Intouch – March 2025

Dearly beloved in Christ,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

“YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I, THE LORD YOUR GOD, AM HOLY.”

This year’s theme, taken from Leviticus 19:2, calls us to holiness. As God is holy, His followers must also be holy. Together, they form a unified community with a distinct identity, which we call the Holy Race. True religion is the worship of this Holy God by His Holy Race, expressed through righteous morals, spiritual devotion, and a meaningful social existence (James 1:27).

In his epistle, James defines pure religion in James 1:11-27. He states that “to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” is the kind of religion that God our Father approves—one that is perfect. The foundation of pure religion is the Bible—not merely hearing and contemplating its message, but actively living according to the Lord’s Word.

One essential aspect of true religion is leading a holy life that pleases God. According to Paul, God calls us to sanctification by abstaining from sexual immorality and exercising self-control over our bodies. We are to live honorably and in holiness. There is no such thing as a holy love affair or a divine love affair. Any believer who mistreats fellow worshippers or fellow believers will face God’s judgment. A believer’s love has its limits, but God’s standard for holiness remains unchanged (1 Thessalonians 4:1–12).

The phrase “purity in everything” primarily refers to marital life, companionship, and fellowship. As God declares in 2 Corinthians 6:16, “They will be my people, I will be their God, and I will walk among them and live with them.” Anything contrary to this defiles and diminishes our body, soul, and spirit. Therefore, relying on God’s promises, let us strive for complete holiness by cleansing ourselves from all that contaminates both body and spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Jesus Christ strongly condemned the religion of the hypocrites, opposing their false righteousness with unwavering clarity. He rebuked the teachers of the law and Pharisees, declaring, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!” (Matthew 23:13, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29). He described them as vipers, snakes, blind guides, and blind fools, accusing them of shutting the gates of heaven to others while failing to enter themselves. Though they traveled land and sea to make converts, they neglected weightier matters—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. They were consumed by greed and self-indulgence, appearing righteous on the outside but filled with hypocrisy and deceit within. Because of this, Jesus repeatedly called them to repent and carry out true holy service for the people.

Paul also wrote about the Unholy Religions or practices which hurt the living and holy God. He says that the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people. The unholy religious people knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. They claimed to be wise, but became fools. They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Finally he exhorted them to worship God rather than creation (Romans 1:18-25).

The Way of Holiness calls believers to uplift and support one another on the path of righteousness. Isaiah urges his readers to strengthen feeble hands and steady weak knees, encouraging those with fearful hearts: “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution, he will come to save you.” (Isaiah 35:1-10).

Serving with holiness was the lesson Zechariah taught his son, John the Baptist. As the prophet of the Most High, John was called to prepare the way for Jesus—proclaiming salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and the tender mercies of God. He was to declare peace to God’s people and shine as a light in the darkness (Luke 1:64-79).

Worshiping in the beauty of holiness is the essence of pure religious experience. It welcomes new songs, new instruments, and fresh declarations of God’s wonders and miracles. Believers are called to ascribe glory and splendor to God among all nations, worshiping alongside creation in its brilliance. The Holy Arm and Right Hand of God have brought salvation to all (Psalm 96:1-13; Psalm 98:1-9).

Let us continue to surrender ourselves to the pure religion that Jesus Christ calls us to. With unwavering faith and devotion, let us strive for holiness, living out His teachings in righteousness and love. Amen!

With blessings

Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan.

Senior pastor