Pursue Holy

By now, you are familiar with my appreciation for a thoroughly Pentecostal heritage. Being a Christian was not a statement of faith, but a seeping of Word and Spirit into every facet of life. Conversations and values were constantly weighed as worthy or unworthy in the context of Word and Spirit. In my experience, some things and many activities were either qualified or disqualified in a surroundings best described as being “heavy” in spiritual awareness. An acute sense of needing to be, wanting to be, holy was cultivated.

To illustrate, I can distinctly remember my pastor preaching about Christian vocabulary. He said, “‘Darn’ is a thin disguise for a much worse curse. ‘Gosh’ should be avoided as it encroaches on ‘God,’ and His Name is Holy, not to be taken in vain.” Pastor also taught that “true Christians” were teetotalers who abstained from alcohol, and similarly, would not use tobacco in any form. The list of acceptable amusements was shorter than unacceptable. The Word and Spirit called us to live unpolluted by the world. (James 1:27) Pastor taught that a test of our witness included what kind of stories we were willing to listen to in school, neighborhood or workplace. Witness was a lifestyle that set a moral tone.

The “good old days” were not always that “good,” and they certainly were imperfect, but they leaned toward the Holy! I believe that was the right way to lean, and that we ought never abandon that direction. In short –

• I do not believe our language needs to be quaint, laced through with “thee” and “thy,” but ought to be “seasoned with salt,” (Colossians 4:6) reflecting the way our deepest desires are leaning – toward Word and Spirit. If “darn” and “gosh” were substitutes for inappropriate language a few decades ago, for what is “freaking” a replacement? Are we as sensitive as we ought to be about becoming course or crude in a world which tramples on every moral boundary?
• In a few years our culture has turned from embracing modesty to parading lewdly – everywhere. Without losing our balance, can we create a forum for learning how to communicate the need for modest decorum for the people whose hearts are tipping toward Jesus?
• If “Ozzie and Harriet” were suspect fifty years ago for those who were in the pursuit of holy, to what cautions should our spirits respond today. If my spirit is damaged with the crass, morally corrupt values and images in my world’s marketplace, how will my spirit respond when Holy Spirit communicates? Will I hear Him?
• If the desire of God is for His house to be a place of prayer, a venue for meeting face-to-face, mind-to-mind, heart-to-heart, spirit-to-Spirit, and will-to-will, how may we cultivate an attitude and posture which accomplishes His purpose for our gatherings? Is it as important to be relevant as it is to be aware of the Holy and committed to meeting Him?
I have already admitted that the “good old days” were flawed. On occasion we were legalistic. Do I want to go back? No, and we couldn’t if we wanted. Life has no rewind button. But the pursuit of a life “worthy of our calling” remains. (Ephesians 4:1) Don’t scream, “Legalist!” at me. The pursuit of God ought to be life! How we pursue Him and represent Him matters, in every nook and cranny of our soul, home, church and marketplace.