Holy? Is it vulgar? Who has the final say?

Do church walls define the difference between sacred and secular? What exactly is "holy"? What is "conventional"? Who has the final say? Four scenes, four reflections, tell us: if Christians dualize their lives into "spiritual" and "worldly", how many dangers will be hidden! ―Let us try to find the answer from the comprehensive teachings of the Bible.

Scene 1 Lancaster, Pennsylvania

In the farm yard, chickens are flying, dogs are barking, cats are running, and horses are grazing. Little boys and girls dressed in black, wearing wide-brimmed hats and white headscarves, ran around and played. Plumes of smoke rise from the chimneys of the quaint houses, and birds fly across the sky. With the sound of hoofbeats on the country road, an Amish man wearing a black hat, black trousers, blue clothes and a beard drove a square black carriage leisurely toward his home. Under the gorgeous sunset, a long line of large and small cars of various colors, red, green, gold, silver and white, coming from all over the place, helplessly followed the carriage, advancing slowly at a speed of less than ten miles per hour.

Modern people in the "real world" are so helpless and intolerable when encountering the slow pace of "Utopia". Don’t forget, those people in the car who are constantly checking their watches are all voluntarily spending money and time to sightsee and explore!

Reflection 1: Whether it is sacred or secular, it has nothing to do with the external world

Whether or not the Lord’s children are “sanctified” must have something to do with what they eat, what they wear, what they live in, and what they use? Do we have to live in isolation, or be retro and nostalgic enough to become a tourist attraction, to be spiritual? In the past, John the Baptist lived in the wilderness, eating locusts and wild honey, and wearing camel hair clothing. However, Jesus often lived in private houses and dressed like the people at that time. Sometimes he would accept invitations to banquets or hold dinners with his disciples and enjoy sumptuous meals.

Practicing godliness in outward, tangible details is beneficial to some extent. For example, teach children or new believers to close their eyes and put their hands together when praying, or teach the whole family to bow their heads in public prayer while eating in a restaurant, or dress neatly and modestly when attending Sunday worship services, etc.

However, if we habitually judge whether we are "separated" based on external perceptions, we will inevitably put the cart before the horse. Whether or not they are in line with the "saintly decency" will not only vary by country, nation, and region, but even for the same person who loves the Lord devoutly and the same church that pursues holiness, it will also vary due to changes in environment, mentality, and era. Something has changed. Therefore, there is a description such as "While the German sisters drank beer as tea, the American sisters cried and prayed because of their "fall", and the heavy makeup on their faces was blurred."

thereforeThe most permanent and reliable standard for "sanctification" should be to receive the light of truth from the Bible with a pure conscience, and to trust and obey.

As 1 Peter 3:15 teaches:“But in your hearts you sanctify Christ the Lord. Always be prepared to answer everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you, with gentleness and reverence.”

▲The Amish are different from the real world in their clothing and lifestyle. Is this the only criterion for distinction between sacred and secular?

Scene 2: Outskirts of Chicago, on Glendale Highway

On the way home from church on Sunday, Wei Ming turned his head and glanced at his wife, Li Xin, and said, "Just ask!" The couple were both puzzled by what their four-year-old son, En En, had just done.

Lixin was about to turn around and ask Enen: "Why are you bowing at the door of the chapel?" Before she could say anything, Enen, who seemed to be drowsy, suddenly straightened up, frowned and asked worriedly: "Chapel Are the lights and heaters on inside? Otherwise, Jesus would feel so dark and cold!"

Wei Ming and Li Xin laughed out loud at first, and then shook their heads in unison. A series of questions emerged in their minds: What did we do and teach? What exactly do children attend in Sunday school? So that this child, who has been in and out of the church since the full moon, actually thinks that the Lord Jesus only lives in the chapel and only sees Him once a week?

Reflection 2: Strong separation of sacred and secular, confusion and falsehood

A large sign was erected on the side of the exit of a church parking lot: "You are now entering the mission field!"

What a powerful reminder! The main battlefield for Christians is not within church walls, but in families, schools, companies, and communities. Being trained and equipped in the church is to "go out and make disciples of all nations", not just to enjoy the joy of studying the Bible, listening to sermons, worshiping and praising, and caring for each other.

One Sunday at the door of the church, a co-worker said to a seeker who was holding a cigarette: "Friend, this is the temple, you are not allowed to smoke." The elder on the side said to the co-worker: "Brother, you should say to him, Holy Spirit The temple is smoking!" That's right, we don't become "holy" until we enter the chapel. What justifies and sanctifies us is not the place, but the Lord Jesus who is within our life.

Have you ever heard of Christians dualizing their lives?―"Spiritual" versus "natural"? All activities related to the church, such as caring, visiting, praying, Bible reading, small groups, Sunday worship, etc., are spiritual, while everything else is worldly. So you and I, either intentionally or unknowingly, have become two-faced people.

When interacting with Christians, behave reverently, solemnly, and modestly (of course, there are also cases where you become too tired after pretending for too long, and in the end you “can’t hold it in” even in the church). He drives recklessly on the road, talks nonsense in the mall, writes research reports and plagiarizes, ridicules and curses his spouse and children, and secretly judges and condemns his fellow shepherds...but it seems to be a matter of course. The dualistic concept of sacred and secular has become a hypocritical lifestyle, which is extremely harmful to oneself, one's children, and one's relatives and friends who are not believers in the Lord.

Let the warning of 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 15:"As he who called you is holy, you also must be holy in all your conduct.", reminding you that I am a full-time, full-time disciple of Christ!

Scene 3 A banquet in an old house in a small Danish town at the end of the 19th century

The best sherry turtle soup, foie gras and truffle quail pot, candied cherry rum cake, cognac coffee...classic French delicacies that the guests have never heard of, seen or tasted before, presented on exquisite and shiny tableware , brought the elegantly decorated long table, and the 12 old gentlemen and old ladies couldn't wait to put the food into their mouths. Amidst the crisp clatter of knives, forks, plates and bowls, 11 of them looked at each other from time to time, reminding each other with their eyes not to praise this superb cooking skill.

In between swallowing and sipping, you can occasionally hear vague words such as "Rejecting pleasure is good for our spiritual life." Only the old general, who did not belong to the same small church, unknowingly used a large number of the strongest and most vivid adjectives to sing the praises of this extraordinary delicacy, causing everyone at the table to be extremely embarrassed.

This is a scene from "Babette's Feast," which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1987. Those ultra-conservative old believers adhere to the teachings of the old pastor who has been dead for decades, uphold abstinence and reject all comforts and enjoyments. When they couldn't resist the hospitality and had to attend a banquet hosted by celebrity chef Barbie, who had been anonymous for many years, they agreed to "pretend that we never have a sense of taste and never say anything related to eating and drinking, so as not to damage the sanctity." The problem is this "feast" "It is truly the best in the world. It is a torture to hold back your admiration. It creates a strange tension of "being inexplicably moved by eating it, but also desperately trying not to say a word".

Ironically, these old believers have been entangled in grievances for most of their lives, but in fact they have long been estranged from each other. They are like hedgehogs, often quarreling and tit-for-tat...

▲The movie "Barbie's Feast" reminds: When godliness becomes the essence of life, isn't any work done by hands holy?
(Image Source:https://formationreimagined.org/movie/babettes-feast/)

Reflection 3: If the heart belongs to the Lord, the whole person is holy

Paul taught in 1 Corinthians:"All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial; all things are lawful, but not all things edify"; "All things are lawful for me, but no one of them controls me."

Those who truly surrender the sovereignty of their lives to the Lord do not need to be nervous about the distinction between the sacred and the secular in the details of daily life. If you return your heart to the Lord and always have good motives and intentions, then your food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, and entertainment will be holy. Occasionally we will still make mistakes, but we are always enlightened by the Holy Spirit and can be renewed and changed day by day.

On the other hand, if you only maintain the appearance of piety without the true meaning of piety, wouldn’t you be like the inconsistent Pharisees? It seems that he is extremely "holy", but in fact he is seeking vanity, fighting for power and position, seeking personal gain, and playing tricks, and the "vulgarity" cannot be tolerated!

Do Christians have to look for leisure and entertainment in the world and accept the brainwashing of wrong values and vulgar moral standards? Why can’t we have a lot of fun with the products and activities created by Christians?

Why can popular literary works be read by a large number of readers, including Christians, in one sitting, but many so-called "Christian texts" can make people fall asleep after reading them?

Any entertainment, writing, film art, technological products, including meals that have godliness as their connotation, must not have any "enjoyment"? The Creator of life is so creative and pays so much attention to beauty and refinement. How can you and I reflect such qualities in any work we do godly?

If we limit ourselves and cede the most influential fields such as media, education, sports, art, film, literature, etc. to the secular world, it is no wonder that many people only regard faith as insurance for going to heaven after death, and are serious and dull in life. routine, rather than the way to settle down and the light of life today.

Scene 4 Philadelphia, in an apartment outside the University of Pennsylvania

In 2005, Huang Qiwei, who had just obtained a master's degree in law, was sitting at his desk writing a testimony, troubled by how to make mid- and long-term career plans. Keep asking yourself: Should I accept the job offer in California or stay on the East Coast? ―

I know very well that my ministry on the Penn campus is very effective, and I also know that I like the East Coast better than the West Coast, but I really don’t understand God’s will.HimWant me to stay, orGo somewhere else? If I want to stay, what can I do on the East Coast? I really couldn't find a suitable job for a while. Should I apply to study for a J.D. degree at the University of Pennsylvania, which only accepts one or two students a year? I didn’t plan in advance, will there be a chance?

The job in California is my dream. They not only expect me to be responsible for legal affairs, but also hope to train me to become a senior manager of the company.

I knew this would be a major decision in my life, so I talked with my pastor and continued to pray and seek God’s clear guidance. I kept thinking about it. Somehow, when I thought about going to California, I felt very uneasy. When I thought about staying in Philadelphia, I felt strongly that I would face many external temptations.⋯⋯

After praying with two prayer partners, I made a decision. Yes, I made a decision completely opposite to my courageous personality.—Stay and apply for a J.D.! I don’t need to be afraid of temptation if I am confident that God is with me.HimWill you give me a steady stream of information?Absolutelyof peace.

Huang Qiwei, who had only reaffirmed his faith two years before, was at the Pioneer Church on the University of Pennsylvania campus, serving international students with several group leaders who had believed in Christ for less than two years on average, many of whom believed in Christ and were baptized. Several classmates who served with her continued to serve after graduation. Can you say that Qiwei’s choice at that time was not a “holy” work?

Reflection 4: The distinction between sacred and secular does not lie in one's duties

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter)2:9)

"All believers are priests" is a belief accepted by many Christians. Unfortunately, on a practical level, it is still common in church circles to use "full-time" and "office" to distinguish "sacred" and "lay". Not only do believers often think that what they are doing is a "secular profession," but also preachers also think that only working full-time in churches and evangelical institutions is a "priesthood." What impact does this dichotomy have?

Some Christians believe that "holy work requires people with certain special qualifications to do it." No wonder most believers are "cheerleaders" rather than "players." They "sit on the ferry" and watch the boatman work hard instead of working together. "Dragon boat rowing".

Since 911, the concept of "infinite war" has emerged. There is no such thing as "frontline" or "rear area"; war is likely to break out around us at any time. This is especially true in spiritual warfare. How can we not "everyone is a soldier"?

Another example is the mistaken belief that since full-time preachers are clergy, they must be "holy and blameless." No wonder most pastors have to wear masks and be fully armed in front of believers. They are unable to live their true selves transparently, and they are unable to let those around them see their weakness and advise and remind them in time, so that once something goes wrong, it becomes out of control.

If it is said that "being like the Lord Jesus is "holy"", then what counts as being "like the Lord Jesus"? It means "laying down one's life for the sheep." Therefore, Qiwei sees himself as a "small group shepherd": making career decisions based on the needs of the sheep; in order to shepherd more effectively, he constantly reviews and adjusts his time management and money use; he learns how to cook quickly and well and entertain well. Team members.

"If a man purifies himself,take offIf you turn away from despicable things, you will become a valuable vesselA vessel made holy, fit for the Lord's use, prepared for every good work. ” (2 Timothy2:21)Whether you are "holy" or "secular" does not depend on whether your salary is paid by the church, but on whether you are willing to be cleansed by the precious blood of Christ and make yourself suitable for the Lord's use.

Full-time ministers certainly play an important role in the overall gospel war. But Christian parents, children, spouses, friends, bosses, subordinates, teachers, students, doctors, police officers, judges, lawyers, service providers, entertainers... why can't they imitate Christ and become the Lord in their daily lives? "Precious vessel"?

The Lord Jesus became a fully human being in order to bring people completely before the Father. Can you and I also fully enter the crowd in every aspect of life and become a good shepherd like the Lord Jesus, so that the people around us can have life and a more abundant life?

"The Word" (holy) became "flesh" (secular), but it is full of "grace and truth" (holy). With a holy life and a holy nature, every place your feet touch and every part of your heart that your testimony touches becomes "holy", no matter how "secular" it is. In the light of truth, "holy" is not just an adjective, but also an influence on life; "holy" not only allows us to face the environment and transcend the environment, but also allows us to create the environment!

Su Wen'an, Vice President of the International True Love Family Association, Editor-in-Chief of True Love Family Magazine and Kingdom of God Magazine.