Why is personal holiness is not popular?

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Personal holiness has not been a topic that’s received great emphasis in the churches and ministries. In Rediscovering Holiness, J. I. Packer points to the same reality.

Packer identifies 3 evidences that Christians today evidently do not think personal holiness is very important: It’s not the topic of much preaching, teaching, or writing. It’s seldom valued or expected in Christian leaders.
It’s not shared in the message of evangelism, declaring to the world that without holiness, “no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).

Apart from Packer’s own book, here are a few more faithful works, listed from older to recent, that I believe are good resources for every Christian in their pursuit of holiness:

J.C. Ryle, Holiness. This maybe the classic work on the subject and even Ryle’s greatest contribution to the library of faithful Christian teaching. Fortunately, it’s old enough that it can be read online. And there’s also a recent edition with a nice biographical sketch of Ryle by J. I. Packer, Faithfulness and Holiness: The Witness of J.C. Ryle. It’s hard to imagine a better book on holiness than this.

Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness. What can you say about Jerry Bridges? Reading him always feels like sitting down with your favorite grandfather. You know you’re going to hear it straight, but that it’s going to be loving and easy to grasp as well. In every work, Bridges is faithful and clear, and this is no exception. Whenever I find a used copy of this book, I always buy it to give away.

Kevin DeYoung, The Hole in Our Holiness. DeYoung has really given us a wonderful recent work that’s particularly geared to our American evangelicalism, today. It’s a great reminder that along with reviving “Gospel centered” Christianity and the doctrines of grace, we must focus efforts on the necessary result of the Gospel, personal holiness. (This was also the topic of his address at T4G 2012, “Spirit-Powered, Gospel-Driven, Faith-Fueled Effort”).

Joel Beeke’s concise but helpful booklet, Holiness is a good quick start. Maybe start with it and work your way up the other books. Whether we read all, one, or none of these helpful books, let’s not let the general neglect of personal holiness in our day be an excuse to neglect holiness in our lives. The exhortation of Hebrews 12:14 still addresses us:

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. What about you? What book would you add to this list? Author: Cripplegate

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