Standards and Holiness

In sunday school, we got into a discussion about standards and legalism. About finding the line between holiness and legalism. For a while now, I have been contemplating these very subjects over in my mind. Growing up in New Bethel, everything I was taught was not only according to the Glory of God but also according to the standard set by my pastor, the honorable District Elder Ardell Sanders.(Psalms 111:3)

Pants, makeup, jewelry... In my eyes not only were they wrong but they exceeded into being sinful. My mind revolts back to a message that Evangelist Carlina Wilkes preached some years ago. Her subject was, "Either you're holy or nothing at all." I had always been taught that when it came to holiness, there were no gray areas. Either you're a sinner or a saint. However, spirituality and holiness are matters of the heart. Though I've heard that said pretty much all my life, its meaning never registered from my ears to my brain until recently. It is a matter of the purity of your heart, not your appearance. (Deuteronomy 11:13)

In which case, that doesnt mean that God wants us, his people, to run around looking like any and everything. Neither does the shepard that he has set over the church. The first thing that people see when they see christians are their clothes and their appearance. We are a chosen people and are to look like such, which is why we have standards.Those standards are set out of honor and respect for the Lord and for the house of God. Every church, however, is different. Previously, I thought that because the sister over there has on pants and makeup, she's automatically sinning. The truth of the matter is pants, makeup, and jewelry are not sin. Its the disobedience behind them that will send you to the lake of fire. Because that sister may have on such things, if her pastor allows them, then there is nothing wrong with them. However, because my pastor does not allow them, if I were to try and wear them, I would be sinning.(Hebrews 2:2)

In sunday school, Evangelist Cynthia Sparks (my aunt) used an example of respect towards your neighbor. When you go over to someone else's house, they may have certain rules indicating certain things that they do not allow in their home such as cursing or smoking. Out of respect for their house, you will watch what you say and you will put the cigarettes away because it is THEIR house. You don't pay the bills every month, you dont mow the lawn, you do nothing that contributes to the well-being of that house. So out of respect for them, you follow their wishes. It continues to amaze me how we the people, as a whole (myself included) give more respect to man's house than we do God's house.(Habakkuk 2:5)

Like my pastor always says, "Obedience is better than sacrifice." Not only due to the standards set up in my church but also because of a personal preference, I do not wear pants, makeup, or jewelry. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that because someone else may wear them, that they are sinning. I have been trying to wrap my mind around this subject for a LONG time. I praise God, for finally giving me understanding.(I Timothy 2:9)

But, like I always say, I'm just speaking (or typing) whats on the mind. Nothing special or spectacular. No prophetic word--not that you'll be hearing one from me anytime soon--just simple Jessica. May God be with you.