When was the last time you had a serious discussion about holiness? When was the last time that you or someone you were talking to was deeply concerned about their holiness? We don’t even use the word much today. It is almost like it has become irrelevant in today’s culture and within much of the Church.

In our great quest to become relevant to our culture we have left reverence behind.  Our tendency is to drift away from holiness toward personal relevance, which robs us of reverence. Today sermons, podcasts and Christian media are consumed with and even driven by relevance and pop culture. It appears that many are more concerned and interested in what movie star is wearing a cross or leading worship than they are about becoming “holy” to please God and not the world.

At the same time the affirmation of our “feelings” has been elevated far above our faith. We talk more about our “continued” brokenness in the church today than we do about pursuit and progress in holiness and pleasing God. If this sounds insensitive, it is because we have been conditioned more by culture to respond with emotion than scripture and respond with faith.

The only way to truly be happy is to be holy!  It is what we were created to become. Repeatedly, throughout the New Testament believers are referred to as “saints” (Grk; agios– holy ones). Never do we see believers attach any sinful behavior to their identity – they are always referred to as “saints in the Lord.” Saints, yes, who still struggle with sin, but saints none-the-less, who are to be in pursuit of holiness and pleasing God.

The big lie from the beginning of time has been that we can somehow find happiness, fulfillment and even joy in other pursuits than holiness. God’s destiny for us is holiness and we are told that no one will see God without it.

God throughout the ages has been calling His children back to holiness through His prophets. We are in need today of a new breed of “wilderness prophets” who are more consumed with God’s glory than pleasing culture and tickling ears.

We need reverence restored in the Church.

Habakkuk 2:20, “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” (ESV)

We are to strive for holiness.

Hebrews 12:14, “Strive for peace with everyone and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (ESV)

We are to progress in holiness.

2 Corinthians 7:1, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” (ESV)

If He commands holiness, it is possible and expected.

1 Peter 1:15-16, “but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.”