Holiness is a Group Effort

What do we think when we think of holiness? I guess depending on how deep or shallow our relationship with God feels at the moment we're asked, our answer will fall somewhere on a line between boring and beautiful. If we're drinking from the cracked cistern of sin, we'll see holiness as dull, as something that ruins our fun, if we're bathing in the living water that comes from Christ you'll see holiness as life itself.

But how often, when we're asked about holiness, do we think about the local church? The local church is holy in itself in two ways. First, that it is set apart from the world, as the visible body of Christ in it's town or city. It is holy in that it is different. Second, it is holy in that the men and women who make up the church are, or should be anyway, men and women who love Jesus and who see Him as their first priority, who love Him and seek to honour Him.

But the church should make us think of holiness in this way too. We need the local church, the gathering of Christians in a certain place, at a certain time, to be holy. I'd even go so far as to say that you're love for Jesus, and therefore your commitment to holiness is directly reflected by your commitment to the local church.

Paul is saying his goodbyes to Timothy in 2 Timothy. He knows the end is near, and he'll probably never see his son in the faith again. In chapter 2:22 he exhorts his young protege to holiness. He calls on him to 'flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart.' Sometimes we overlook the small but important parts of the Bible. Timothy's holiness was a group project. He wasn't called to do it by himself, but to do it 'along with those,' who were also running after righteousness, faith, love and peace. There is no way Paul expected him to do that in any arena other than the local church. You could argue that Paul just described the local church!

We need to be along with those. We need to be along with those, as in people who are like-minded and like hearted, people who will do us good. And we need to be along with those. We need to be together with these people. Sharing our lives, our time and our homes with them. Sharing our Sunday mornings with them. This is where you might think, 'well i'm ok with just Jesus and me, i don't need the church.' Well, yes you do, for at least three reasons.

• Jesus will return for a bride, not a harem. 
• You're not ok. Your mind is an idol factory, and apart from good teaching and correction in the local church your mind will happily call any feel good idol 'Jesus.'
• The local church needs you, your gifts, your abilities. And you need the gifts and abilities of the local church. This was Jesus' plan from the beginning. He instituted the church and  organised a religion. So stop going out into the woods with your candles!

Your commitment to the local church shows your commitment to Jesus. Your commitment to the local church shows your commitment to holiness. Holiness is a group project...get involved!