That ain’t holiness

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” -Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride.

The theological circles I run in are known for their adherence to holiness. We take serious God’s call to “Be holy as I am holy” (Leviticus 19:2 and 1 Peter 1:16). Sadly, it seems some in my tribe are confused as to what “holiness” entails. 

Allow me to offer a few tips (just “a few,” my list is not exhaustive) on holiness. Hopefully this clears up some of the muddle…

If your version of holiness is….

more about you than Jesus, that ain’t holiness.unkind, unforgiving, unjoyful, unhumble that ain’t holiness.unloving toward neighbors and enemies that ain’t holiness.uncaring toward the poor and needy, that ain’t holiness.focused on outward persona rather than inward purity, that ain’t holiness.childish not child-like, that ain’t holiness.bullying others on-line or in person, that ain’t holiness.comparable to the Pharisees, that ain’t holiness.hypocritical or hyper-critical, that ain’t holiness.cliquish more than a welcoming, that ain’t holiness.snooty and gossipy, that ain’t holiness.attention seeking more than Jesus seeking, that ain’t holiness.envious, greedy, lustful or prideful, that ain’t holiness.rude, harsh and self-seeking, that ain’t holiness.bombastic and belligerent, that ain’t holiness.record keeping of wrongs, that ain’t holiness.condemning the sin in others while covering up one’s sinful habits, that ain’t holiness.pushing people out of the kingdom rather than inviting folks in, that ain’t holiness.lacking in generosity, that ain’t holiness.critical of social media mudslinging, then promptly slinging mud on social media, that ain’t holiness.full of “gotcha questions” meant to trap and belittle, that ain’t holiness.championing “truth” while telling half-truths and outright lies, that ain’t holiness. depicted by who you hate rather than who you love, that ain’t holiness.fueling heated arguments rather than godly conversations, that ain’t holiness.blind to the giant log in one’s own eye, yet judging the speck in someone else’s eye, that ain’t holiness.more about legalism than charity, liberty and grace, that ain’t holiness.dismissing the above list and getting defensive about the areas that reflect your own poor attitudes and behaviors, that ain’t holiness either.Anything other than being like Jesus, quite simply…  it ain’t holiness. Period. 

Dear English majors, I know, “ain’t” isn’t a word. I also know the “holiness” that some folks proport to be “protecting” or “promoting” isn’t holiness. 

It’s something, but it’s not holiness.