Regarding Holiness Issues

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> So far as the Amish, we had a neighbouring church  a couple of years
> ago that was really on the deep end who began to emulate the Amish
> in their dress in order to be more 'holy.'  In truth, they brought a
> great deal of attention to themselves by this style of dress. 
> Drawing attention to ourselves is hardly my idea of modesty.  

I'm not sure that I agree completely with this comment.  We should 
not _actively_ draw attention to ourselves; however, any time we live 
for God in all aspects of our lives (which is obviously going to 
include a 'holy' outward adornment), we _will_ draw attention to 
ourselves.  People _will_ look at us - they already do.

This, of course, leads to another discussion topic.  Since we know 
that our standards draw attention to ourselves, what then should we 
do?  Abandon them?  God forbid.  Instead we must understand the 
context in which he hold our standards.

There is a story that I heard once that impacted me greatly in 
regards to holiness living, etc.  It went something like this:

Once there was a young boy who was spending some time with his 
friends.  The group happened along an old road and passed an old 
barn.  Some of the boys began to throw stones at the windows in this 
old building, and eventually all the boys were doing it, except the 
young boy of this story.  The other boys began to taunt him into also 
throwing rocks, but he refused.  One boy said, "You won't do it 
because you're afraid what your father will do to you."  The young 
boy replied, "No, I'm afraid of what _it_ will do to my father."

This is the attitude that we should hold in our lifestyle before 
mankind.  We don't maintain holiness standards because we are afraid 
that God will condemn us.  Rather, we live holy before God and man, 
because we love God, and since God is holy, His people should also be 
holy.  Does not the Word declare, "Be ye holy, for I am holy?"

Just a thought...



Michael Frazier
frazier@pernet.net
http://www.pernet.net/~frazier/