Pro·ac·tive or pro-ac·tive (prō-āk’tĭv) adj. Acting in advance to deal with an expected difficulty; anticipatory: proactive steps to prevent terrorism.
The continued assault on Biblical holiness has caused many of us who believe in a conservative lifestyle to reflect on our beliefs. Faithfulness to the Word of God must guide us in this exercise. If we venture outside of the Bible and look to cultural underpinnings for our guide, we will soon find ourselves adrift with no anchor, rudder or sail. The answer is to rethink the reasons why we live the way we do. Even in a cultural minefield, we can relate the scriptural mandates to living in the twenty-first century.
Holiness-minded people have been accused of being reactionary, that is, of adopting certain rules and regulations as an answer to perceived human problems or transgressions. In addition, religious conservatives are said to be locked in a time warp, living in denial of the sweeping cultural changes that have occurred in society. This has supposedly marginalized the holiness movement to a place of irrelevance to this generation. It is said that if we do not change, we will eventually cease to exist.
Yet, an examination of the immorality and sinfulness of today confirms that it looks pretty much like it has always looked throughout the centuries. It may be redefined, repackaged and relabeled, and it may appear new and improved from the older version of sin. If anything, it is only more toxic and more dangerous today than it was in the past. Holiness, however, stands out as a polar opposite of worldliness. It is a constant, visible reminder of the kind of lifestyle taught by the scriptures. The Bible does not leave holiness issues in nebulous metaphors, subject to as many varying interpretations as there are people who interpret them. The concept of holiness has many concrete, practical applications.
Too many see holiness as a collection of random, unrelated rules. Some even fail to see the connection between accepted guidelines and the very concept of holiness. Not only is this view misinformed, it shows a gross failure to understand the nature of God. One, small column cannot address the issue, but the basic points are these: Holiness is a purposeful, proactive strategy to living a righteous life. It is purposeful because it seeks to emulate the clear, scriptural model of holiness. It is anticipatory because it understands the potential problems that we face in the flesh, the world and the devil. It is preventative because it cultivates spiritual virtues and habits in the inner man. It is strategic because it acts in measured ways and means to achieve the desired result.
Why do we dress the way we do? Because the human heart and mind is subject to lustful impulses and is highly suggestible. Why do we behave the way we do? Because, our Adamic nature is always contrary to the plan of God in our lives. What is the purpose for a holiness lifestyle? It is the result of a profound respect we have for the holiness of God. Established scriptural principles that define God for us simultaneously demand certain behaviors from us. We cannot embrace a holy God without a sincere response of holiness on our part. We cannot manage our lives and deal with our bodies if we conform to the world instead of being transformed by the renewing of our minds. Those who abandon holiness virtues and guidelines do so out of frustration and weariness rather than a new, illuminated understanding of God. Thus, instead of disproving the case for holiness, they actually make the case.
We can identify a number of Biblical proactive strategies that help a believer to secure a righteous lifestyle. The following statements are mandates to define the way we live. They are purposeful, anticipatory, preventative and strategic. They correspond to real questions and real situations that we encounter in serious discipleship.
- Neither give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:27)
- Flee youthful lusts. (1 Timothy 2:22)
- Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:11)
- Mortify the deeds of the body. (Romans 8:13)
- Walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16)
- Walk circumspectly, not as fools. (Ephesians 5:15)
- Be sober, be vigilant. (1 Peter 5:8)
- Make not provision for the flesh. (Romans 13:14)
Beyond these few references, the scriptures overflow with imperatives designed to help us achieve holiness in our lives. Postmodern philosophy notwithstanding, we must focus on the timeless teachings of the Word of God if we are to be Bible Christians. When we live for God according to His Word, we reap the joy and peace of oneness with God.