As Church leaders we may want to shy away from issues like sin and holiness. Yet, when we grasp the holy and awesome nature of the Name we profess, is that an option? Can we turn a blind eye to sin in our own lives or that of fellow believers and still praise and glorify His name? — Not if we accept the reality that the Most High God, who is exalted above all else, is a Holy God. His Name is Holy!
For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Let those who love the LORD hate evil, … Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name. (Ps. 97:9-12)
If His Name is Holy Then We Must Acknowledge Certain Realities
His Name is holy because He is holy. The following realities flow out of that truth:
- Confession of His name leads to an expectation of holy living.
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (2 Tim. 2:19)
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – their Lord and our … (1 Cor. 1:2)
- Judgment must come to those who profane or defile His holy name.
I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes. (Isa. 36:23)
… defiled my holy name by their detestable practices. So I destroyed them in my anger. (Ezek. 43:8)
- Though His holy name requires judgment, He is not detached from those who are contrite and humble themselves. Because He is also a gracious and merciful God, He always favors restoration.
And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me. … I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their offenses, and I hid my face from them. … I will now restore the fortunes of Jacob and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name. (Ezek. 39:23-29)
For this is what the high and exalted One says – he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isa. 57:15)
- Our appeal to those who confess His name yet live unholy must be on the basis of His name, not on our own authority as leaders.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ … (1 Cor. 1:10)
For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. (1 Cor. 5:3)
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. (2 Thess. 3:6)
If we can’t accept the above realities, perhaps we need to step back and ask ourselves if we truly believe the Lord Most High is holy.
Also Read: Your View of the Holiness of God Matters in Ministry
All Posts about Church Discipline:
- Church Discipline Because of Church Purpose
- Lack of Church Discipline Against God’s Purposes
- Church Discipline Must Exemplify God’s Purposes
- Involvement of Body in Church Discipline
- Body Life Can Prevent Need for Church Discipline
- Discipleship and Church Discipline
- Discipleship Not Church Discipline
- Holiness the Objective for Church Discipline
- Lack of Holiness Affects the Whole Body
- Holiness Dictates HOW We Exercise Church Discipline
- Authority & Power Needed in Church Discipline
- Pivotal Role of Holy Spirit in Church Discipline
- Church Discipline But They Didn’t Change
- The Standard for Conduct
- The Power of Grace in Church Discipline
- If His Name is Holy Then …
- Prayer is Essential as a Preventative and When in Process
- When Christians Need Correction
- God’s Word Brings Correction
- It’s Not About Giving Up on People
Is having a church building justifiable?, (as we must give account in being a faithful and wise steward.)
The spiritual reality of the Lord not needing a house to dwell in, from the OT, and the NT way that Jesus said to the woman at the well, is no longer in Jerusalem or on a mountain (His kingdom is not of this world) but worship in Spirit and truth, along with Paul’s revelation of we are living stones built up into the temple of the living God (the veil is torn and the holy of holies is now inside, His spirit is Holy) John 14:17, 21, 23, dwelling, manifest, abode
Then is it a misappropriation of funds and disobedience to the Lord’s instruction to do what’s right with unrighteous Mammon : make friends with it
The early church assemblies were not always in a “Temple” building, rather they were anywhere the saints would gather and many times it was from house to house or in the public squares.
So we might put our own comfort and prestige and pride in our building (we should boast in the Lord), when we could meet in a house or in public, ahead of the clear commands in Matthew 25 and use the same meager funds (that go to building and upkeep) to bless our brothers and sisters in true need around the world
If nothing else, Titus 2:14 we are zealous for good works and desiring that there’d be an equality (2 Cor. 8: 13,14), it is more blessed to give than to receive, we are children of the blessing called to be a blessing, children of the inheritance we’ll receive the reward of inheritance.
Are we willing to deny ourself, in order to walk in good deeds, so that others may come to the light and glorify Our Father in heaven?
Thank you for your comments, Brock A Jackson. Certainly as good stewards we do need to ask these kinds of questions. If you look through the Church Facilities category, you’ll find challenges to examine our practices when it comes to buildings. There’s even a post addressing the Spiritual versus Physical House of Worship.