Abstract

Through understanding modern applications of the historical "mark" of "holiness" of the Christian Church, Evangelical Christian disciples can find assurance that they are following God's will, that their behaviour coincides with God's revelation, and that they can advance the Church's mission. Drawing on insights gleaned from three thinkers, a model for the practical involvement of "holiness ethics" in the modern church is advanced. Each thinker offers a key component to the model. Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers a way of understanding the worlds that provides a positive environment for church work. John Webster offers an inclusive understanding of God's holiness and how it flows to His human creatures. Emmanuel Levinas offers a manner of understanding how God's holiness-carrying people can be certain of where they need to be active in the world. Combined, the insights comprise a model that is practical, encouraging, and highly descriptive of the activity of the historical and modern evangelical church. One result of this thesis is to offer encouragement to active evangelical Christian Church participants. In clearly understanding their world, themselves, and their activity, Christians can be confident that they are doing the right activities toward the right people in the right place and at the right time. Greater certainty about their carrying holiness, which is rooted above them, can impel sounder Christian activity. Implications of the practical holiness ethics model are outlined in the final chapter.