There isn’t any way that you can discuss the game of basketball and the argument: “Is Michael Jordan the best player of all time?” not pop up. There isn’t any way you can do a paper on the history of Baseball and not read about the dynasty that the Steinbrenner and the Yankee’s built. The reason that you cannot separate these individuals and teams from the organization in which they function is because they were very successful. If we can all agree on that I have another question for you, “How has Church become popular but HOLINESS has not?” You disagree? Let me ask you another question, “How many of your friends go to Church…now out of that number how many of them do not drink, smoke, go to the club, are abstaining from sex until marriage, and do not cuss?” I think I’ve made my point.
I have no idea how we have managed to do so but we have made Church popular and HOLINESS has lost its popularity. Statistics show that churches are growing. With churches becoming as common as your local corner store; more are functioning now then ever before. Statistics also show that sexually transmitted diseases are on a rise, HIV and AIDS are destroying the black community, and our prisons are over populated due to the lowering standard of morality in our world. If the world can declare that they’re “bringing sexy back” I believe God wants some radical individuals to stand up and say “I’m bringing HOLINESS back”
The word holy simply means, to be set apart and living holy is living a life style that is set apart from the “world” typifying a life that looks nothing like it. The function of a holy lifestyle is not to make it so that Christians do not have fun, but as it was implemented by God that we “be holy as he is holy” (1 Peter 1:16) it is so that we look more like Him and walk in the power and might of His Spirit. My monthly column will be entitled “VuePoints” and I will be challenging everyone to do something that will cause them to “Stand Out” or be set apart from the world, my 500 words are almost up so here is challenge number one.
With the excitement of the school year and everyone wanting to look there best I’m sure people will be arriving dressed to impress. Instead of going by Macy’s to get a fresh polo or City Blue to get some Rocawear swing by a local Christian bookstore and grab a t-shirt that has a scripture, quote or some type of Christian logo on the front that will grab others attention and possibly spark up a conversation. Ask God for the words to say when someone asks, “what does your shirt say” and get ready to “Stand Out” for Christ. Do you accept the challenge?
