Random Thoughts Re My Desire for Biblical Sanctification

The idea of sanctification has been tossed around before me most of my life. Some have thought they had a harness on it, an exclusive ownership of the idea, and these used verses from the Bible to explain their stance. Much of their thoughts can be explained by this single word: eisegesis. I am not interested in that type of sanctification.

I am seeking a setting apart of the biblical sense -- a setting apart that separates me unto G-d and not from people; to His instructions especially, not toward human attempts at improving upon His salvation. Of the latter, I have had enough and more.

I have been on this journey toward being set apart for Him a long time and have not yet arrived. Will I fully arrive in this life? I don't believe so. But what is wrong with the desire and the effort? Nothing.

To explain why this is so important to me, I was reared in a "holiness church," which stressed, above everything else, an outside, visible, standard of holiness. Having grown up in that, I rejected it, because I did not see biblical holiness commonly lived out there. Rather, I am in pursuit of holiness. Not the froufrou of the outside stuff -- of what to wear, how to wear my hair, whether or not I wear a hat, not do this, not do that, etc. That is not enough. I want biblical holiness.

So first, I ask myself this: what do I know right now of biblical holiness -- off the top of my head, without the research? This is how I understand it:

• Biblical holiness does not mean being weird or odd in how I dress, etc., as is sometimes taught

• Biblical holiness does mean set apart unto G-d

• "Set apart unto G-d" means living in the world but separate from it in that I do not have the attributes of those who are without G-d; that means I must live as though I have had a profound, life-changing encounter with the Almighty

From what I presently understand, when I say I am in pursuit of sanctification, I am simply in pursuit of doing what He asks in all areas of my life at all times under all conditions, not in pursuit of setting myself on some high ledge so that I can look over it at all the underlings.

I do not believe that holiness will turn me into some holier-than-thou persona who sits enthroned in her own place, high and lifted up, above everyone else. Rather, I believe it will bring humility, servanthood, and a desire to follow biblical concepts as far as I am humanly able through the gifts, presence, and enabling of the H Spirit, the Teacher.

In other words, I am in pursuit of biblical ethics.

G-d said to Abraham, "You shall become a blessing." I believe that a pursuit of sanctification will help me toward also becoming a blessing to those around me.

This will be where I write what I learn, as well as the ways I fail, in that pursuit. So here, I stand; here, I begin.