Holiness versus Purity

Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. - Isaiah 61:7

Many of us grew up being taught that holiness meant getting everything right and steering clear of anything wrong. Of course we wanted to be holy because God is holy, but it was such hard work. And, of course, we failed all the time and felt shame about it (except for the rare few of us who tended to succeed all the time at it - and we were the worst people to be around).

But maybe we’ve missed how holiness and shame really work. Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber points out that “Holiness is about union with, and purity is about separation.” Can you see that insight? She’s reminding us that what God always wanted was healthy relationship, healthy connection - for us to be whole in community with God and others. That’s true holiness. And the kinds of purity that we’ve pursued, well, that has largely been about other-ing people and keeping them at arms length (which typically just keeps our own soul at arms-length from authentic relationship).

A researcher has put these spiritual truths in words that are easier to understand than a lot of sermons. Listen to these words and take some time to reflect on what the Spirit is saying to you today.

“True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.” - Brené Brown