Salt Guide to Practical Holiness

SALT GUIDE TO PRACTICAL HOLINESS JUDGES ____________________________________________________________ Samson!' He awoke from his sleep, and thought, 'I shall get off as I have done over and over again, and shake myself free' - not knowing that the Lord had left him." (American Translation) SAMSON AND THE CHARISMATICS Suddenly prominent Evangelical preachers are beginning to preach righteousness. Some of us wonder where these men have been for the last twenty years. The truly great prophets are those who were sensitive to the Holy Spirit when such evils as television first appeared. The minister who takes up this theme should have evidence of his credentials; 1. He should have a sound doctrinal under- standing of holiness, knowing that sepa- ration is an essential part of true holiness and possess the same. Preachers who are devoted to God but not separated from the world are not qualified to teach holiness. See Qualifications 2. He should have a good theological under- Holiness/Righteousness standing of the difference between holiness and righteousness and not confuse them in his preaching. 3. He should have an established testimony as a holy man. How can you teach a doctrine your reputation does not support. And then, any man who has a "holiness" image should be able to teach it and will teach it faithfully (without reservation, preference, or being personally slanted). When the manufacturers advertise TV as "bringing the world into your living room," how can a man of God (professing) say he is practicing separation and have such an instrument in his home? Sepa- ration is exactly what actuality declares it to be. We talk "holiness," but show little evidence of separation. That is hypocrisy, not holiness. See Separation; Holiness/Righteousness; Psalm 101:2,3. The modern Gospel proponents preach a Paralogism holiness without separation. But the essence

SALT GUIDE TO PRACTICAL HOLINESS JUDGES ____________________________________________________________ of holiness is separation from the world! I John 5:1-5; 2 Corinthians 6:17 MODERN SAMSONS AND SEPARATION Modern conditions resemble Samson's departure from the traditional (biblical concepts of his parents). Judges 14:1-3 The mark of the apostate church is that it Sub-Gospel rejects the very mention of holiness of life and separation in particular. It detests Spurious Gospel serious examination of biblical sanctifi- cation. Environment, not scriptures, dictates moral standards. The modern Gospel Separation movement is characterized by its recognition of the holiness of God, but with no teaching on the holiness of man. Neither Samson nor the apostates regard the commandments. They attempt, consciously or unconsciously, to escape the doctrine, the importance, the supremacy of separation from the world by flattering God with praise and adoration. They produce emotionalism, act out a very humanistic charisma and call it "the joy of the Lord." Those who experienced the pure Pentecostal power in previous generations know very well the difference between the glorious Pentecost then and the contemporary counterfeits prominent today. Amos 5:21 Separation from the world is a essential part Separation Biblical of our faith. In Christian love. (I John 2:15) In Christian faith. (I John 5:4) In Christian power. (Judges 16:20) In Christian worship. (Amos 5:18-24; Isaiah 1:18) In Christian doctrine. (I Timothy 3:16,17) SAMSON AND EXTERNAL HOLINESS Samson's dedication included an external Holiness External feature that spoke of his special relation- ship to God; his hair. When he lost his outside religion it did affect, it did indicate a spiritual condition had depreci- ated on the inside of him. His inside changed when he trifled with

SALT GUIDE TO PRACTICAL HOLINESS JUDGES ____________________________________________________________ external disciplines. When he let Delilah mess with his hair he Holiness lost the presence of God. When he disobeyed God, he lost something! Too many men wear their hair the way they do because their wives or girlfriends like it that way. They will let a woman "mess with their hair," but reject anything God mentions about it. God's Word and not the silly fancy of feminine vanity dictates to man the proper lifestyle and hair style for his Christian life. The Bible does speak of spiritual externals ... and on this very object. The Lord departed from Samson and he didn't Laodicea know it. Judges 16:20 It happened to Laodicea also. "Thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; AND KNOWEST NOT." Revelation 3:17 Samson went out and shook himself as at times before. We keep on shaking and going through the motions. We talk about Jesus, faith and miracles. We shake awhile and sing awhile. After Delilah gave him the haircut, then he went into defensive action, too late! Samson ran out from the tent full of emotion, but emptied of God. What's on the inside is more important. When Latent Manifest you have modesty of heart (inside), you're going to be visibly modest in the external Adornment life also. The people who talk about religion being on Attire the inside are the same ones that spend so Cosmetology much time and money adorning the outside. Holiness (or any spiritual virtue) is a Worldliness spiritual desire that dwells inside of you, a purity of heart, and if you have the Spirit Visible Purity of holiness inside of you, your visible will reflect perfect morals, judgment, and taste. The Bible text is very clear in its treatment of being ostentatious;

SALT GUIDE TO PRACTICAL HOLINESS JUDGES ____________________________________________________________ Expensive, fashionable clothing, glamor- Externals izing, and seeking beauty. The Painting of the face, jewelry. I Timo- thy 2:9 Cutting or adorning the hair in any vain manner. Men, styling the hair long. The hair is Biblical Principle not to be thought of primarily as an object of self enhancement, but treated as scripture teaches, in a spiritual manner. I Corinthians 11:1-15 To the contrary, the Bible takes a position Holiness against these visible practices. How can any Holy Spirit Christian who claims to be "filled with the Holy Spirit," not even be able to keep these Pearl Principle "least commandments?" Matthew 5:19 JUDGES 15 There are many interesting parallels between Samson Samson and the Charismatic movement; Charismatics 1. He had good origin. 2. He rejected the counsel of his peers, scripture, and parents. 3. He was strong. Samson was a man of physical strength and renown. 4. He was influential and admired, had a position of being "a judge" over the church. The Charismatic movement exerts tremendous religious influence over the fundamental churches in this era. Charismatic (Greek CHARISMA, meaning free gift) comes from the Greek root "CHARIS" meaning joy. It has emphasized person- alities, while claiming great adherence to the doctrines and person of the Holy Spirit. It has been a flaring personali- ty movement. There has been very little emphasis upon character. (It represents a new concept of prosperity that promotes a Gospel of the rich rather than a Gospel to the poor.) A noticeable likeness to the ministry of Samson. 5. Samson was next to the last judge. The Charismatic movement with emphasis on gifts and personality, representing a corrupted message, may very well be the

SALT GUIDE TO PRACTICAL HOLINESS JUDGES ____________________________________________________________ movement that will precede the last great movement of the church which will surely be the message of purity and holy preparation, the bride. This final movement will restore proper emphasis of character (in place of the present emphasis on personality), and may well be ushered in by cataclysmic judgments that will bring a much needed God consciousness (though short lived, as the antichrist projects himself to the nations before the world sees its most terrible hour). The last two judges could correspond with a last two church move- ments, the latter being a movement with emphasis upon character and holiness of Character life as we would see in the character of Samuel Samuel. 6. Samson was too good to condemn, and too bad to emulate or model after. The Charismatic movement has brought sub- grace living that is obnoxiously diametric to the teachings of Christ and the apostles. i.e., emphasis on charisma and none on character; emotionalism Personality without systematic doctrine; open Character departure of traditional biblical values (holiness, separation, obedience); prosperity emphasis, the practicing of prominence and importance of man, extravagance; sophistication (eliteness or high-mindedness) that tends to ignore, despise the poor within its inner circles James 2:6; physical contact in worship, forms of praise and worship without biblical precedent; complete ignorance and rejection of teaching on church government principles; emphasis on the importance of the physical state. 7. Samson, though called of God and anointed Anointing of God, had certain ties and affinities with the world that he could not and would not terminate. Samson was not an overcomer. This lack of moral commitment and resolution in Samson finally destroyed him in the end. Worldliness will always destroy the movement that tolerates it. Modern neo-Christians