One day, three men talking. They were from three different denominations. One was a Methodist, one was a Baptist,
and the other was Pentecostal. The Methodist said to the Baptist "I live holy," and the Baptist asked him "How would
you prove that?" He said "We have a method of praising God, a method of worshiping God, a method of selecting
who will pastor as an itinerant elder, a local elder, and who will serve as steward and stewardess, even who will be a
trustee."
The Baptist said "Well, I don't agree with what you are saying, we live holy as well. First of all, John the Baptist
established the doctrine within our first churches, and he was a prophet and he baptized the Lord Jesus Christ, and
he established the first ministerial staff (followers) before the apostles, and he continued to cry in the wilderness
'Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.' And he heard the voice of God say 'This is my beloved son, in whom I
am well pleased.' Can't get no holier than that."
The Pentecostal said "Now, wait a minute, we live holy as well. Remember Jesus said to His apostles 'Remain in
Jerusalem until you be endued with the power from on high.' And when the apostles were one accord, the Holy
Ghost came in as a mighty rushing wind. And the disciples of Christ began to speak in unknown tongues. We don't
believe in wearing makeup, we don't believe in the fancy braiding of the hair. We speak in tongues, we believe of the
gifts of the Spirit, we believe in apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists, and teachers. So we feel that we are holier
than thou."
Along came a man that once was a drunk, drug addict, and dealt with prostitutes. He had been close enough to hear
the conversation, and he said "I may not know much about holiness, but I do know this, without Jesus, there can be
no change. And I speak as one that served satan by drinking, drugging, and having promiscuous sex with
prostitutes. It was not a method of salvation that saved me, but the Grace of God. It was not the baptism of water that
gave me the power to overcome the works of the flesh, I was not delivered on the day of Pentecost, I was delivered
on the day that I confessed my sins, realizing that God is faithful to forgive my sins and cleanse me from
unrighteousness. No, I don't know much about holiness, but I know in order to serve God, we have to love one
another, and what I have just heard from the three of you, the love of God is not shown, the unity is not shown, and
the Holy Spirit, which is the witness of the testimony of Jesus (The Gospel), is not there.
Only God can declare holiness, it is not a method, it is not a denomination, it is not how you dress, but it is living
according to God's Word.
I see the three of you pointing at each other, judging each other, which is not of God. How can you make the
statement I am holier than thou?