Yesterday in my message at South Hills Community Church I gave this statement: “holiness is good; holiness brings with it joy, health and freedom.”

Of course, the same thing holds true for righteousness — meaning we daily choose to do those things that are right in God’s eyes.

Now how we go about this makes all the difference, doesn’t it?

I like to refer to a “rigid” holiness or righteousness, which comes off as self-righteous: “I don’t do this or that, and neither should you!”

Compare this with a “warm” holiness or righteousness, where we simply hold onto standards that the Lord has put into our hearts and we do things to please Him.

I remember several years ago when I worked in sales having a conversation about a particular movie.

I don’t remember what the movie was, but at the time it was “all the rage” and everyone seemed to be going to see it — except for me.

Sure enough, the time came when my co-workers asked if I had seen the movie.

Well, because it was full of swearing and sexual scenes, I had chosen not to see it.

The question caught me off guard, but by God’s grace, I was able to give a gracious answer: “You know, because of the swearing and the sex scenes, I just don’t want to give myself to things that I don’t think are pleasing to the Lord, so sometimes I sacrifice things that I would ordinarily like to do in order to please Him.”

The questioners had no problem with that response. But they would have had a problem if I had pompously declared that “I don’t see such garbage and neither should you!”

That’s one example of what I like to call a “warm” holiness or righteousness. It may not be the best example — you can probably come up with better examples — but it was a real life example.

We live in a fallen world that is quickly getting darker and more sinister and the temptations to sin are more demanding and alluring than ever.

Nevertheless, I’m still choosing to walk in imitation of Jesus, who lived in perfect holiness and righteousness (and I fall way short).

After all, did anyone ever set foot on this earth that was fuller of goodness, joy and freedom than He?

I love the Church because Jesus loves the Church – even in all her imperfections (Eph. 5:25).

I love the Church because it is the pillar and support of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15) in a world that’s gone crazy, is decaying and can never make up its mind.

I love the Church because the head of the Church – Jesus – was bold enough to refer to Himself as “the way, the Truth and the life” and that He has brought me to the Father and into eternal life, just as He said He would (John 14:6; 17:3).

I love the Church because it has been entrusted with our Lord’s perfect, pure and wholly inspired Word (Ps. 19:7; 2 Tim. 3:16) and by that Word and through the people that make up the Church, I’ve grown greatly as a man, as a Christian and as a husband – in ways I never would have grown.

I love the Church because it’s my family (John 17:21; Eph. 2:19) and in 30 years in this family of God, I’ve been enriched immeasurably and consider myself a very, very wealthy man (spiritually) indeed!

I love the Church because it’s where I’m challenged to grow (Prov. 27:17) and to give out.

I love the Church because as the body of Christ, it brings His good news to the unsaved, giving them eternal life.

I love the Church because it is the greatest force for good in the world (and always has been): caring for the widows and orphans, building hospitals and schools, helping those struck by natural disasters, speaking truth to an evil, corrupt world and not backing down when that same, ungrateful world persecutes her.

These are just some of the reasons I love the Church and will continue to do so!