Be holy in everything you do.

Holiness and Practicality: How Faith and Good Deeds Intertwine

What does "holy" mean? It's multifaceted and personal, but not archaic. Holiness is practical spirituality, achievable through daily choices and actions, argues Walt Shelton.

waltsshelton.com

Holiness can be seen as separate from humanity, attributed to religious figures or God. However, political leaders are not holy, beware those who claim otherwise: remember Nero and Hitler. Religion and government should remain separate.

God is holy, and we're made in God's image. Genesis tells us God created all people, blessed them, and declared them "very good" (1:27-28, 30-31). We're meant to strive for holiness in our lives.

Moses received the Holiness Code (Leviticus 19), which includes ethical directives: help the poor, be truthful, and seek justice (19:9-15). God said, "Be holy as I am holy" (19:2).

John the Baptist taught practical goodness, urging people to share their excess (Luke 3:11). Jesus' Sermon on the Mount tells followers to "be perfect [as God is perfect]" (Matthew 5:48). As a Christian, I strive for this perfection.

Paul emphasizes good works, saying we're "created in Christ Jesus for good works" (Ephesians 2:10). Holiness is our choice, shown in our actions.

His letter to Colossians lists traits of the "holy and beloved": compassion, kindness, patience, love, etc. (Colossians 3:12-15).

Let's embrace practical holiness through daily acts, choosing to live by these traits, regardless of our theological beliefs. The true test of any religion is how we live our lives.