What is “Sanctification”?
Few elements of theology have suffered more from abstraction than has “sanctification”? Becoming “holy” or “set apart” or “growth” or whatever other terms are usually used in this regard, beg the question of “to what” are such terms directed. And I am convinced that this failure lies behind much of the all too evident lack of maturity in so much of North American Christianity. A sculptor can already “see” his sculpture in the block of stone set before him. Similarly painters already envision the painting they want to produce. Neither simply starts chipping or painting away hoping something suitable to their purposes and vision emerges. But that’s just what happens to Christians. We’re supposed to “grow,” usually meaning some sort of emotional adjustment, becoming “nicer” people and, of course, good citizens. Or we adapt ourselves to already formed commitments (political, social, economic) and run our desire to be better Christians through...