Eaton Rapids Camp Meeting was established in 1885, arising out of a movement called the National Camp Meeting Association for the Promotion of Holiness. Our roots are in “the holiness movement.” But what does that mean? What is holiness?

Sadly, the concept of holiness has been equated with legalism, judgmentalism, and a “holier-than-thou” attitude. Some of those criticisms were well deserved. However, it remains that the Bible does call followers of Christ to be holy. It runs through the Old Testament, especially in places like Leviticus 19:2, You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. (NLT, cf. Lev. 11:44-45; 20:7,26). That is still the standard in the New Testament. (1 Pet. 1:15-16)

Holiness, then, is God’s plan and provision for every believer. He, Himself, is the standard. In the Old Testament, holiness is basically Godlikeness. In the New Testament, it is Christlikeness. Since God is absolutely holy, our tendency is to think, “I can’t be holy like that!” And that’s true. But God is calling us to emulate His character, and He makes it possible, by His grace to do that. When God calls us to “be holy” because He is holy, He is calling us to a life of rightness, faithfulness, integrity, and self-giving love. Those are the characteristics that distinguish who He is.

We may not demonstrate that character because we’re simply ignorant of what it looks like. But, often, we don’t because of willful intent (often referred to as the carnal mind, the sinful mind, or “the flesh” in the writings of Paul).

That “willful intent” remains in a believer, even after their conversion experience. Some believe that it will be “mortified” eventually in the fires of Purgatory. Others believe that it’s simply a goal to be pursued, and that victory will only come at the point of death. In the holiness movement, we believe that the Scriptures teach that we can be cleansed from this “carnal mind” and empowered by the Holy Spirit so that we are enabled to emulate the character of God in this present life.

Being made holy does not mean we are free from ignorance, mistakes, infirmities, or temptation. Our performance may sometimes be marred by a lack of understanding, but it flows from a heart desiring to love God perfectly. (1 John 4:18) Purity is not to be equated with maturity. The rest of our lives will be spent “growing in grace” and more perfectly exemplifying Christlikeness.

When we are “born again” (conversion), we repent of our sins (what we have done) and, in response to our faith, God forgives our past. That takes place in a moment and is followed by a life of learning to walk by faith. In a subsequent moment (sometimes called entire sanctification or being filled with Spirit), we fully consecrate (surrender) ourselves to God, confessing our carnal mind and our self-centeredness. And, in response to our faith, God cleanses (purifies) our hearts and empowers us by His Spirit to live holy lives. This moment is also followed by a life of learning to live rightly, faithfully, in purity, and self-giving love.

The holy life is characterized by several traits. One is a lifestyle of habitual obedience to the will of God. The Spirit-filled believer has a greater sensitivity to and distaste for sin. One’s life no longer conforms to the patterns of this world. (Romans 12:1-2) There will be a marked increase in living out the “fruit of the Spirit” … love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) The fully surrendered follower of Jesus is enabled, by the Spirit, to fulfill the great command to love God wholeheartedly and to love others with a self-giving love. (Matthew 22:37-40)

(For further reading: John Oswalt, Called To Be Holy, 1999)