There is No Holiness but Social Holiness
John Wesley once said, “There is no holiness but social holiness.” While the phrase has often been misinterpreted as a rallying cry for Christians around social justice, the heart of Wesley’s quote is about Christian community and accountability. This blog outlines why social holiness matters and how to practice it in our daily Christian lives.
Why Did John Wesley Say, “No Holiness But Social Holiness?”
John Wesley was a theologian who founded the Methodist movement in the 18th century. He believed that the Christian faith should not only be practiced individually but also in community with others. This idea is encapsulated in his famous phrase, “there’s no holiness but social holiness.”
Wesley’s penned words emphasize the importance of social holiness, stating that “true religion was never designed to be confined to solitary retirement or narrow, selfish circles.” He explained that holiness is not just a personal matter but also a social one, requiring Christians to unite and help each other grow in faith.
The phrase “there’s no holiness, but social holiness” became a well-known and oft-quoted expression of Wesley’s emphasis on the importance of Christian community and accountability.
Was Wesley Referencing Social Justice?
John Wesley’s phrase “there’s no holiness but social holiness” has been misinterpreted by some over time. Some have hijacked the phrase, suggesting it means a call to social justice and political activism. However, Wesley’s original intent was different.
When Wesley spoke of social holiness, he was referring to the importance of Christians coming together and knowing one another so that we can hold one another accountable in a spirit of love and spur one another on in the faith. Wesley believed that by doing so, Christians could grow in holiness individually and as a community.
However, some have misinterpreted Wesley’s phrase to mean Christians should focus solely on social justice and political activism and disregard individual and communal spiritual growth. This misinterpretation has led some to view Christianity primarily as a political movement rather than a faith that encompasses all aspects of life.
This misinterpretation has led some to view social justice as the primary goal of Christianity rather than one of its many expressions. While social justice is an important issue for Christians to address, it is not the only issue. Wesley believed that social holiness encompasses all aspects of the Christian life, including worship, prayer, gathering in banded discipleship, studying Scriptures, and serving others.
Why Should Christianity Be Practiced in Community?
Practicing Christianity in community is a central aspect of the Christian faith. Christianity is not just a personal matter but also a social one, compelling Christians to unite and help each other grow in faith. Through a Christian community, we encourage, support, and hold each other accountable in a spirit of love.
John Wesley firmly believed that Christianity should not be practiced in isolation but should instead be practiced in community with others. He believed that the Christian faith is not only something that is to be experienced individually but also in community. Wesley’s belief in community was rooted in his understanding of the nature of sin and the transformative power of loving accountability.
Wesley saw sin as not only an individual problem but also a social problem. He believed that one person’s sin could have a ripple effect on the entire community. Therefore, he saw the need for Christians to come together in community to help each other resist temptation and overcome sin.
The importance of Christian community can be seen throughout the New Testament. The early Christians regularly gathered in community for worship, prayer, teaching, and fellowship. They shared their possessions, cared for one another, and served others in the context of communal life. For example, the book of Acts describes the early church as a community of believers devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer.
Furthermore, Wesley believed that accountability was one of the key ingredients to a transformed life. He saw the importance of sharing our struggles and temptations with others to receive support, encouragement, and guidance.
The Christian faith is not simply a set of beliefs to be held but a way of living. Therefore, Christians should strive to live out their faith daily, and this is best done in community with others who share the same values and beliefs.
Therefore, practicing Christianity in community expresses our faith in daily life. It is a way for us to show the world what it means to be a Christian, to serve others, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Christian community is a powerful witness to the world, demonstrating the transforming power of God’s love and grace in our lives.
Why is Accountability So Important to Christianity?
No path toward sanctification is accessible by one’s own strength. Christians carry a mutual responsibility to help one another grow through the practice of the many “one another’s” of Scripture, blended with accountability and support.
How Does Accountability Help Christians Grow?
1.) Prevents Spiritual Drift
Accountability helps to prevent spiritual drift. Christians are called to pursue holiness but will find it impossible to do alone. When we are part of a community where love abounds in the context of accountability, it becomes easier to stay focused on our spiritual journey and avoid drifting away from our faith.
2.) Identifies Growth Areas
Accountability helps to identify areas in which we need to grow. It can be challenging to see our own weaknesses and flaws objectively, but others in our community can often see them more clearly. When others hold us accountable in kindness and grace, we can receive feedback that helps us identify areas we need to grow.
3.) Helping one Another Avoid Sin
Accountability helps us to avoid sin and temptation. When part of a community holds us accountable, we are less likely to give in to temptation and sin. In addition, Christian community provides a support system to fall back on when we are weak or need to repent.
4.) Builds Trust
Accountability helps to build trust and deeper relationships. When others hold us accountable in mercy and grace, we build trust with them. We are more likely, to be honest, and open about our struggles, which can lead to deeper and more meaningful relationships. There’s no friend like someone who’s traversed dark times with you.
How Do We Practice Social Holiness?
In Wesley’s view, Christianity is not only something we practice vertically, meaning our relationship with God, but also horizontally, meaning our relationships with others. Wesley believed that we could not grow in holiness as individuals if we did not grow in holiness as a community.
So, how can we practice social holiness in our daily lives?
4 Steps to Practicing Social Holiness
Attend worship regularly: Attending worship is essential to Christian growth. By attending worship, we magnify God as a community and learn from one another, further enabling accountability.
Join a Discipleship Group: Discipleship groups are a great way to get to know others and grow your faith together. These groups meet regularly to study the Bible, pray together, seek to move together in obedience to Christ and the Scriptures, and share life experiences.
Serve Others: Serving others is an essential aspect of social holiness. When we serve others, we put the needs of others before our own, and in doing so, we reflect and are shaped by the love of Christ.
Be Open and Vulnerable: Social holiness requires vulnerability. It means being open with others about our struggles, fears, and doubts and allowing others to do the same with us. By doing so, we can encourage and support one another as Christ works through community unto our transformation.
TL;DR
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, believed that Christianity should not only be practiced individually but also in community with others.
Wesley’s phrase “there’s no holiness but social holiness” emphasizes the importance of accountability, which encourages Christians to unite and help each other grow in faith.
Wesley's reference to social holiness was not about social justice and political activism, but about knowing and loving one another in Christian community.
Practicing Christianity in community expresses our faith in daily life and shows the world the transforming power of God’s love and grace in our lives.
Accountability is important in Christianity as it helps to prevent spiritual drift, identifies growth areas, helps to avoid sin and temptation, and builds trust and deeper relationships.
Related Reading
How Can I Help Others? by Bro. Chris Carter
Who We Are Depends on Whose We Are by Rev. Paul Lawler
How Do I Find Community by Andrew Grissom