Rethinking Santification -- Mark 7

In Mark 7 The Pharisees had their definition of being holy (set apart). It involved traditions that were hand down to the people so that they might be clean. Jesus rebukes them for doing meaningless things, and neglecting the big things. He says, "Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'"

I fear in many of our churches we have defined holiness by separating from the world, and observing to a list of traditions, and in doing so neglecting the greater things of God (being missional, fighting poverty, bringing justice, showing love to the outcast). In my own life I want to rediscover sanctification that looks more like Jesus. Not trying to look good before men, by following traditions that don't bring about holiness, but living in the muck of the world like Jesus did, and not be tainted by it. Having a version of holiness that leads you into unholy places to reconcile them to God.