What We Get Wrong About Holiness

👉 Is holiness about avoiding sin or about becoming more like Jesus? And is it only for “special” Christians?

Holiness.

We hear the word and think…

👀 Long skirts.
😶 Zero makeup.
📵 No fun.
🎼 Hillsong on repeat.

Let’s be honest—holiness is one of the most misunderstood (and underloved) concepts in Christianity.
Some of us avoid the word altogether because we think it means becoming weird, boring, judgmental… or just plain unreachable.

But what if holiness isn’t about what you avoid—
…but who you become?

🤔 The Misconception: Holiness = Rulebook Christianity

Too often, holiness gets reduced to a checklist:

❌ Don’t drink.
❌ Don’t swear.
❌ Don’t wear ripped jeans.
❌ Don’t talk to unbelievers.
❌ Don’t even think about Netflix.

But here’s the twist:

You can avoid sin and still not be holy.
Holiness isn’t behavior modification—it’s heart transformation.

✨ So What Is Holiness?

Let’s strip it down to the core:

Holiness means being set apart.
Set apart from sin.
Set apart for God.

It’s not about self-righteousness.
It’s about Christ-likeness.

Holiness isn’t just about staying clean.
It’s about being consumed by a love that changes your appetites, affections, and ambitions.

It’s not just about what you don’t do.
It’s about who you are becoming.

🙋‍♂️ Myth: Holiness is for “Special” Christians

Nope.

You don’t need a halo, a pulpit, or a platform to be holy.

“Be holy, for I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:16

That’s not a verse for elite clergy or monks in monasteries.
That’s for you.
Whether you’re a student, a mother, a marketer, or a mechanic.

Holiness isn’t about position—it’s about posture.
It’s about giving God your “yes” daily, even in the small, unseen places.

💥 Holiness Isn’t Legalism

Some people confuse holiness with legalism:

Legalism says: Earn God’s love by keeping rules.
Holiness says: You already have His love—now live like it’s true.

Holiness grows best in the soil of grace.
You don’t become holy by striving.
You become holy by staying close to Jesus.

“Abide in Me… and you will bear much fruit.” – John 15:5

You can’t manufacture holiness.
But you can cooperate with God’s Spirit to walk in it.

🌱 Holiness Is Progressive

Spoiler: You won’t become holy overnight.

God’s not after perfection in a day.
He’s after progression in devotion.

It’s about growing…
little by little,
layer by layer,
with the Spirit as your guide and grace as your anchor.

🔥 What We Get Wrong

Myth: Holiness means never messing up.
Truth: Holiness means letting God set you apart and shape you when you do.
Myth: Holiness is outdated.
Truth: Holiness is deeply relevant—because sin still destroys and God still sanctifies.
Myth: Holiness is for a few chosen ones.
Truth: Holiness is the normal Christian life.

💬 Final Thoughts

You weren’t saved to blend in.
You were saved to stand out—by living a life that reflects Jesus.

Holiness isn’t about isolation.
It’s about imitation—mirroring the character of the One who called you.

And no, you don’t have to become a Bible-quoting, fun-crushing saint overnight.
Just become someone so soaked in God’s love that sin starts to lose its flavor.