The Myth of the Secular

Holiness is frequently relegated to the sanctuary, yet the biblical term ἅγιος [hagios] refers to a state of being “set apart” that encompasses every dimension of life. There is no scriptural warrant for “secular” hours; every task—from manual labor to domestic chores—is an act of service within the priesthood of the believer.

True holiness resides in the “Great Tension” between God’s sovereign grace and human responsibility. It is not merely a passive state of being but an active pursuit involving the mortification (the putting to death) of sin and the vivification (the being made alive) of the Spirit. Whether in speech, labor, or the quiet endurance of suffering, holiness is the evidence of a heart perfected in love and surrendered to the Vine. To follow Christ is to realize that the dirt of the ordinary is the very place where His glory is most visible.