Meaning of Holiness

What is holiness and why do we need it?

Literally, the word "Kadosh" (Holy) means "set apart." It implies distinction and boundaries. Scripture says "Be holy for I am holy" implying a sort of Godliness in this idea of holiness (1 Pet. 1:16).

Stopping here, some have taken holiness to mean "isolationism" or "religiosity." Isolationism comes from a fear of being polluted, of losing your status of holiness. Religiosity stems from pride, the "holier than thou" attitude. The problem with both of these ideas is that they are stripped of purpose. Holiness is reduced down to something that revolves around you. Isaiah 65:5 speaks of this type of holiness. So, what is the purpose of holiness?

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. -- 2 Timothy 2:21

According to Paul in 2 Timothy, holiness is to prepare us for "every good work." Two examples can help to illustrate this.

Consider a hospital with doctors and patients. It is essential for the doctors to maintain a sort of "holiness" in order to keep from getting sick. But that is not the end goal. If that were the case, they could simply stay away from the hospital. The end goal is the healing of the patients. The doctors maintain their holiness so that they may be well equipped to bring healing to the world. It is the same with Biblical holiness.

Consider also the Sabbath. It is interesting to note that God did not make every day Sabbath. If it was His intention that we live in the Sabbath, then He would have done so (remember, this all happened before the fall). Rather, He divided the week into six days of work and one day of rest. Six common days and one holy day. Why? So that the holiness of Sabbath could overflow into our mundane working lives and touch every corner of creation. We rest on Sabbath so that we may be restored in order to carry out "every good work" of the Kingdom the other six days. Of course, this process works like a cycle where the other six days serve as preparation for the Sabbath as well, but we cannot forget the other half.

As we work to set up boundaries in our lives and maintain Godliness, we should keep the purpose of holiness in mind. Standards that are too strict will cut us off from our purpose in the world, while standards too loose will render us ineffective. Finding that balance takes time--it is a growing process. But I believe if we keep the purpose of holiness in mind--so that we may be a light unto the world--I believe that will help guide us.