Holiness in the Church

A very hard-hitting chapter from Nancy Leigh DeMoss' book Holiness on holiness in the church:

In many of our churches, we're knocking ourselves out trying to be 'relevant' so we can attract new members. We don't want to appear different, extreme, or too spiritual, for fear of turning off unbelievers. We have accommodated to the world rather than calling the world to accommodate to Christ. When will we realise that the world is not impressed by a religious version of itself? Our greatest effectiveness is not to be found in being like the world; it is to be found in being distinct from the world, in being like Jesus. C.H.Spurgeon: "In proportion as a church is holy, in that proportion will its testimony for Christ be powerful."

If plumbing or septic problems caused raw sewage to overflow into the hallways and aisles of your church, one thing is for sure. The problem wouldn't be ignored. Everyone would be horrified. The health hazard would prompt immediate action. Business would not continue as usual.

The fact is that something far more serious than sewage is running through the lives of countless professing Christians and most of our evangelical churches. And by and large, we are oblivious to the threat. The floodgates of unholiness - including willful, presumptuous, blatant sin- have opened within the church. Adultery, drunkenness, abuse, profanity, outbursts of temper, division, pornography, immodest dress- such sins among professing believers, often members in good standing of respected local churches, are no longer rare exceptions. And then there are the more 'respectable' forms of sewage that are often overlooked and tolerated among believers- things such as overspending, unpaid debts, gluttony, gossip, greed, covetousness, bitterness, pride, critical spirits, backbiting, temporal values, self-centredness, and broken relationships. Sadly, the church- the place that is intended to showcase the glory and holiness of God-has become a safe place to sin. 

We are seeing the fulfillment of Vance Havner's prophetic words spoken decades ago: "The world and the professing church first flirted with each other, then fell in love, and now the wedding is upon us". The spirit of tolerance has triumphed over the spirit of truth...Little by little, we've let down our guard, cultivated a relationship with these sworn enemies of God, welcomed them into our churches and given them a home there (eg Tobiah, the enemy of God being given a room in the temple in Nehemiah's day, Neh 13).

I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them.

Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes....

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean;

I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from you idols.

Ezekiel 36.23,25