HOLINESS HIGHER THAN INTEGRITY
Holiness and Integrity are one of a kind, especially when the kingdom of God is concerned. The world is fast coming to an end and so many people has lost the vision and sight what the Kingdom of God is encompassed about. But First of all let's give a little enlightenment of what Holiness is all about. According to Rev. Tope Oni, he said,
Holiness involves constantly leaving a life of total obedience to the whole word of God, without misinterpretation or manipulation.
Holiness means practicing righteousness, obedience and truth in our daily living, and in all our relationships with God and man.
Holiness involves staying away from everything that God hates, and joyfully practicing and doing everything that God loves...
In modern churches today, emphasis has shifted from Holiness to Integrity. Am not denying the fact that Integrity isn't an amazing virtue that one has to possess. For the way, we might see it, Integrity is scriptural and part of holiness; but holiness is much more than Integrity.
Integrity covers the issues of truthfulness, faithfulness, keeping one's word, sincerity, openness, commitment and the display of high sense of responsibilities, avoiding hypocrisy and double-life, particularly in all our relationships with other people. Integrity is an integral part of Holiness, but Holiness is bigger and much more than Integrity.
Holiness includes living a life that is pleasing to God, in ones's direct relationship with God, which does not involve any man. There are issues that God takes much more seriously than man knows or cares about.
Holiness involves coming to church early and regularly; paying your tithe regularly and faithfully; staying away from worldliness in the way we dress, live, talk or do our ceremonies and events; caring and giving to those who are in need; obeying the direct instructions of God given to you, as you and i serve him and as you relate with him and with other people; high commitment to caring for your family and bringing up your children in the way of the Lord; serving God with consistency, commitment and passion.
It must be understood that God;s standard for Holiness and Righteousness is far higher than that of man! It is this understanding that is most lacking in the church today. Holiness entails staying away from all forms of lust and sex-related sins, such as fornication (which modern ungodly practice among our teenagers and youths promote), adultery, homosexuality, pornography, masturbation, lustful looks, lustful thoughts.
Holiness requires that we stay away and live free of alcohol, smoking, drugs, gluttony, and other evil habits. Holiness involves staying away from artificial things in dressing, things that exposes our nakedness, things that add nothing to keep us covered and warm, things that only make us acceptable to the world and that satisfy our carnal ego, things that are vain and things that can serve as temptations to the opposite sex.
Holiness entails staying away from all modern idolatrous practices, which many Christians are very comfortable with, without seeing anything wrong in such practices, such as addiction to sports (and particularly football), to the extent that a Christian becomes highly emotional about it, to the extent that it captures one's heart and mind, one becomes a die-hard fan of clubs such as 'Gunners', Red Devils' etc, and to the extent that one can miss church services that clash with some football matches.
These are idolatrous practices, which the Lord has recently and repeatedly revealed that he hates, because they cannot have two masters, even before our Lord, who is a jealous God.
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Very well written. good job
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