Philippians 4:8 - Holiness as a Way to Live

What do you think of when you hear the word holiness?

Do you think of something unattainable, something untainted, something that is perfect? Do people such as Mother Theresa come to mind? Do you think of rules and tasks that must be accomplished?

I have been thinking about holiness the last few days after running across an article that talked about different ways to understand holiness: as correctness or a state of the heart.

At first glance, it is very easy to think of holiness as correctness. In 1 Peter 1:16, God calls us to:

 Be holy, because I am holy.

God is correct. God knows all and makes perfect decisions. God is right. This is particularly evident to me in the Old Testament. God tells people what is right and what people should do and there is consequences for not doing those things.

But when I look at the writings of the New Testament, I am drawn to see holiness as a state of the heart that is without obstacles to loving God and others. When God gets up close and personal with us though Jesus, we hear that Jesus knows the heart of God and he and God are of one heart and of one will.Nothing separates Jesus from God.

We also find scripture like Hebrews 12:14:

Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will see God.

 Holiness appears to be related to living in peace with others and it is something to be pursued. I have always seen Philippians 4:8 as a explanation of holiness:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

As I ponder these scriptures, and think about holiness, I see a fundamental difference in correctness and a state of the heart. Correctness involves being correct. It is something you are or are not. A state of heart involves doing. I do things that create a pattern of behavior that indicates a certain state of heart.

So for me, the question comes down to is holiness something that you are or something that you practice. The way you answer that question certainly changes the way you approach life and other people.

But here is the thing, each of us makes mistakes, we can not be "correct". We are left falling short. Our path to holiness as a state of being is through the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus paid the blood price so that we can trade the ashes of our mistakes for the beauty of his perfection. The way for us to accept and receive that gift is through our belief and love. We believe that gift is offered, receive it, and our response is love. Our love drives us to pursue the desires of God and create a state of heart that is free of obstacles that prevent us from loving God or others.

So if we attempt to be correct, we fail, we make mistakes. But we can pursue a heart where there are no obstacles preventing us from loving God and others.

Are you trying to be correct at all times and making sure those around you are correct? Do you walk away from situations or people who do not fit your understanding of what is correct? Or are you trying to love God and others with every fiber of your being? Do you run towards people and situations and bring love to them, to show them God?