I've been thinking about the word holy as in "be holy as I am holy." What does that mean? Does it mean be good? Be moral? Be ethical? Be productive? Be kind? Be pious? Be devout?
Check out what one source claims about the Hebrew and Greek words for holy.
The Hebrew word qodesh and the equivalent Greek word hagios, together with their derivatives, have been translated with one of three words, or derivatives, in our older English versions, namely: holy, hallowed, or sanctified. Another word is also used in modern versions, and generally in ecclesiastical literature, namely: sacred. Most of us have the idea that this word has the meaning of piety, or being pious, or to be devout. However, this conception is refuted when we read in Isa. 66:17 of the idolatrous people "who sanctify (qadash) themselves and purify themselves, to go to the gardens after an idol in the midst, eating swine's flesh and the abomination and the mouse ...." This refutation of the incorrect idea that "holy" means "to be pious", is further confirmed by the shocking discovery that one of the Hebrew words for a harlot (whore) is qedeshah, a derivative of qadash! Likewise, a male prostitute (or sodomite) is called a qadesh in Hebrew. This then causes us to seek for the real meaning of the word qodesh (its verb being qadash) and its Greek equivalent hagios. The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 2, p. 817, summarises what most authorities say about qodesh and hagios, ". . . the meaning of 'separation' is paramount ... the more elemental meaning seems to lie with 'separation'." The same dictionary, in vol. 4, p.210, says, "The basic sense of the Hebrew root qadash, as of its Greek equivalent in the Bible—hagios, seems to be 'separateness'." Likewise, Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words repeatedly emphasises the fact of the fundamental meaning of the word to be: "separation" (see under "holiness" and "sanctification"). With the discovery of the true meaning of this word, namely, separate and separation, we can now understand why qodesh is used in a positive sense, a good sense, and that it can equally be used in a negative and evil sense. Someone is, or something is separated unto Yahuweh, or he/it is separated unto evil. Thus, the word qodesh applies to both.
If you ever saw R.C. Sproul's famous video series titled The Holiness of God in the late 80's early 90's you would have come away with a profound sense of the "other-than-ness" of God and humanity; the idea that God was totally separate was very well established by the excellent teacher. It left me feeling a little like that "high and lifted up / low and worm food" contrast. Almost more afraid of Him that wanting to move into His arms. Nothing was mentioned about love that I remember; which begs the question: What does the idea of separation have to do with love or does it have anything to do with love?
In a recent letter from John Eldridge he probes the same question. John concludes that holiness is evidenced in how we relate to one another. OK what does that have to do with separation. Then I read this in Quest for the Grail by Richard Rohr on page 70:
When love does not understand separation, when it fails to see that if people are not first apart they cannot unite, that union can have no rich or healing meaning unless it comes from separateness-that's when you have co-dependancy. I am so grateful someone created that word. Finally we have a term to describe the false meaning to an awful lot that is called love, to an awful lot that is called loyalty. Even in the church. Much of it is sick loyalty. Negative co-dependancy.......Group strength can never be a substitute for personal journey.
OK so now I'm beginning to see a connection. Perhaps unless one is separate, one can not fully love and for one to be truly separate, one must go on the journey to the Source and be filled by the Source. This certainly requires pulling apart from all of our human attachment - even the attachment within our selves that we strive for in our search for identity. And it makes much more sense to me that God would want us to be holy because that would require us choosing to separate ourselves to Him. And in going to Him we then have something of His nature - namely love - to offer others. This makes so much more sense that trying hard to be good, pious, devout etc.etc. Although the true essence of all of those things would flow from our souls with His loving touch.
So could "be holy as I am holy" be a call to be fully alive - a wholehearted person who has become alive as Sh/e has related with God. And as such has been liberated from the great human enmeshment dilemma and finally free to love instead of exploit??
