Ethos #1 Holiness Series

We begin a new message series today that we’ve entitled, Ethos, or if you’re from the American South, “Ethas”. This series is about how we become more like Christ and less like the world in which we live. It’s a calling to an alternative lifestyle. Yes. You heard me say alternative lifestyle. Being a part of a Christian community is a calling to be different than the world that surrounds us. It’s about living the change of heart that happens as a part of knowing Christ. However, we have to ask like Dr. Phil, “Is this alternative lifestyle working for us?” Well, the metrics seem to say no.

Over the next 6 weeks, we have been walking through this message series entitled Ethos. It has been an interesting journey as we have reflected upon our character as a church and what we value. The idea has been that if we strive to live out the mission of the church: LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS AND CHANGE THE WORLD then we will naturally want to get more devoted, connected and generous in the areas we as Christians hold sacred: relationships (God and each other), next generations, personal transformation, mission and worship. Our goal has been to encourage us to live in his likeness.

Did you know there are less people in our community that know the love of God through Jesus than ever before? There are less people regularly attending a house of worship than ever before. There are less people who believe Christ is the only way. Less People who believe the Bible is God’s revelation for us here and now. In fact, more people see Christians as irrelevant, boring, hyper-critical and homophobic than ever before. It’s really pretty sad and I think that’s why so many churches are trying to be more like the surrounding culture because they don’t want to be seen in that light. However, that just doesn’t seem to correspond with what we have been called to.

Our purpose, our ethos, is to serve others as Christ would and for His glory.

Peter in looking at a community very much like ours looked to encourage and remind those he served with the words in 1 Pet 1:12-19:

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his second coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is Holy, so be Holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be Holy, because I am holy.” Since you call on a father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

We live this counter cultural ethos out as a body of Christ in our values of worship, mission, transformation, relationships and the next generation.

However, how should we as individuals relate, connect or impact the world around us?

I believe the answer begins with each once again committing to being Holy. Now, don’t get all caught up in the word. I’m not talking about following rules and regulations. It’s not about lists of to do’s and don’ts. It’s is so much more than that.

As Richard Foster points out in his book, Streams of Living Water (p.83-85). Holiness (or being Holy) is:

• To live in a way that unifies the mind, body and Spirit in right living.

• It’s the ability to appropriately respond to the demands of life knowing God is fully capable of helping.

• A sustained attention to the heart of God which focuses on our formation and transformation. It sees the sacredness in all aspects of life.

• Progress in purity and right action

• Loving unity with God becoming what he has intended all along.

The goal of the Christian life is not simply to get us into heaven, but get heaven into us! Becoming Holy is the growing, maturing and freely given conformity to the will and ways of God. God is intent on upon making us (you and me) into reflections of Himself. However, we often settle for less than what God desires for us. We are happy enough to settle for God to remove a personality defect, or an addiction or a destructive behavior but it’s quite another to ask him to begin a restructuring of our inner desires.

Why don’t we ask for our desires to be more in line with his? What keeps us from being more Holy? Truthfully, it is us. For us to be Holy, we must be willing to risk the comfortable for the uncomfortable. We must risk faith in the unseen and the unknown. We must be willing to continually look for God at work and join Him – trusting He knows what’s best.