Holy: Understanding it Better Through the Minority and Majority Views

Since biblical times, the meaning of holy has been understood in different ways.  An argument over its meaning may even be hinted at during the time of Jesus and in the biblical record itself.  At any time there are usually minority and majority views on a topic.  At the present time, the majority view is that holy means separate or to be set apart.  Also at the present time, the minority view is that holy means whole.  There are also other meanings out there as well, yet I consider these two meanings to be the most hopeful correct meanings.  The problem is that people treat the majority view as a consensus view.  The solution is to understand the actual status of a majority view and to understand the requirements for a minority view. 

One of the purposes of this blog is to ensure that the minority view is not overlooked because of the majority view.  My reason for this is that the might of supporters is not always right.  If that were true, then historically holy means whole might be right.  Before the 20th century, holy means whole was the primary definition for holy in Protestant circles at least.  Set apart was another meaning for holy, but oversimplifying some, it was the secondary definition. 

Yet a minority view must always understand its status and realize that it must earn the right to be the majority view.  It has to be humble.  It has to be meek.  It has to work harder in order to change its status.  It also must accept its status, if it fails to provide evidence for its position.  Being the underdog doesn't make a position right. 

So the majority cannot impose a tyranny with its status and exclude the minority view from consideration as though it enjoys a consensus status.  Likewise the minority cannot impose anarchy with its status and by force rather than ballots impose its view on others.  Each must remain diligent in proving its case to legitimately hold a majority status. 

I hope you will consider both points of view in your quest for the meaning of holy.  As I present more and more evidence, I hope you will be swayed by the evidence more than by the number of supporters.  Yet in the end, the number of supporters does matter.  Let's just hope the current majority is based on evidence and not on peer pressure.  That is my serious quest. 

In Christ,

Jon