As Martin Buber, the Jewish philosopher, put it, all real living is meeting . The fact is, you never do know. You only seek, hope, trust and seek again, which is probably why most of us prefer words to faith. That s exactly why the Word became flesh. Jesus never seems to judge people by the mere words they say, or even by what group they belong to, but by the very quality of their being, their spirit.
Holiness refers to the who that is acting more than the what that they do.
One can tell the difference when it is Jesus who is acting, and when it is merely defensive ego. Language and group symbols we can control. Ideas we can police. The spirit of another only God knows. Epiphanies we have to wait for, discern, trust and honor.