Freedom and Boundaries

Growing up I remember my mom reading the writings of Watchman Nee. I picked up a few of his books at a Library sale a year or two ago and I have finally picked them up. Since I am reading a couple of other big books right now, I chose The Joyful Heart; Daily Meditations. Another reason I chose it is because it is a daily reading type of book and since I struggle with just picking up my Bible everyday this sort of thing helps me to do that. On Tuesday I read this:

"And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth." John 17:19

As the sinless Son of God, Jesus enjoyed freedom far exceeding any we have on earth. There is much that we may not do or say because we are so full of defects and defilement, but that was never true of him. And yet, notwithstanding, his faultlessness, he deliberately refrained from doing many things which for him would have been quite legitimate, from speaking many words which he might lawfully have spoken, and justifiably have taken. These were some of the ways in which he "sanctified" himself, refraining from much that was lawful for his disciples' sake.

What it means is that when holiness was in view, the Lord Jesus thought not merely of his own holiness but of ours. For our sakes he accepted limitations. The opposite of holiness is not sin but commonness. Commonness means: I do what is common practice to everyone. Holiness means: Others may do something but, in this instance at least, I may not. To sanctify ourselves is to accept restraint from God upon our spirits. As with the Lord Jesus, this may often be for the sake of others.

This really hit home as I have struggled with this for years. Balancing freedom and grace with living a holy and purposeful life. I love art in all forms (film, music, paintings, dance, etc.) and though perhaps the way the art is displayed as a whole appears beautiful to me, perhaps the content is not piece by piece edifying. Do I allow separation of that depending on the circumstance? Do I take into account that I'm all alone or whether or not non-believers or new believers are present, or should I just be 100% consistent in these decisions. I think that with the turn some churches are taking there is this idea of telling the world we are just like them so the world will accept us. The Bible tells us that isn't going to happen. We are not like the world and the world will hate us for it. What's the point if we are to be the same? I know that I often want to be sure that I don't come across too judgemental, or stuffy or a prude if you will, instead of being concerned about living up to the way I am seen by God, holy. He sees me this way because Christ died for my sins, rose from the dead and is now standing in front of me as a filter of light and cleanliness. I wonder if some of the choices I make spit on that.