Brimstone: The Art And Act Of Holy NonjudgmentSample

Whimsical Holiness

Here’s a bonus tip that I’ve found helpful to keep my wits about me as I live next to these wild Vikings we call sinners, pagans, and whacko unbelievers while keeping my vertical relationship with God strong. It’s called “whimsical holiness,” which is the ability to hold to personal values of Christlikeness while being deeply in relationship with people who do not hold to your same convictions. In other words, it’s about keeping a sense of humor while keeping a sense of holiness.

Looking again to Jesus, I think we can agree that He was holy. But whimsical? Sure: When Jesus made more wine than an elephant could suck down for people who were already hammered drunk, it was a whimsical decision. When Jesus held a dinner for every despicable tax collector in town, He must have had to crack a few opening jokes to help them relax. When He was talking about spiritual truth with the confused woman at the well, He responded with gracious statements instead of belittling her or straightening out her poor theology. When He purposefully neglected to remind His disciples to wash their hands correctly before eating, He was also being whimsically holy. Heck, eating and drinking were His pastime. My favorite scripture, in Luke 7:34, says, “The son of man came eating and drinking and you call him a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”

God has been to the brothels, the bars, and the back alleys of Sin City. People with Jesus’ whimsical holiness don’t gasp when someone curses. They don’t avoid a group of people, a place, or a party because someone might get out of hand. They inhabit dark places with the intention of protecting and redeeming, befriending and befuddling people with acceptance and love. They win the lost because they’re the only ones who hand out with the lost.

This is the power of incarnation (living our human life like Jesus lived His) and the character of whimsical holiness with which every Christian must learn to clothe him or herself. Redemption, liberation, and sanctification are dirty jobs. The dirtiest! And to follow Christ is to jump into pain, hell, and disorientation of all kinds of sinful acts without an arrogant, finger-pointing, judgmental thought.