The Myth of Personal Holiness
Brian McClaren told this great story at Mayhem. (This is, of course, a paraphrase.) Brian said that he had dinner once with Os Guinness. Guinness said to him, “You know Brian, most Evangelicals haven’t got the foggiest idea what the gospel is about.” Brian waited, hoping Guinness would tell him what he thought the gospel was about. Unfortunately, Guinness just said, “What do you think the gospel is about, Brian?” Brian gave some long answer about the redeeming actions of the cross and the resurrection. Then Guinness said, in his clipped British accent, “Yes. That’s just what most Evangelicals would say.” (damn.) Then Guinness went on to say, “You know Brian, what Jesus preached was ‘the kingdom of God is at hand.’ That’s what the gospel message is. That’s what the gospel is all about.”
I have to tell you. This little story blew my mind. The gospel, the good news, is not about my sin and my evilness and how Jesus’ really horrid death on the cross to make up for all that badness. The good news is not that God let Jesus get ripped to shreds, stabbed, and pounded. The good news is not even that Jesus rose from the dead, or that I don’t have to go to hell. The really really good news is that the kingdom of God is at hand. There’s a new boss in town. And this guy, he’s the real deal. He’s got wholeness (shalom) in his hands.
I have spent most of my religious life worried about my personal holiness. (Or feeling guilty that I wasn’t worried enough about it.) I have chased the Holy Spirit high. I have worried that I haven’t seen the supernatural happen on a regular basis. I have discredited the simple things–like a gut instinct to make a certain choice, or to start a certain conversation, or to call a certain person –considering them too everyday to be holy, too ordinary to be spiritual. I have spent hours singing worship songs and listening (and preaching) countless sermons which in spite of their best intentions, I cannot remember. I have ignored the truth told in fiction even though it has spoken louder than the facts of “Christian” texts. I have forsaken conversation because I didn’t recognize it as prayer. And I have mistakenly thought all of this was about making my soul better. Making my heart holy. What is the point of being so holy? Perfecting my backhand for a game I’m not even playing. So what if I sin a little less today then I did yesterday? If it means I do so by staying cloistered and cut off from the world, from the people and the earth that make up the kingdom, then what is the good news in that?
But the kingdom is here. The kingdom is come.
Now that’s amazing news. I want to be out in that.
“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s law and Prophet and this is what you get.”
I want to live like that. Outward, not inward. Shooting for the mark, and missing it. I don’t want to be afraid of sinning. I want to be afraid of not trying.
So how does one do this? This kingdom living? This grand adventure into our own backyard?
I don’t know. I, for one, answer phone calls a friend can’t get to. I research preschools I don’t need for a mom who doesn’t have time to do it for herself. I make eye contact with the kid in Eden’s class who is forever on the time out bench and tell him, in no uncertain terms, “You are my favorite kid in this class and I think you are great.” I give money to charities who have too many paid staff, but who are active in countries I cry over.
These are little things. So little that I stay up at night bemoaning their smallness. My heart breaks more these days. I think it is because my heart is recognizing his heart incarnate in my chest. I hate that it aches so. That it keeps me up. That all I can do is small things.
But I love that kingdom’s come. I love that the Cross now has a purpose larger then just saving me from hell. I love that I have a place to use my backhand.
Swing away.
Now that is a sermon I am going to remember - I like what your saying, keep it coming.
I remember Rich Mullins saying before he died that he would rather “risk and live on the edge of falling than to not take the risk at all” because he said when we do fall it is into God’s Grace not His condemnation.
Peace
This is an incredible post. It just encapsulates where Christian formation has missed the mark with people… and how freeing it is to raise my eyes off “my quiet time” etc and up to the Kingdom of God. Thanks.
hey rachelle,
just stumbled across your post from neotheologue. it’s awesome to read your heart written into worlds. thanks for sharing. it is good news to hear that God is King.
Stumbled across your blog a while ago and have returned now and again. I appreciate what you have to say here in this entry. I do have some questions and concerns. I think it matters greatly if “sin less today than I did yesterday” as the Bible clearly calls us to be holy and not sin. The references in the New Testament alone are too numerous to post here. Liveing “outward” is wonderful and necessary but I don’t think it comes as an “either or” as I percieve your presenting here. In other words we ought to live doing those things that you mention. I too, give money to charities that are doing things in countries that I weep over, I give money to charity locally and to some nationally, I donate time and stop to talk to the little old lady who lives down the street from me, and I spend time IM’ing with a guy who drives me nuts because he needs somebody in his life. But if I do all of these and miss holiness I certainly miss at least part of the gospel message. Yes, Jesus came adn said that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and the Gospel of John tells us that “He went to His own and His own recieved Him not.” Does this refer to the jew rejecting the Kingdom? I don’t know, but I do know that if the Kingdom of God is here now (in whole or in part) we need to live in such a way as to honor the King, by living holy as He has told us to do so. 2 Peter 3:11-12 “11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[2] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ”
You see the cross has always had a purpose larger than “just” saving you from Hell, it has always had the purpose of bringing you into right relationship with God so that you might give him the worship He deserves. Whether or not you or I recognized this truth it is still truth.
Having said all of that allow me to say this: We must pursue Holiness but we must also understand that “faith without works if pointless.”
I look forward to more thought provokers from you in the future.
Thanks for that post! Well said!
For the Kingdom!
Dear Anonymous,
Of course it goes w/o saying that righteous living promotes the kingdom. My point is just that an over-focus on personal holiness creates an internalness that causes us to forsake the kingdom for the sake of our own souls. (This is a fruitless endeavor of course. It’s a ying and yang thing — you can’t have one w/o the other.) I just think it’s time to swing the pendalum the other direction. (i.e. less focus on our internal self and more focus on the outer world. In my expereincing living in the “out” causes more growth in the “in” than any thing else I know of.)
I appreciate your thoughts. However, I have a rule of thumb to only to reply to anonymous posts once. It’s too arelational for me to try to communicate when one person chooses to remain anonymous. With anonymity in play, the conversation has a loadness about it that feels unhealthy to me. (I’d be intersted in hearing how other bloggers feel/think about this.) If you’d like to dialogue more, please reveal yourself via my blog or email.
Thanks so much.
R
R-I agree with you on the anonymous thing. To remain anonymous is to hide, and not come out. We are connected to one as beleivers and have no need to hide from each other.
i agree. without knowing each other our relationship become one up and one down.
- skipping right past the posts that even remotely resemble a controversy…
rachelle - Boy, did I EVER need to hear this preached. - reminded me of something my husband picked up and now says. What can you bring to a fountain as large as God - he doesn’t need any more water (i.e. my “help”) The best thing - the biggest compliment we can pay to such a generous fountain - is the BIGGEST bucket you can find. My sinfulness is an awfully BIG bucket - seems like he could cram more “good deeds” for me to do into it, really, but right now all I seem to be able to do is go back to him with my big bucket. The miracle of him filling it - WOW - maybe the little things you talk about are what splashes out over the sides - a overrun of grace.
love…
Go Girl
I agree with anonymous and I agree with you. I have come across your blog by way of a friend of mine, I think. Palmer to someone to you, is how I think it went. Anyhow, I think swinging the pendulum too far either way can be a big problem, right? Shouldn’t the ying and the yang be in harmony of balance?
I quote every “good Lutheran’s” favorite Martin Luther quote: “Sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for He is victorious over sin, death, and the world.” They take it pretty seriously. Visit
Old Lutheranwhich has a whole line of “Sin Boldly” products, starting with their “Sin Boldly Lager”, and their “Old Lutheran Pencil Holder” which is an empty bottle of the lager; and the “License to Sin Boldly”, which entitles you to dance, play cards, and drink beer, and is of course signed by Martin Luther.
phooey, didnt do the tag right I do it the lazy way; it’s http://www.oldlutheran.com
sue, that lutheran site cracks me up. i grew up in the lutheran church (and glad i did!). i’ll send that link to my dad.
cool : )
I did too
Did the movie Luther come to your city? Worth seeing. Some great, great scenes on Grace.
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0309820/
Rachelle, I really like what you are saying about “the kingdom is at hand”. I had the opportunity to hear Todd Hunter’s teaching on this several years ago when he filled in for the pastor at SVNB. It rocked my world as well. I wish I had a recording of it.
Anyway, the way I have interpreted it is; The “kingdom is at hand (or near)” was being preached by Jesus obviously before his death, cross and resurrection. So, by his death, cross and resurrection, the kingdom came. Or better said, we have access to it. That’s the “Good News”! I do think the focus has been put too much on where we are going (or could go) by the cross rather than where we are now.
The question that we all struggle with (i think) is “What exactly is the Kingdom of God”? Is it The Holy Spirit? Maybe! Is it this earth? not exactly! Is it Heaven? Not exactly! Is it a place where we live in our hearts? Not exactly! All the above? Maybe! I’m not 100% sure! But that’s why we’re here! Right?
I totally hear and understand where “anonymous” is coming from though. It becomes very easy to be good on the outside and dirty on the inside if we focus too much on being “out”. (R - I didn’t get that from your post BTW.) I remember something from a sermon along the lines of “you can wash the outside of a cup without washing the inside but washing the inside of the cup the outside gets washed as well” something like that. I think that is what has to happen. Not that it’s that cut and dry. I know sometimes I feel like I’m cleaning the inside of a tanker truck with a toothbrush!
So I guess what I’m trying to say is “RIGHT ON” the kingdom is here! Let’s quit feeling guilty about our sin, we know it’s there and we know it’s going to happen. Love yourself, Love the people in your circle of life and most importantly Love God!
Ok - I’m done - Whew! - breath in - breathe out
Rachelle,
In my mind personal holiness has nothing to do with whether I sin, or how I sin, or how many sins I commit. As if God is up there keeping track. (Dallas Willard’s “gospel of sin management”)
Holiness is about being. Radiating. Projecting God’s image. With unveiled faces reflecting the glory of God, being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory…
Contemplation, adoration, worship, propelling us into the world, introducing the kingdom that is at hand.
Both personal holiness (in this context) and getting out there, participating in the kingdom.
Excellent thoughts, Rachelle. Preach it.
hey Rachelle, I appreciate all you’ve shared all over blogdom these last couple of weeks - thanks. btw, it was good to connect and chat, albeit briefly. so glad you were able to make it to cinci.
so right on, so glad you’re being freed from sin management and focused on God instead of focused on sin.. I’m going to guess and wander out loud that Os’ comment to McLaren about what the Gospel is really all about, was well received by McLaren, and opened his thinking towards the Kingdom of God, beyond salvation/redemption only..
DJ - yeah, I heard Brian tell the story too and he received it well.
R - I too appreciate your thoughts here. “Kingdom” seems to be the theme of this year for me (and others around me). I’m looking forward/excited to explore this more. What do Kingdom-lives really look like - aside from old (read: unhelpful) definitions of “holiness”, “sanctification”, and even “personal salvation”. I’m not eschewing “old”, but hoping for a more wholistic experience of Christ in my daily life. One that is as much inward as outward. I’m reading Elizabeth O’Connor’s Journey Inward, Journey Outward which is helpful.
Rachelle, great post. I’ve really enjoyed what you’ve had to say since Mayhem. Makes me really wish I could’ve been there.
Rachelle,
Thanks for reminding me of this story that Brian told. Loved hearing your thoughts etc.
Don’t know why but yours is the only blog I find myself re-reading… don’t know why I even told you that… good writing about topics I’m deeply interested in coupled with the fact I’m glad for our growing friendship, I guess. You are keeping good Friday - easter open right? We’re serious about that and there’s even a few people who are starting to dialog…. better start tossing your ideas in now =)
peace.
Great post. It reminded me that there seems to be three dimensions to spirituality: vertical, the connection between you and God; horizontal or outward, the connection between you and other people; and inward, the connection with yourself, your true inner self and not your outer, worldly ego. Each person has their preferred or most comfortable dimension, but there must be a balance among all three. Balance makes a person whole. This balance is different for each person, and your personal balance will likely change/grow over time.
Also, I heard someone say something related to your post that has always stuck with me. It could almost sum up your post in one senetence: The Kingdom of God is any place where the will of God is done.
Thanks for sharing that….wonderful topic to pray about, considering how it should affect “the little things” in our daily life.
Awesome post, Rachelle. Thanks. This is right where my head is at these days. This is it! The Kingdom is at hand!
Here’s a couple of disjointed thoughts/heresies on the subject I’ve shared with friends recently.
+ Sometimes I think this (Earth) is Heaven, it’s just that the evil/crap is still here. While we Christians sit around wringing our hands at the deplorable state of the world and begging Christ to come back soon and take us away from it all, He waits for us to start the job ourselves, to help create the Kingdom “on earth, as it it is in Heaven”, to give Him a head start, as it were.
+ If we’re going to exist for eternity, which we claim is the case, then we’ve already started. How’s it going so far?
Peace.
This is good news! For me, being a follower of Jesus is easy compared to how hard it is to be a Christian today. I often feel guilty for not feeling as guilty as they say I should, and feel down in spirit when I go to church compared to when I help my neighbor move his bookshelf. Roman’s 7 has Paul worrying about the struggle with sin and holy desires, then praises God for grace in Ch. 8 and leaves the subject behind. God give me that grace to FINALLY accept the cross and GO from there to the greater world which is very hurting indeed and needs to come to that same cross. And God also give me the wisdom to come back myself and not be too busy like the Church in Ephesus that lost their first Love because they were too busy. and God please give me a lot of grace to deal with the fact that we can’t find that perfect balance for more than a waning moment before we’re cruelly reminded what planet we actually are still passing through. Who knows? Maybe God will hear a prayer like that and honor it, and maybe finally His Kindgom, not his Christian subculture, will march forward in our day.