Biblical Holiness: Why It Still Matters | Dr. David K. Bernard & Lindsey Chrestman
David K. Bernard・2 minutes read
The discussion emphasizes the importance of biblical holiness, defining it as a response to God's grace and reflecting one's relationship with Him, encompassing various aspects of life such as behavior, speech, and appearance, while highlighting the need for modesty and maintaining visible distinctions between male and female. It suggests shifting the perspective to pleasing God and benefiting oneself and others rather than focusing on specific actions, with resources for further exploration including books and video lessons available at the Pentecostal Publishing House website.
Insights
- Holiness, defined as a separation to imitate God in various aspects of life, is not a checklist for salvation but a response to God's grace, encompassing heart attitude, behavior, speech, appearance, and media consumption.
- The evolution of societal norms regarding gender distinctions, modesty in dress, and behavior on social media reflects a cultural shift that challenges Christians to maintain visible distinctions between male and female, emphasizing biblical teachings on holiness and living a distinct life to please God.
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Recent questions
What is biblical holiness?
Biblical holiness is defined as a separation, calling believers to be special, righteous, and imitate God in various aspects of life. It emphasizes peace with others and holiness with God, reflecting one's relationship with Him.
Why is modesty important in holiness?
Modesty in dress is crucial in holiness, focusing on decency and moderation to reflect dedication to God. It involves understanding the symbolism of clothing choices and maintaining visible distinctions between male and female as per biblical teachings.
How has societal views on gender norms evolved?
Societal views on gender norms have evolved over time, leading to changes in clothing choices and acceptance of pants for women in various settings. The discussion highlights the historical shift in societal norms regarding women wearing pants.
What are the challenges of social media for Christians?
Social media poses challenges for Christians in balancing authenticity with the desire to represent God well. It emphasizes the importance of exhibiting kindness, truthfulness, and forgiveness online, while acknowledging imperfections and vulnerabilities.
How has the perspective on holiness shifted?
The perspective on holiness has shifted from a legalistic mindset of salvation requirements to focusing on glorifying and pleasing God. It suggests that difficult questions of holiness become simpler when the focus is on what pleases God and benefits oneself and others.
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Summary
00:00
"Biblical Holiness: Embracing Separation and Modesty"
- The discussion takes place at the world headquarters of the United Pentecostal Church International in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA, focusing on biblical holiness.
- Lindsay Cressman, the daughter of one of the speakers, works at Urshan College and grew up in a missions environment.
- The importance of biblical holiness is emphasized, particularly in relation to peace with others and holiness with God.
- Holiness is defined as a separation, calling believers to be special, righteous, and imitate God in various aspects of life.
- Holiness is not about a checklist for salvation but a response to God's grace and a reflection of one's relationship with Him.
- Holiness encompasses various areas of life, including heart attitude, behavior, speech, body stewardship, appearance, and media consumption.
- Separation from worldly influences is highlighted in Corinthians and Romans, emphasizing the need to cleanse oneself spiritually and present one's body as a living sacrifice.
- Modesty in dress is discussed as a key aspect of holiness, focusing on both decency and moderation to reflect dedication to God.
- Lindsay shares her experiences navigating questions about holiness in a secular and Christian school environment, particularly regarding gender distinctions in attire.
- The importance of cultural context in understanding gender distinctions and the symbolism of clothing choices is emphasized in discussions with classmates.
16:11
"Gender norms, biblical teachings, and social media"
- The speaker recalls a conversation where a man expressed disbelief in the idea of men wearing skirts becoming common, only to be shown a newspaper clipping of a man in a skirt in downtown Austin the following week.
- The discussion delves into the biblical perspective on the distinction between male and female, emphasizing different roles and appearances as outlined in Genesis and Deuteronomy.
- The conversation highlights the historical shift in societal norms regarding women wearing pants, leading to the acceptance of pants for women in various settings.
- The evolution of societal views on topics like homosexuality, same-sex marriage, and gender fluidity is discussed, noting the changing cultural landscape.
- The conversation extends to the topic of uncut hair for women, with the speaker sharing personal experiences and conversations about maintaining long hair as a sign of holiness.
- The importance of maintaining visible distinctions between male and female as per biblical teachings is emphasized, with references to hair length and styles.
- The discussion shifts to the speaker's views on Christians' behavior on social media, advocating for a distinct and holy presence online.
- The speaker references Ephesians 4 to highlight the contrast between saved and unsaved behaviors, encouraging Christians to exhibit kindness, truthfulness, and forgiveness on social media.
- The impact of technology on people's behavior, particularly on social media, is discussed, noting the blurring of boundaries between public and private behavior.
- The speaker addresses the challenges faced by young adults in presenting themselves authentically on social media while balancing the desire to represent God well and the temptation to create a false impression of perfection.
32:19
"Embracing Imperfections, Pleasing God: A Holiness Guide"
- Emphasizes the importance of acknowledging imperfections and vulnerabilities while not delving into explicit failures, focusing on living a holy life through God's grace.
- Highlights the shift from a legalistic mindset of what is required for salvation to a focus on glorifying and pleasing God, changing the motivation behind actions.
- Suggests that difficult questions of holiness become simpler when the perspective shifts to what pleases God and benefits oneself and others, rather than endless debates on specific actions.
- Offers resources for further exploration on holiness, including books like "In Search of Holiness" and "Practical Holiness," as well as video lessons and a booklet, available at the Pentecostal Publishing House website.
