Whatever Became of Holiness

You might say the children of today have decided that if it doesn't quack like a duck, then it isn't a duck-whether it says so or not. The sanctified-by-intimidation demeanor of the past has left a sour taste in our mouths. And for years we wanted nothing to do with the doctrine of holiness. But at last we have begun to separate the gift from its vendors, and now we want it again. Only we want the real thing. We have learned that much of the "touch not, taste not, handle not" paraphernalia associated with sanctification has precious little, in reality, to do with the Holy Spirit who allegedly inspired it. So with or without the rules; with or without the circus of emotion; with or without the fire-breathing evangelists; and with or without the made-for-television testimonies, the sons of this modern age, like their godly predecessors who were honest with themselves, desire a life wholly devoted to the glory of God alone. We want sanctified careers and marriages too. We want pure minds that meditate, more than covet or lust. We want hearts without carnal ambitions. And we want temples suited for the dwelling of Christ. But we are not so interested in how high one jumps at the altar, as in how he walks when he finally comes down.