After a fun conversation with a good friend, I wanted to write a post about this. How do we find the balance between desiring holiness (since, in some sense, it is commanded) and not becoming legalistic and self-righteous?
This could be a confusing post. I'll try not to simply ramble. It stems from the title of a book called, "Worldliness". I have not read it (yet?). My gut reaction to such a title is to roll my eyes, as if bracing myself for another tirade of self-righteous condemnation on the majority of Christians and how worldly they are because of the clothes they wear and the music the listen to and the show or movies they watch, etc. etc. To be fair, I don't want any of this to reflect on the book, because, again, I haven't read it. It makes me question the motives of those who point out "worldliness" in others. What is the motivation for that? Love? Holiness? I'm not sure. I don't understand the balance between allowing an individual the freedom to walk by the Spirit of God, and trust that God will convict and direct their actions in a way that is right and good, versus speaking the truth in love to people and confronting and rebuking sin. Who am I to play Holy Spirit for them? That's a tricky situation...
I guess, instead of rambling on like I am prone to, I wonder how we as Christians can love God more fully. If I was really in love with God, the things I would choose in light of that, would naturally result in holiness and that wouldn't have any kind of self-righteousness in it. I do want to be holy. I don't want to be worldly. But I also don't want to be motivated by fear. Fear is not attractive and, aside from the reverential fear and respect that the Almighty Creator deserves because of His essence and being, I think fear is a poor motivator. Granted, it might be a good starting place, but that is not God's heart. He doesn't want a bride who "loves" Him because she is secretly afraid of Him and honestly doesn't feel like she has a choice. So even in our pursuit of holiness, how do we find motivation for that from our love for God? How do we all love God with all our heart, and with all our soul and with all our minds? Because if we can learn that, and to learn to walk by the Spirit of God, I don't think we would need to point out specifics for each other (when it comes to actions not clearly sinful).
You should read the book!
ReplyDeleteBoundaries and guidelines are important parts of seeking to live holy lives, but true, legalism is a trap easily fallen into when doing so.
And yet, walking in the spirit is not a license to do whatever we want.
I think like you said, the motivation must always be God-centeredness. Christians need to think about what this looks like in each of their lives. But we have to beware of how subtle the drift into worldliness is if we do not take pains to protect our hearts for God.