Because You're So Holy!

"Because you're so holy!"

I believe this statement has to be one of the most disrespectful, offensive, and negatively used statements towards a Christian. I also believe the enemy convinces people -who don't uphold the same belief system as you - that this statement is okay. I've noticed some peoples intent when making this statement is to make the person on the receiving end feel negatively about what has been said prior to or what is going to be said afterwards. In relation to my experiences those words are always coming from a negative standpoint. The person says it to say that because I am a Christian there's things I'm expected to do and a certain way I'm "supposed" to act.

For example when I say, " I'm spiritual, but I'm not religious." Or "I'm not getting married in the church." I always seem to get judgmental stares and a "Well I thought you would be doing "such and such" because you're so holy."

I never knew people's perceptions of Christianity embodied someone being "holier than thou" -someone who can't live like a normal person.

-A person who has to live their life according to religious traditions.

Colossians 2:4-8 KJV

[4] And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. [5] For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. [6] As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: [7] Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. [8] Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

-A person who is supposed to be snobbish and unapproachable.

James 2:1-10 AMP

[1] MY BRETHREN, pay no servile regard to people show no prejudice, no partiality. Do not attempt to hold and practice the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory together with snobbery! [2] For if a person comes into your congregation whose hands are adorned with gold rings and who is wearing splendid apparel, and also a poor man in shabby clothes comes in, [3] And you pay special attention to the one who wears the splendid clothes and say to him, Sit here in this preferable seat! while you tell the poor man, Stand there! or, Sit there on the floor at my feet! [4] Are you not discriminating among your own and becoming critics and judges with wrong motives? [5] Listen, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and in their position as believers and to inherit the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him? [6] But you in contrast have insulted (humiliated, dishonored, and shown your contempt for) the poor. Is it not the rich who domineer over you? Is it not they who drag you into the law courts? [7] Is it not they who slander and blaspheme that precious name by which you are distinguished and called the name of Christ invoked in baptism? [8] If indeed you really fulfill the royal Law in accordance with the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself, you do well. [9] But if you show servile regard (prejudice, favoritism) for people, you commit sin and are rebuked and convicted by the Law as violators and offenders. [10] For whosoever keeps the Law as a whole but stumbles and offends in one single instance has become guilty of breaking all of it.

-A person who is perfect and can't make mistakes.

Romans 3:23-27 KJV

[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; [26] To declare, I say , at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. [27] Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

-A person who isn't supposed to respond when they're being treated/talked to negatively; a doormat.

“If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. It takes more than talk to keep workers in line; mere words go in one ear and out the other. Observe the people who always talk before they think— even simpletons are better off than they are. If you let people treat you like a doormat, you’ll be quite forgotten in the end. Angry people stir up a lot of discord; the intemperate stir up trouble. Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29:18-23‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Well I'm sorry that your standards, your non-belief in the gospel, and your traditional viewpoint does not impel me to believe your derogatory comments and vainglorious predictions of how my disposition should be expressed has an innate effect on how I define, present, or live my life in accordance to my Christian beliefs. I apologize that your ignorance propels you to a new level of unacceptable behavior and your mouth -that you use as weaponry-is shut down and muted by the beauty of that, which is the gospel, that somehow erodes my inner thoughts and inflicts me with an unwavering sense of compassion and understanding of your indifference. PLEASE excuse me for being a human. More importantly excuse me for being an adult whose responsibilities require I make decisions for myself that best suit my needs and fulfill my desires (which the lord so graciously causes to happen for me).

-SARCASM.

I understand that because I am a Christian there are certain expectations and standards I'm supposed to uphold. I understand that my life is supposed to be an example. I understand I am supposed to be a reflection of Christ and I am supposed to make people want to be a Christian. However, I will never understand why people who don't share the same views, feel it's okay to attack me because I choose not to be traditional.

From my perspective tradition turns people away from Christianity. I won't say all people, but most, including myself. I grew up baptist. In my opinion and from what I witnessed growing up and frequenting baptist churches, their traditions both startled and annoyed me. Every Sunday was the same thing. People going to church who we all knew outside of church was the biggest hypocrite, but the most faithful member of the "amen" and the "I'm going to run around the church every Sunday" member. Tradition told me I had to wear a long dress and stockings. I couldn't wear pants and women couldn't preach. Tradition also told me that a women's role in the church wasn't to lead; that alone was a problem for me. Tradition meant that my mom had to baptize me when I was a kid (I am very grateful she believed that decision should be left up to me when I was old enough to understand the meaning). I'm not "religious" because when people think of religion they think of traditions and I'm not traditional. Tradition is why I stopped going to church as a whole and ultimately stopped believing in God.

Christianity and spirituality is what changed my life. Learning the word of God and understanding who He is, how He works, and understanding the importance of my spirit man in connection with the Holy Spirit...That is what led me to give my life to Christ, not religious traditions. Just because a person is a Christian and has changed their lifestyle, that doesn't mean they participate in all traditional practices.

Yes, I may be a tad bit holy, but I'm also human. I will in no way, shape, form or fashion accept someone's ignorance and allow it to make me feel like the decisions I make regarding religious traditions make me less of a Christian. To each his own, that's why there are so many different forms of religion.

I encourage you to explore whatever religious avenue that makes you feel comfortable and do your best to live your life in accordance of your belief system.

I encourage you to speak out of love and watch what you do and say. Your words can either bring hope or cause harm to someone. Walk in love and remember, you may not understand it, just love the person enough to respect their decision. Although, you respect their decision you are under no obligation to accept it. If people treat you badly and make you feel bad about the decisions you make that you know in your heart is not a negative reflection of your Christianity; remove yourself from the equation. You don't need that negativity in your life! You don't have to live up to the standards people place on you, please God, not man. He has the final say! I love you! God loves you! Stay encouraged!

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Love,

ChelCy