Common holiness

Have we forgotten the joys of holy living asks Maxwell Ryan?

While it is true that authentic religious experience is always based on sound doctrine, it is equally true that the reverse does not always apply. A burning heart on fire for the Lord, moments of ecstatic joy, the radiant glory of Jesus: all these experiences are wonderful, to be sought and enjoyed. Yet they cannot be the basis for a continuing relationship with the Lord.

While emotional highs may be valuable in themselves as signs of the Lord’s blessing, we should not rely upon them. Commitment to God’s direction for our lives really begins when we give our will to the Lord, unreservedly. A definite decision to live for Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit may, or may not, be accompanied by signs and wonders. The truth of such a decision is confirmed by our obedience to the Lord in the ordinary demands of life, for when our will is given to Him, all else will follow, with determination and hard work.

God’s will for us is that we should be holy and live holy lives. This means that He wishes us to open our innermost selves to the Holy Spirit and to realize that we are His children by the new birth. Having entered into a new relationship with Him we constantly refer the details of daily living to Him
Hymn writer William Longstaff wrote about the relationship of belief to daily life:

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone;
By looking to Jesus, like Him you shall be;
Your friends in your conduct His likeness shall see.

The true inner strength of The Salvation Army from its beginning has been its holiness teaching, and the life example of humble Salvationists who do good deeds so that their Heavenly Father may be glorified. “We believe”, says Salvationists in our 10th article of faith, “that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

What this means in practice is that it is possible for us to live holy lives, even in the most difficult of circumstances. Even if the glory falls and every day seems like Heaven, the reality of holiness depends not on these shouting moments, but on our faithfulness to Jesus Christ, as He is revealed in the Word of God.

It is my conviction that the weakness of the present day Salvation Army - as well as the contemporary Church - is the abandonment of an emphasis on personal holiness. Where is clear holiness teaching by church leaders? Where are holiness meetings? Where is clear witness to the possibility and actuality of holy living? Or are we so busy complimenting God through our praise worship that we never get around to considering the joys of personal holiness?

Writer: Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell Ryan is a former Editor in Chief in Canada and the UK. In retirement he is a copy editor of theRubicon and the author of two series on theRubicon - Resurrected Writers and Thinkaloud.

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