WHAT HAPPENED
TO
HOLINESS?
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WHAT HAPPENED
TO
HOLINESS? |
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by Josprel
Something has happened to Holiness; she's gone! Search for her! She must groom the Bride for the Bridegroom's coming! Something has happened to Holiness! In the frenzy of our activities, we don't see her around much anymore. Actually, it seems as if she left quite a while ago. We didn’t evict her. However, since we've only recently noticed her absence, it is evident we neglected her. Yes, our Holiness is missing. Born Again appears alive and well. Even the Charismatic Gifts clan makes an occasional appearance, but where is Holiness? Our lamented Holiness is not that frowning-faced, dark-colors-only, hems-to-the-ankle, legalistic impostor, who always yells, "That's worldliness!" even at the healthy fun, laughter and joy displayed by believers. That's not the Holiness we love and for whom we seek. Our sweet, gentle, tenderhearted Holiness graces the Bride of Christ with her vibrant beauty. She encouraged the Bride to live as the Bridegroom lived in the world. Her stabilizing influence assures the Bride that she soon shall see her Bridegroom (Heb. 12:14). Reliable sources reported that Holiness left when she felt stripped of her Scriptural essence. Apparently, she felt we demoted to the inferior status of a theological anachronism. She was grief-stricken over this, claiming we considered her demeanor unsuitable to our contemporary, integrated lifestyles. The reports conclude that, most likely, Holiness will not return until she again is elevated to her former status. A general feeling of shocked dismay now is discernible among those who once knew Holiness. They had not intended to demote her; they just took her for granted. They now openly proclaim that Holiness is infinitely appropriate to this generation and absolutely essential to its welfare. They claim to miss her and wish to tell her so. They also want her to know of of their assurance that God's Word still remains as immutable as its Author. Holiness must be informed of this development. She must be notified of those who desire to lovingly embrace her - told of their understanding that, without her, the Bride is in jeopardy of being asleep when her Bridegroom appears. Those who comprise this group also realize that the beauty of Holiness is essential within their churches; otherwise, without her beauty, they descend to the mundane status of mere organizations, a status they hope to evade. This group laments grievously when the Holy Spirit grieves over the absence of Holiness. She is essential to the Bride's maturity (Rom. 6:19-23; Ep. 4:1-32). Holiness always has pure intentions. Avoiding complicated theological jargon she clearly defines her mission. Her task is to shield Christ's Bride from the spiritual dangers of a debilitating, iniquitous world and set her apart for the Bridegroom. Holiness evaluates the Bride's maturity. She insists that only her beautifying care meets the requirements for the Bride to appear before the Bridegroom's Father (Heb. 12:9-14). As the Bride await the coming of her Bridegroom, the Spirit and beauty of Holiness empowers her to triumph over the trials that are so essential to her maturity (II Chronicles 20:15-22; I Chronicles 16:27-29). The departure of Holiness deprives the Bride of her spiritual "beautician" (Gal. 5:19-26; Ps. 93:4-5; 96:6-9). The Spirit of Truth is commissioned to purify the Bride for the coming of her Bridegroom. Holiness is the agent He employs for this task. He looks to her to beautify the Bride. This she accomplishes by applying her beauty secrets. She cleanses, purifies and transforms the Bride into conformity to the Bridegroom. It is therefore vital that Holiness be immediately located! She must resume her beautification of the Bride as only she can do. She alone understands and can apply the process by which the Holy Spirit transforms the Bride into the image of her Bridegroom. (II Cor. 3:17-18; Rom. 12:1-2). What happened to Holiness? Where is she? The Bridegroom desires her beautifying attributes in His Bride.
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