I’ve had a few thoughts since my recent post on Leviticus 19 and “Being Holy” on the nature of Holiness…
First, as I discussed in that post, “Being Holy” is a process. A process implies that changes are happening as a result of that process. So, when God says “You shall be Holy for I am Holy.” … God is changed by the practice of being Holy, just as we will be changed.
This makes sense from a second point of view, which is that Holiness, based on the commands in Leviticus 19, is about having healthy relationships. In other words, being Holy requires relationship. This makes perfect sense to Christians, since the whole point of Christ walking here on earth as one of us was to bring each and every one of us into closer relationship with God. Christ, after all, was prophesied as being “Emmanuel” – “God with Us” (Matthew 1:23).
Third, relationship is not a one way street. Relationships change both parties. If not, it would be a one way interaction, such as a child might have with a doll – such a relationship might change us, but it sure doesn’t change the doll! Such is not a full relationship, but only a partial or truncated one.
So, when God says “You shall be Holy for I am Holy” in Leviticus 19:2. It means Holiness is a two way thing. We are Holy because we are in relationship with God – You shall be Holy for I am Holy” – and that Holy relationship changes the both of us for the better.
Holiness and relationship both require that God is vulnerable to us, just as we are vulnerable to God – and what could be a greater demonstration of this than Jesus’ death on the cross? Or Jesus as a babe, completely dependent upon his parents for sustenance and support? It would seem, then, that being vulnerable isn’t such a bad thing, it leaves our hearts open for change, and deeper and more meaningful relationships with others.
The Bible asks us to be open to God and God’s movement within our spirits. That movement is a two way street, and that is what is at the heart of being Holy.
Be Holy!
Copyright (c) 2014, Allen Vander Meulen III, all rights reserved. I’m happy to share my writings with you, as long as you are not seeking (or gaining) financial benefit for doing so, and as long as proper credit for my authorship is given (e.g., via a credit that gives my full name and/or provides a link back to this site).
The Here and the Hereafter 