Micah J. Sturm

The church embraces sin by our unfaithfulness.
We have not kept our promises to God.

Many people condone behavior that violate our collective conscience and covenant.

“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭23‬:‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

“When you make a vow to God, do not delay fulfilling it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake; why should God be angry at your words, and destroy the work of your hands?“ (Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NRSV‬‬)

In the name of love, we defend disobedience.

Sins of omission and sins of the spirit are excused—not confessed and forsaken.

Helps to holy living are dismissed and considered archaic, humorous, or offensive.

“Legalism” is often simply an accusation made of someone whose convictions make us uncomfortable.

We’re attempting to attract the world by denying our distinctiveness—a strategy of defeat.

”Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.“
(‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭17‬-‭7:1, ESV‬‬)

Our holiness ancestors would not recognize us today. Their zeal and passion was repugnant to the religious elite of their day, but attractive to those who longed for deliverance from sin.

It was for me! I was won to Christ through people who were intensely in love with Him and who loved me enough to invite me to travel the Highway of Holiness.