Sanctification

John 6:61

Sanctified  

At least in Nazarene circles, there seems to be much debate these days over this one word.  Am I sanctified?  If I am, what does that mean?  Can I "lose it," become un-sanctified.  Are there outward signs of a person who is sanctified?  If I'm a girl, do I have to grow my hair long and then put it in a bun?  If I'm a guy, do I throw out all my shorts and tank tops?  These are the kinds of comments I hear when the word sanctified comes up for discussion.

If you were to search the word "Sanctify" in a NIV translation of the Bible, you would find it used twice in John 17:17-19, once in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, and once in Hebrews 9:13.  If you were to dig a little deeper, you would find that all four uses of this word are translated from the same Greek word, hagiazo, and that it means to consecrate, set apart (for sacred use), or to make holy.  

Most times, the dispute surrounding this word arises when a person or group seeks to define what being consecrated, set apart, or to be made holy actually looks like in day to day living.  Of course, I believe there are physical displays of sanctification, but who can actually nail them down and who would be the person or group to do that.

As is the case with every question I have, I return to the Bible to find my answer.  I found it intriguing that Jesus used the word twice in John 17 in his lengthy discourse to his disciples and yet did not use the word in any of his teachings up to that point.  It's not found in any of his teachings during his multiple visits to the temple.  It's not found in his is monumental conversation with Nicodemus.  It's not even found in his thorough explanation of being a disciple to the 5,000 crowd in John chapter 6. 

This might seem to lesson the weight of Jesus' sanctification teaching in chapter 17, but if you have followed closely Jesus' message as a whole over the prior 16 chapters, you would see that the word "sanctification" culminates in this chapter and does not make it's first appearance.  In other words, though the word has not been used up to this point, the concept has been clearly defined.

 Sanctified or Sinful

The last 12 verse of this chapter contain the decisive moment where many who have followed Jesus as disciples turn back and no longer follow Him.  Jesus' response in verse 61 is very important, for it reveals the spiritual condition of sin (in the context of our discussion; not being sanctified) that has captured the 5,000 crowd.  

Aware

Jesus is aware of the crowd's spiritual condition.  The word aware is the Greek word oida and conveys a knowledge that comes from facts or information.  In Matthew 6:8, Jesus teaches that in prayer, the Father already knows what we need before we ask.  This is our word.  Just as the Father already has the information that we bring to Him in our prayers, so Jesus already knew of the 5,000 crowds spiritual condition before they began to argue among themselves.

There is much we could say about this spiritual condition and how Jesus knew about it, but it is enough to say, considering the conversation from verses 25-59, that the spiritual condition of a person bears fruit that is easily seen by a disciple.  Jesus' awareness in this passage is not a supernatural phenomenon as much as it is a common supernatural result of one who is sourced by the Spirit.

Grumbling

Jesus compares the 5,000's spiritual condition to that of their forefather's by referring to both groups as grumblers.  As their forefathers grumbled and did not trust, so they also are grumbling and not trusting.  The Greek word translated "grumbling" describes an inward condition that breaks forth out of the mouth.  In this crowds case, it is a deep discontent with Jesus and His teaching about the disciple lifestyle.  

Jesus uses phrases like "the work of God is this: to trust in the One He has sent" (v29), "...I have come down from heaven not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me" (v38), and "...unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." (v53), to convey to this crowd what the lifestyle of a true disciple looks like.  As Jesus lived trusting the Father, His disciples will live trusting in Him.

Offend

There are two extremely important aspects to Jesus' statement, "Does this offend you."  The first is the word Jesus uses that we translate "offend" and the second is that it is a question.  

The word translated "offend" literally means to cause to sin.  The spiritual condition of the 5,000 crowd is sinful.  This is important and alarming, for the result of resisting the lifestyle Jesus called and demonstrated to us, is rebellion against God.  

And the way in which Jesus states this is also important.  It is a question that reveals an awareness of the Truth.  In our cultural language today, we would say, "Really?"  Jesus is saying in shock and horror, “this is what is causing you to sin?” or “You are resisting me because you are not willing to be impartial to my heart and will?”  The question of their sin reveals Jesus stunned response to the basics of discipleship.  

Sanctification: An Inward Work of the Holy Spirit

To be sanctified, is to be set-apart by the Holy Spirit to Jesus.  It is to be enabled by the Holy Spirit to trust Jesus unequivocally.  To be sanctified is to belong to Jesus so completely, that our mind, our heart, and even our will is so intimately sewn together with His, that it is impossible to tell where Jesus ends and the disciple begins.  This is not super or next level Christianity, but ordinary, average, everyday, don't get into heaven without it Christianity.  What we learn from Jesus, is that sanctification is the natural progression of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a disciple.

In regard to the physical displays of sanctification, it is not surprising that Jesus does not bring up anywhere in John's Gospel outward aspects of the disciple (sanctified one).  He does not give details concerning clothing, hair, makeup, or jewelry.  In fact, you are under the conclusion after readying John's Gospel, that these issues are non-issues for those who are disciples.

My aim and hope for you is the same for myself.  I pray that Jesus would so capture us that the outward displays of our life would testify to His inward work.  I pray that as we live in continual trust in Jesus, our outward physical life would bend and flex to the demands of a heart and will that is saturated with the Person of Jesus.  I pray that it may it be so in our lives.

Beautiful People

From time to time I hear comments made by Christians that seem to grind against what I have come to believe through my own Christian experience.  Like all Christians, my theology and personal perspective as a believer have been shaped by a variety of sources.  Yet for me personally, I can testify that, to the best of my knowledge, I have allowed the Bible to shape what I know, believe, and stand on as a Christian.  What I am proposing must begin at this point, for all policies of conversation, both great and small, begin here.


Recently I "dipped" into a conversation that a mother was having with her young daughter.  Mom was correcting some comment her daughter had made about someone being "ugly."  I listened as mom chastised the little girl and then instructed that "all people are beautiful, no one is ugly."  I thought to myself, what a strange perspective...and one I do not agree with.


Perhaps there are many ways to speak of beauty, such as the beauty found in minds, attitudes, and voices.  I have witness for myself such beauty and I was privileged to behold it.  Yet, there is also ugliness.  This also can be seen in the mind, attitude, and voice.  And like any who choose to open their eyes, this ugliness is easy to find and behold as well.


Yet we have yet to speak of the beauty and lack thereof that surrounds us and which this mother was instructing her young daughter.  This, of course, is the physical appearance of the human being.  Is there such a thing as beautiful and ugly here too?  I believe there is.


I have never in my life been viewed as physically beautiful, yet truth be told, few have.  Like most people, heads do not turn when I enter a crowded room.  I've never stood out as someone to be gawked at.  Now this is not to say that I scare away small children or peal the paint off houses, I am simply ordinary in the realm of physical appearance.


I am an example of one who should be contrasted with others.  There are some who are blessed with physical beauty.  There are those, when entering a room, draw all attention to themselves.  They do this unwillingly, and sometimes unknowingly, for they are beautiful to look upon.  They are the ones, in the times where our paths cross theirs, that the air around them seems to tingle and declare their loveliness.  They are beautiful, and some, stunningly so!  


The Scriptures do not openly instruct how we are to judge physical beauty, but it does reveal from time to time that there are some who possess extra-ordinary, exceptional beauty.  In 2 Samuel 14:25, we read, 


"In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom.  From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him."  


We also read of the comparison and contrast between Rachel and Leah.  In Genesis 29:17 we read, 


"Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful."  


This quality of beauty was also seen in Abraham's wife.  She was so lovely to look upon, that Abraham, at times, feared for his life to be seen with her in public.  You can read for yourself his dilemma in Genesis 12:10-20.


These are but a few examples, but it seems obvious, both from the Bible and from common sense, that there are a few who enjoy the blessings of physical beauty.  They stand in contrast to others.  These others, who make up the many, do not possess beauty and therefore do not bear the weight of such a responsibility.  To be beautiful is to bear the weight of great responsibility.  


Those who possess beauty, possess both the possibility of a blessing and a cursing at the same time.  It is so with any gift.  In the same way that a preacher can become enamored with his gift of insight and proclamation, so too can the beautiful fall in love with their beauty.


It is a tragic thing to witness one of beautiful fall into the curse of vanity.  The gifts of God are to always remain gifts.  To seek to own a gift, to take it and use it for oneself, is vain and it will corrupt the very heart.  In particular, when beauty becomes the passion and focus of the lovely one's life, everything in their life shifts toward their beauty.  From the clothing they wear to the surgeries they endure, their life becomes twisted in order to obtain, possess, and preserve the gift of beauty.  


The Bible is clear; our life is to revolve around Jesus.  We are driven by the Holy Spirit in matters of daily physical routine, such as dressing our bodies.  Even this menial task is to bring glory to God.  When our obsession shifts from Jesus to beauty, the clothing of our bodies also shifts.  We then dress not for Him whom we serve, but for the curse of beauty in which we are enslaved.  


I believe there is such a thing as physical beauty that sets some apart from others.  To deny this fact of life is not only to willfully live in deception, but to alleviate the beautiful of the God given responsibility in which all gifts are given.  


I challenge those who are blessed with beauty, to walk cautiously before the Lord your God in recognition and awareness of the gift bestowed upon you.  Do not seek to hold on to it, nor seek to use it for yourself.  Rather, be the blessing to others that you were created to be.  And in modesty, be the revelation of Christ's wonderful handiwork.  The Bible has much to say about physical appearance and the Holy Spirit, through the vehicle of the Church, will help you understand and see yourself as God Himself sees you.  


As for the rest of us, I would encourage that we praise God for the beautiful around us.  That we enjoy, through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, the wonder of our great God's creation.  Beauty is a delight to behold, but a curse to take for oneself.  Allow the gifts of God to remain gifts and pray continually for wisdom in all such matters that pertain to the physical.


To Christ be the glory, in CrossStyle,


Jeremiah Bolich 

Is Strawberry Shortcake Going To Hell?

    Like most Sunday’s, my family and I were invited by the pastor to join his family for dinner.  So, after the service we piled into the Jeep and followed the pastor to Applebee’s.  About half way into town, another unexpected conversation arose between my wife and I and our five year old son.  The conversation began when CJ broke through the silence calling from the back seat, “Dad, Strawberry Shortcake is not a Christian.”
    For those of you who have never purchased girly greeting cards or do not frequent the Saturday morning cartoon channels, Strawberry Shortcake is a fictional character born in the 70’s, but recently revamped to capture the attention of my 3 year old daughter.  Strawberry Shortcake and her “Berry Friends” inspire children with their challenging adventures in and around Berry Bitty City.  Each episode explores topics ranging from love and friendship to honesty and compassion.  Strawberry Shortcake is a cute, sweet, and charming little girl who while capturing the heart of my daughter, has raised some serious questions in the mind of my 5 year old son.
    It seemed plain from the look on my daughter’s face, that CJ must be out of his mind to even suggest that the cute little moral, upright, loving and compassionate Strawberry Shortcake would one day face judgement and damnation.  Wanting to keep the peace in the backseat and without thinking to deeply about what was stirring in the mind of my son, I responded with “Sure she is CJ.”  “We like Strawberry Shortcake, don’t we Lani?”  Without missing a beat, CJ responded saying “Then why doesn’t she ever talk about Jesus?” 

Strawberry Shortcake Christianity

    Like I have, I think most people probably accept without really thinking about it the Strawberry Shortcake version of Christianity.  She is modest, kind, and without question, moral.  Strawberry Shortcake is safe and like my wife and I, many parents entrust our daughters to her for a few hours each week.  Yet is she Christian?  Does she embody and model the message that Jesus called the Church to embrace?
    I need to openly confess that I do not insist that my children watch only Christian television.  Nor do I insist that they play with only Christian toys.  I think part of parenting is training your children to differentiate not only between what is Christian and what is not, but also between what is beneficial, tolerable and adverse.  The issue at stake in our conversation Sunday afternoon was not so much whether or not Strawberry Shortcake was beneficial, tolerable or adverse, but whether or not she could be called Christian. 
    Some might think drawing lines in the sand over these kinds of issues is more problematic than beneficial, especially at the age of 5 years old, but I would strongly disagree.  First, because often times, as in this case, these kinds of sticky conversations are not initiated by us, but pressed upon us.  Another question could be asked at this point; who is doing the pressing?  Could we answer and say the Holy Spirit?  I think we not only can, but should say “Yes!”, it is He.  I believe Jesus is at work behind the scenes in these types of uncomfortable situations.  He brings them about, they do not simply arise out of thin air.  Therefore, lines must be drawn.
    Secondly, these lines should be drawn for the sake of The Message itself.  We as Christians do great injustice when we sweep under the rug opportunities that come as vehicles to carry others into a deeper understanding of the Christian faith.  Life is not simple.  It is complex and dangerous and sometimes filled with questions that allow for no easy answers.  It is sometimes cowardly and most of the time lazy to simply not engage when the time comes to do battle over what is Truly Christian and what is only nice and sweet.
    Like our fictional character Strawberry Shortcake, the politically correct version of Christianity often times tolerated by those of us in the Church is also fictional.  The sum of cute and kind do not equal to Christianity.  The message Jesus came to show and tell is much more than what Strawberry Shortcake, as good as she is, models to our children, and we are called to be courageous and even a little narrow in what we proclaim as right and true Christianity. 
    It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit would guide us through the quagmire of these life kinds of events and that He would be both glorified and made known through them.