've spent the last 40 years learning how to attract a lot of people with whiz-bang worship and feel-good talks. When was the last time you went to a pastors gathering and each one shared about the testimony of transformed lives within their church rather than their attendance numbers and weekly offerings?

The test of a gospel-centered church is the evidence of transformed lives--men and women, teens and children who are working out their salvation in obedience to the Word of God. Next time you are curious to know how your church is succeeding at the great commission, don't count your crowd, open the microphone for a time of testimony.

"How is God working in your life?"

It's a simple question. If you are met with silence... what does that tell you?

It will not take much persecution for most "Christians" to fade into the background. I'm not talking about the threat of imprisonment or the loss of life. Rather, I believe persecution in America will be more economic and social. American culture is not wanting to destroy the church outright, just silence it and marginalize it. Unfortunately, too many "Christians" will readily comply.

Let us strive for holiness within our people. May the fruit of our labor be a group of transformed lives, not a large crowd of worldly unbelievers.

Do you struggle to teach the Word of God unashamedly? Do you fear your church will consider you "old school" and legalistic? This is pride, my friend. May we stand with the Apostle Paul and encourage our church family as he encouraged us, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)