Was Peter Too Holy?
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After the discussion surrounding the article “Moving Toward Authenticity: Musings on Fundamentalism, Part 2” I began to reflect on whether or not it was possible to be too holy. Considering that the word “holy” has the idea of being set apart, we should want to be set apart to to whatever the Lord would have for us to do- to live as He would have us to live. I do not believe that passion can be too strong.
At the same time the scriptures give us an example of an apostle who was too set apart. In Galatians 2:11-21 Paul confronts Peter because he set himself apart from the Gentiles. Does that mean we should never be set apart from others, God forbid (of course not) Paul commands that we separate from fornicators, covetous, idolaters, railers, drunkards, or extortioners.
I am by no means repudiating separation and neither did Paul. That is why I am a fundamentalist. At the same time, Peter’s behavior is a warning that we can be too set apart. If even an apostle like Peter- one who was considered a pillar (Gal 2:9) could err in this way, then so could we. Further if the Corinthian church could err in not being set apart enough, then so can we.
Think of God’s truth as the peak of a roof. There are people on both sides of the roof. Some are closer to the peak than others. If I am on the north side of the roof and someone else is on the south side but we are both close enough to the peak to see each other and grab hands, we will likely be able to work together. If however there is someone else who is also on the north side of the roof, but they are so far down the slope that I cannot reach them, we will not be able to fellowship as well as the person who is actually on the other side but closer to the peak. At the same time, we need to recognize that there are people who are are standing on the ladders on both sides of the roof who are not even on the roof (unsaved but wanting to identify with Christianity). Ideally we would all be at the peak, but we still struggle with the sin nature and it is so easy to slip down or to even jump across the peak totally missing it and slide down the other side. We must recognize as well that those on the other side of the roof who are also near the peak can be a great asset to us as we began to slip farther down the roof, but we must be humble enough to reach out and grab their hand when it is offered. We need to consistently study God’s word and pray that we get closer to the peak and not slide down, realizing that if we are truly saved we will never slide off, but can still miss the blessings of the peak.
At the same time the scriptures give us an example of an apostle who was too set apart. In Galatians 2:11-21 Paul confronts Peter because he set himself apart from the Gentiles. Does that mean we should never be set apart from others, God forbid (of course not) Paul commands that we separate from fornicators, covetous, idolaters, railers, drunkards, or extortioners.
I am by no means repudiating separation and neither did Paul. That is why I am a fundamentalist. At the same time, Peter’s behavior is a warning that we can be too set apart. If even an apostle like Peter- one who was considered a pillar (Gal 2:9) could err in this way, then so could we. Further if the Corinthian church could err in not being set apart enough, then so can we.
Think of God’s truth as the peak of a roof. There are people on both sides of the roof. Some are closer to the peak than others. If I am on the north side of the roof and someone else is on the south side but we are both close enough to the peak to see each other and grab hands, we will likely be able to work together. If however there is someone else who is also on the north side of the roof, but they are so far down the slope that I cannot reach them, we will not be able to fellowship as well as the person who is actually on the other side but closer to the peak. At the same time, we need to recognize that there are people who are are standing on the ladders on both sides of the roof who are not even on the roof (unsaved but wanting to identify with Christianity). Ideally we would all be at the peak, but we still struggle with the sin nature and it is so easy to slip down or to even jump across the peak totally missing it and slide down the other side. We must recognize as well that those on the other side of the roof who are also near the peak can be a great asset to us as we began to slip farther down the roof, but we must be humble enough to reach out and grab their hand when it is offered. We need to consistently study God’s word and pray that we get closer to the peak and not slide down, realizing that if we are truly saved we will never slide off, but can still miss the blessings of the peak.
There is no such thing as applying God’s Word “too much”.
But there is such things as wrongly interpreting God’s Word and because of that wrongly applying it or rightly interpreting God’s Word and wrongly applying it.
In the case of Peter, his separation was not applying God’s Word too much, rather his separation was based on something else. The case you cite has some elements of debate whether it was pure intimidation to which Peter was acquiescing or intimidation mixed with an erring view by Peter but what it was not was a case of applying God’s Word too much.
But there is such things as wrongly interpreting God’s Word and because of that wrongly applying it or rightly interpreting God’s Word and wrongly applying it.
In the case of Peter, his separation was not applying God’s Word too much, rather his separation was based on something else. The case you cite has some elements of debate whether it was pure intimidation to which Peter was acquiescing or intimidation mixed with an erring view by Peter but what it was not was a case of applying God’s Word too much.
There is a huge difference between being too set apart and correctly applying God’s Word. You can be set apart to the wrong things and thus go against God’s Word. I believe that is what Peter was doing. We have no idea about all the motives that were involved but it was still wrong.
to be holy in terms of “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Pt 1.16) doesn’t mean any and every instance of “being set apart”.
Movie stars are set apart from the general population by many things, including, quite often, extreme ungodliness. We wouldn’t call them holy, would we?
Peter’s error was not holiness, even though it was a setting apart.
So your argument fails.
Movie stars are set apart from the general population by many things, including, quite often, extreme ungodliness. We wouldn’t call them holy, would we?
Peter’s error was not holiness, even though it was a setting apart.
So your argument fails.
Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
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