By Brad Harrub, Ph.D
Having looked into the tearful eyes of parents whose children have abandoned the Faith, I have learned there are a million miles between our children “going through the motions” in reference to their spiritual lives versus our children possessing hearts that dictate their actions. In this column, I plan to share with you what I hope to instill in the hearts of my own children and those whom I love. 
One of the biggest questions plaguing congregations all across the globe is, “How can we increase our numbers?” At a time in which many church families are either declining or simply swapping members with other congregations, many have turned to all kinds of programs and gimmicks to attract people. In addition, many church leaders have shifted money away from mission work and external outreach, and instead, are focusing much of the churches resources inwardly. But how many congregations are focusing on the spiritual health of their own members? 
The Bible records over and over that we are to be holy or sanctified. Sadly, many congregations have lost their passion for holiness. Some of these congregations have focused all of their attention on getting worship “right” rather than getting those who worship right. (Just to clarify, I do insist worship should be done right—but is it possible in some cases that have we gotten the letter of the law right to the neglect of the actions and attitudes of the worshippers?) Other congregations have turned toward entertainment in an effort to please the masses.  
Here’s what I intend to teach my children regarding holiness. 
Being a Christian is more than just checking off a box on Sunday and Wednesday. It is my prayer that while you will seek to worship and praise God on Sunday, that you will also devote your life to Him, seek to serve Him, and to be holy. Holiness and sanctification are a part of what should define you as a Christian.  
If everyone who wanted to go to Heaven ended up there, it would soon be full of adulterers, murders, slanderers, and the like. Imagine what Heaven would soon be like! Only those who are holy will be there, as God cannot have anything to do with sin and still be God. But here is the catch—man is unable to be holy on his own. It is only through the spotless Lamb of Christ that God can see us and treat us as holy.  Look at what the prophet Isaiah wrote: “A highway shall be there, and a road,
and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean shall not pass over it” (Isaiah 35:9). In verse nine the prophet continued, “But the redeemed shall walk there.” Will there be murderers, adulterers, and slanderers in Heaven? Yes, but they will be individuals who were washed with the blood of Jesus and gave up their sinful ways to pursue holiness. To be holy means we are “in Christ.” Look at how Paul addressed those in Corinth: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” (1 Corinthians 1:2, emp. added). To the church at Rome Paul wrote, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24, emp. added). Do a word study and notice how many times the Scriptures mention being “in Christ.”  
God is the source of holiness. The Greek root word for holy is hagios, and means “likeness of nature with the Lord.” The way I want you to remember holiness is this: holiness moves you away from sin and moves you toward God. If you are going to be holy, you must conform your heart and life to God. You must also conform to the examples set forth by Jesus Christ. And you must be willing to conform to the laws and commands of God. “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:13-16).  
This same sentiment was given to God’s chosen people in the Old Testament: 
For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy (Leviticus 11:44-45).  
Realize that today you are God’s chosen people. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). 
I’m not sure why Christians don’t pursue holiness like they did in the past. Maybe it is because we have lost confidence in the authority of Scripture. I suspect some of it has to do with the reality that most people (even Christians) don’t think they are that bad, and thus we are not thankful for the gift Christ provides. Or maybe it is because the bar seems too high. Or maybe we have been deluded by the Father of Lies. Personally, I believe some of it is that Christians today have become more comfortable with conforming to the world and thus we have an absence of strong role models to follow. I’m afraid this lack of holiness is part of why the church has been declining. If we want our congregations to grow, then we must make sure the members are spiritually healthy. 
As you continue to grow up, please do not forget holiness—remember what Christ did for you on the cross. Don’t return back to sin, but rather strive to be like Christ. Paul wrote, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Strive to be different. Do not conform to the world. I’ll leave you with one of our favorite passages: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Remember you can’t do it without Christ—never forget that He must be your example. This is a lesson that I still work on everyday. 
Love, 
Dad