Imagine hearing that the leaders of a major church denomination have decided to ask all of its members to stop using the word “holy”.
With a little research we confirm that the report is true, that the denomination’s elders are discouraging the use of the word and are even recommending a rewording of the Apostle Peter’s words, “Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1Peter 1:15-16).
Then, after hearing all kinds of rumors about how the denomination is becoming heretical to the point of not wanting the moral pressure of being different than anyone else we hear that the request for a “word stoppage” is as true as the rumors are slanderous.
We discover that church leaders are coining and recommending a new word in an attempt to more accurately reflect the meaning of “holy?” A written explanation suggests:
1. Concern that a general misunderstanding of “holy” has created conflict among followers of Christ, and isolated them from those they are called to help.
2. This is happening despite the fact that the word holy doesn’t mean morally sinless even though the one true God is by nature morally and spiritually sinless.
3. As the Bible uses the word of people like us it means to be “set apart” for special use.
4. This is why the Bible uses the word of a nation that was described by its prophets as being worse in character than its pagan neighbors.
5. This is why the Bible says that real followers of Christ are already holy (1Peter 2:9) and why
the word is also used to describe a day, a place, the ground around a burning bush, clothing, furniture, and other various temple items.
Whether or not you think a denominational initiative to remove the word “holy” from active usage would be wise, can you see that such fictitious leaders could theoretically make a good case for their action by going on to quote something else that Peter went on to write:
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” (1Peter 2:22)
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