Tag: Holiness

Holiness Gatekeeping

When people come into an Apostolic church for the first time, I’m pretty sure that we all agree that we should welcome them “as they are,” befriend them, listen to them, guide them to the altar, and answer questions about scripture. Right? That’s what Jesus did, when people came to Him. He didn’t wait to eat with sinners until they sanctified themselves with the temple priests. He didn’t withhold healing from people until they had worshipped God to His satisfaction. We’ve been taught for a long time that we should let God lead and guide them, and help them sort out their issues. It’s part of being disciples and making disciples.

But somewhere along the way, something changes. People in church make a decision that a person hasn’t made it as far as they should in their “walk,” by however long it’s been since they first turned their heart to the Lord, and then the people feel like they should start nagging them about spiritual matters in which they feel they’re not measuring up. And what else is there to talk about, except visible, outward things? So this journey of the spirit starts being judged by the path of the flesh. Someone doesn’t do enough of this, or does one too many of that, so we “correct” them.

Why do we do this? Is that really what God wants? Why don’t we just continue to love them, point them to the altar, and answer questions about scripture, all throughout their journey? At what point is it appropriate to step into God’s shoes and try to tell someone that they’re not being spiritual enough? If there are specific things that a person is doing that is causing disruption or harm to someone else (or to you), that’s a separate issue. Maybe I’m crazy, but I don’t think it’s ever our job to try to convict someone about behavior that is between them and God. It’s probably not going to work, anyway.

Lying

We Apostolic Pentecostals get real picky and choosy about what sins we get upset over. People have affairs, and we get them counseling, and try to restore them and their marriages. People get caught up in substance abuse, and we help them get into rehab and nurture them back to health. This is great! This is proper. This is the work of the Good Samaritan.

But if someone supposedly violates one of our standards of holiness? Out comes the whip; it’s time for a public flogging! Even if it’s just based on rumor or speculation, we feel the need to run them out of church on a rail! I mean, think of the children! We don’t want anyone getting the wrong impression that we approve of such things, do we?! Of course not! And, if we don’t overreact, the horror will spread! Ug. This is nonsense, and absolutely not in keeping with Christian charity, nor even with our previous attitude.

And then there’s the opposite of the self-righteous extreme. The sins we think just don’t count. What about lying? And I mean bald-faced, straight-up lying? Repeatedly? Unashamedly? Some people apparently think this is fine. I guess they think it’s acceptable as long as it’s done in service to a cause they believe to be righteous. But do they really think God cares what purpose they think it serves? And if you only hear about it from someone else, you think, “Nah, they can’t have said that. That would be ludicrous. No one would try to say that, would they?” And you wind up giving them the benefit of the doubt, and the lies continue, and worsen.