Seeking Holiness, Part 2

Part 1 noted that most of us are far from sanctity. We may wish for it and even strive for it and yet fall short. It also explained how modern culture increases our difficulty. Part 2 will discuss how best to overcome that negative influence.

To achieve sanctity, we need to discern good from evil and act accordingly. As Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

We also need to hate what should be hated and love what should be loved. This is not always easy. The Bible tells us that God created human beings, male and female, in His own likeness.” (Genesis 1:27) And Jesus commands us to love all humans as we love ourselves. There is no room in that message for hating others.

In sharp contrast with loving people, we are to hate wrongdoing and sin: “Hate Evil, love good” (Amos 5:15);”O you who love the Lord, hate evil! ” (Psalm 97:10); “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness” (Psalm 45:7).

The combination of loving people and hating evil is simple enough in concept but complicated when applied to actual situations. This is because it is difficult to separate people from their evil acts. So difficult, in fact, that some passages in Scripture speak of hating both the person and the evil act. For example, Psalm 119:158: “I behold the treacherous and loathe them, because they do not keep Your word.” (Such passages contradict Jesus’ command to love others as we love ourselves and are therefore best ignored.)

The previous paragraphs show how simultaneously loving our neighbors and hating their sins is challenging under the best of circumstances. However, in today’s circumstances, the challenges are much worse.

Modern culture teaches that goodness and evil are subjective rather than objective; in other words, that right and wrong are whatever people prefer. Subjectivism is now increasingly dominant in school and college curriculums, courtrooms, journalistic commentaries, and entertainment. That viewpoint has led to approval of behavior traditionally considered immoral, and contempt toward those who try to live a holy life.

Though it is hard to live a holy life while surrounded by such influences, those influences can be overcome. The first step is to determine whether your views on important issues are true or false.

Most people are highly skilled at identifying others’ flaws but unskilled at recognizing their own because they assume that their thoughts and actions are flawless. That mistake is characteristic of human imperfection. As Matthew 5,7 explains: knowing and overcoming our own faults helps us aid others in overcoming theirs. And Timothy notes that it also helps us resist craving controversy, quarreling, and being suspicious of others. (1 Timothy 6)

The first question to ask yourself about controversial issues is, “Where did I get my viewpoint?” If your immediate response is “I formed it myself, without outside influence,” you’re almost certainly fooling yourself, so ask again, and this time probingly. Chances are, you’ll find it came partly, if not entirely, from someone else, notably a news reporter or analyst, or a friend or relative who may or not have had evidence for it.

We should ask such questions because Jesus warned us to “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” He went on to say that they can be recognized “by their fruits.”(Matthew 7:15-16) Echoing Jesus, St. Paul advises us to “Test everything.” (1 Thessalonians 5) In other words, we should not take what we hear for granted. Even honest, knowledgeable people can be mistaken. And dishonest ones can cleverly mislead us.

The next question is, “What evidence, if any, supports our source’s viewpoint and what evidence do the opponents of that view offer?” The answers will reveal the positive and/or negative consequences and enable us to evaluate the view we embraced. If that view proves true, we will be justified in maintaining it. If it proves false, we should reject it. If we find reason to believe the source’s errors are habitual, we should seek a more dependable source.

Keep in mind that to knowingly accept false information, for whatever reason, is to live a lie which is incompatible with holiness. God is the author of truth, and conscientiously seeking it honors Him, whereas denying it insults Him!

Striving for holiness is the most important goal in life, but contemporary culture makes achieving that goal difficult. Developing the following habits can help overcome that difficulty.

Carry your viewpoints lightly. That doesn’t mean minimizing their importance, but simply acknowledging the possibility that they may be mistaken, giving contrary ideas a fair hearing, and being willing to change your mind when there is good reason to. In short, valuing truth more than ego.

Be alert for signs of hatred. Such signs frequently appear in conversation, media programs, essays, and books. Hatred is generally focused on who people are rather than what they do. For example, Jews are hated for no other reason than being Jewish; Catholics for being Catholic; homosexuals for being homosexual. Hatred is driven, in some cases caused, by stereotyping; that is by the unfair assumption that a characteristic or behavior of one or a few members of a group necessarily applies to all the members. Recognizing these signs can help you resist the ideas being promoted.

Distinguish ideas from the people that hold them. Evaluate the ideas carefully; support those that are reasonable and truthful; and oppose those that are not. However, treat the people who advance false ideas as Jesus instructed—that is, as we would wish to be treated. For example, consider that they may be confused, misled by emotion, or deceived by others. In other words, give them the benefit of the doubt whenever possible.

Copyright © 2025 by Vincent Ryan Ruggiero. All rights reserved.