Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16
You cannot become holy in your own way. You have to do that on God’s terms with God.
It is with the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ that your sins can be washed clean.
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
There are whole churches that teach what God has called unholy or an abomination is okay
and that God accepts it. No need to repent.
One such teaching is that abortion is of God or that God condones abortion.
That is not pleasing to God. It is such a prevalent teaching that God does not consider it a sin.
Considering unforgiveness as another example, I heard a lady on YouTube, some sort of a teacher,
say that there is no reason to forgive when that is an offense you don’t agree with.
It is never okay not to forgive.
That is where faith comes in and remembering that vengeance belongs to the Lord, not to us.
There are also bad teachings in some churches that teach someone in danger is to allow a perpetrator
to continue to abuse them.
We have even seen pastors or teachers become perpetrators and harm the flock with their trust.
They want God to fix all things or tell the victim to just give it to God so that it can be taken care of.
That would be nice if it were that simple.
Sometimes it might be, oftentimes with abuse, it is not that easy.
The law is there to call into account those who violate it.
I know of a church in Portland, Oregon whose pastor has abused several young girls.
Nobody will talk. Somehow they keep everyone quiet. The pastor should be in jail, but he continues to preach every Sunday when many know about the hidden sins.
That is where wisdom comes in.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5
There are so many churches that hide sin.
I suspect they are taught that by others.
It can become about serving mammon instead of God, where they are afraid of losing their money-base.
It can also be about reputation or how it might affect the church.
No matter the subject or the situation or the offense, God has an answer both in His word in how the Holy Spirit has given us already the words we need.
God always gives us wisdom for each and every situation where we need it.
To be holy is to seek God’s ways of thinking, to find in His word the answers and to keep foolish pride out.
Let God’s word be true and every man a liar.
Repentance and holiness go hand in hand.
Be careful about attending churches that mix the world into the teachings.
Beware of those who hide sin. That is a telltale sign of deception.