tv1a, who are you? I mean, who are you really? Better yet, here is a little something I wrote a while back on standards you will want to refute, but could never do so, unless you have a grand dislike for the Word.
Holiness Standards: The Commandment For The Believer's Life
By: William Michael Price
Grace and peace be unto you in the name our God and Father, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The issue of standards within the Church is one that causes much division and I have come to believe are a judge of the walk of an individual in Christ. Standards of holiness are things by which we can judge a person’s walk in the Lord, because that which is within an individual will manifest in the life of an individual. You cannot say is living holy, and then that same person goes and lives as the world does. That is not true holiness, and despite what modern paganism proclaims, you cannot have holiness without standards.
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (
1Peter 1:13-16)
Here, the Apostle Peter gives us the command, by the Holy Ghost, to walk in holiness in all manner of conversation. The Amplified Bible says we are to be holy in all your conduct and manner of living. The NKJV uses the word conduct. In every way we conduct ourselves, we are to be holy. Some would not receive this, because of the fact that Peter also calls us out from the lusts of our former selves, the world, and the pagan religions thereof. This means we are being called into a walk of holiness, and not anything as the world or the religions born in the world walks. And, this walk involves every area of life. As such, the scriptures give us many standards that we must apply in our lives today.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (
2Corinthians 6:14-18)
The only way we are considered by God to be His children is to be separated from this world, and sanctified unto the Lord. Many people speak of love being how we are known, but love is only part of holiness. Holiness is inward in attitude and emotion, as well as outward in dress and what we partake in. We are to not have any fellowship with this world’s ways, the ways of the pagan religions of the world, or be partakers of the sins thereof. We must be holy if we are to be His children, and Him to be our Father. And, as a believer in Jesus Christ, I desire to walk as holy and righteous as I can. If there be any standards in the Word of God, and there are, I need work on aligning myself up with them, so that my light before Jesus and the world would shine bright, and show the way to salvation.
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. (
1Corinthians 11:14-15)
Here is one of the hottest debated standards in the Church; the issue of a woman cutting her hair. Some preachers label women who cut their hair as bobbed haired women. Some have declared that a woman can cut her hair, so long as she wears a veil on her head. Some have allowed anything and everything in the area of hair. Women who cut their hair, as well as men who allow their hair to grow long, both are shamed before the Lord, and are in fact not holy, regardless of what any man says. If any woman, who is born again, cuts her hair, she is in direct rebellion against the scriptures, and removes from her the sign of glory the Lord intended for her life as a witness. Verse 6 of the same chapter above says, “For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.” The hair on a woman is given as a covering by God, and if any woman cuts her hair, she is shamed before God, the angels, and the brethren. This is a standard within the Church, and shows the holiness of subjection in a woman and man. If a man has long hair, he is shamed and not holy. If a woman cuts her hair, she is shamed and not holy.
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. (
Deuteronomy 22:5)
Another area of standards is in dress. A woman has no business, if she be born again; wearing any clothing that pertains to a man. This includes pants, men’s shirts, etc. Pants were invented in the Bible as men’s apparel. Many though, use the claim that because this is found only in the Old Testament, that it only applies under the Law, and not to believers today. Some have even attempted to make excuse that because pants are made ‘for women’ that they are therefore in violation of the scriptures. The scriptures declare that the Lord does not change, and if He considered such to be an abomination in the Old Testament, He does the same today. Women wearing men’s clothing are an abomination in the eyes of God, and are not in holiness. They have sided with the same individuals who come against the separation of the sexes. God has a separation for a reason, and has declared such through His Word. Any man who preaches that women wearing men’s clothing is acceptable is lying against the Word, deceiving souls into sin, and also shows disdain for Bible truth.
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. (
1Timothy 2:8-10)
The issue of jewelry is one that also shows the holiness of a person. Many men and women today wear earrings in the church, and claim they are fashionable. They will wear rings on fingers, and piercings on their body. They will have necklaces on made of gold, platinum, and diamonds. They wear thousand dollar suits and dresses, and lofty shoes. They dress in any fashion but modest. They have not holiness in their heart, and this is proven their immodest outer appearance. They choose to dress in the fashions of this world, and not in godliness and holiness. I like new suits myself, but am not willing to spend thousands on such dress. And, I certainly will not ever wear the sign of a slave to this present world, which is an earring. No believer should wear jewelry or expensive clothing, but should be dressed in modest clothing, with holiness. Just as one should have a modest spirit before the Lord, one’s clothing should also be modest.
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. (
Psalms 101:3)
The world’s media and entertainment is one that promotes sin and transgression, from movies to the evening news, sins and iniquity are all promoted. The question arises as to why any believer would dare welcome such into their hearts and spirits. That is why no Apostolic would watch TV or pay money to watch a movie. That is what holiness does, in that it causes a person to look with discernment and pity on such things. If a soul is holy, then that person will not have a desire to watch TV or movies. Someone whose walk is dedicated unto a sanctified walk will keep themselves from such things as the TV brings.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (
Galatians 1:8-9)
The last point I want to bring out in relation to holiness and standards is of whether this is a salvation issue. Some have said that standards are not a salvation issue. That is a lie from Hell itself, disguised to make a believer lower their spiritual guard. Standards are a salvation issue, because they are a matter of holiness. If a soul is holy, they are going to have standards. If a soul is righteous, they will have boundaries.
Proverbs 22:28 declares in wisdom and truth, “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.” Holiness standards are landmarks that have demonstrated the walk of saints in the past, and continue to do so in these present days. So, they are salvational, and if any man preaches against holiness standards, not only is he cursed, but he is lost as well.
The question now arises, who do you live for, and what standards do you have. Are you in alignment with scripture? Will you allow the Holy Ghost to help you align your life to the scriptures today? You are not promised tomorrow, so get right today.
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