Is Holy Water Really Holy?

It all started with a popular song by We the Kingdom, Holy Water, playing on the radio.  Someone asked the question, is holy water biblical?  Good question!  And so this post was birthed.  I determined to learn all I could about “holy water” and share what I had learned.

As usual, I started with a search of multiple bible versions and commentaries for the phrase “holy water”, followed by an internet search on the subject.  I opened a bunch of tabs in my browser… things I wanted to read to get a feel for what was out there, but before I could read one word, the attack came… the symptoms were something like food poisoning and struck with a fury. 

My first thought, after tending to the unpleasant worldly results of this attack, the enemy does not want me to find the Truth and share it with you.  That in itself is reason enough to press on!  So we will start at the beginning,

the very beginning…

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

Genesis 1:1 – 2

The origin of water, created by a Holy God, occured “In the beginning”. Water was part of the initial creation of heaven and earth and His Spirit hovered over the water in the darkness.  In verses 3-5 God declares light and separates it from the darkness creating day and night, the first day. Then…

“And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.”

Genesis 1:6 – 7

At this point there is nothing but day and night, sky and water.  There is water both above and below the sky, and the Spirit of God, I presume, is still hovering over the waters – but the waters above or the waters  below, or both, we cannot know.   From this, one might conclude that all of God’s created water is holy.  But in His own words, God declared the creation “very good.” He never declared the creation to be “holy.”

Living Water vs Holy Water

The bible frequently mentions living water. These words are most often interpreted to mean fresh water from a river or stream as opposed to stagnant water that sits in a basin, bottle, jar, or is delivered through pipes.  Living water is water in its natural state, not yet manipulated by man.  I could find only one biblical mention of Holy Water.  The context is the process by which the priest will determine if a woman accused by her husband of infidelity is guilty or innocent.

“And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD; and the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water.”

Numbers 15:16-17

After several other rituals, the woman drinks the water with the dust in it.  If she gets sick, she is guilty, if not she is innocent. This tells us that in the times of the tabernacle, there was some water that was considered by the people and the priesthood to be Holy Water, but why?  What had the Lord actually commanded regarding water and the tabernacle?

Water For Holy Use

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come”. 

Exodus 30:17-21

This is most likely the water referred to in Numbers 15:17, but there is no special power attributed to the water itself.  The ability to not die when in the presence of God is the result of washing with the water.  Aaron and his descendants are to wash before presenting themselves or sacrifices before God because God commanded it.  For that reason, the common understanding of the people may have been that the water was holy, birthing the concept of holy water.

Mikvaot

Expanding upon this thought, ritual bathing is at least as old as the writing of Leviticus, which scholars date to before 322 B.C.E, and possibly originated during the time of Moses, maybe even before that.  In Jewish circles, the ritual bath is known as the mikveh. You can find one at most all of the ancient temples and synagogues.  They have also been found in the homes of ancient priests and wealthy citizens. 

There are many and varied occasions one might engage in a ritual bath.  Jewish law requires ritual bathing as part of the process of conversion to Judaism, and requires women to immerse before getting married and when observing the laws of niddah (menstrual purity). Steeped in tradition, when one goes to the mikveh, three blessings are said upon immersing three times.  Not surprising, it is in these traditions that the ritual of baptism are rooted.

The word ‘mikveh’, literally meaning ‘collection’, appears as early as the Old Testament creation story in Genesis, when God brought the waters together, separating them from the land and making the oceans. The salty sea is therefore the supreme mikveh, and streams, rainwater pools, and lakes are also mikvaot (the plural of mikveh).  According to tradition, it is not simply a bath, but offers a way for a person to transcend to a cleaner and therefore more divine state of being.

The Culture Trip

Still, the water itself is not understood to be holy.

Influence of the Catholic Church

The popularity of holy water in our modern Christian culture is primarily a result of the rituals performed in the Catholic Church.  Certainly I believe this ritualization fills a need for humanity that draws them to the church.  Unfortunately, it is the same need that caused the early Hebrews to worship the idols of their neighbors. 

It is just too hard to believe in a God that is spirit.  Humanity longs to see, touch and hear their gods, and for that reason will attribute holiness to things that just aren’t holy.  It makes them feel closer to God, but calling upon God to bless the water only makes it blessed. 

In researching this topic I discovered just how deep the desire to have holy contact contributes to confusion about holiness in the rituals associated with water.  In the Catholic Church, holy water is a focal point in both baptisms and exorcisms. 

Interestingly, Catholicsay.com concedes the water itself is not holy, rather “its power depends on the prayers, faith and devotion of the person who uses it”, which begs the question, faith in the water or faith in the God in whose name it was blessed? 

How Deep Into Error Will We Go?

Holy water is now permanently retained at the entrance of Catholic churches, blessed at the first of each lunar month, and sprinkled over patrons as they enter. This practice was created to supplant the pagan celebration of the new moon, according to Canon 65 of the Council of Constantinople (691). According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the earliest modern uses of holy water appear in the ninth century. With that, coupled with the New Testament’s silence regarding the practice and use of holy water, it can be concluded that the tradition of holy water was created for the sole purpose of putting a pagan ceremony out of commission, using a scant few biblical references to water for purification.

GotQuestions.org

I understand the attraction to the rituals, but the veneration of the water by the end user is sorely misplaced.  In the modern world you can buy “holy water” from the Jordan River online at $10 for about 3 oz., but it is just river water at best.  Wikihow.com even gives us a recipe for making our own holy water.  I must include a warning here.  This site instructs in the making of both catholic style holy water and pagan holy water.  Obviously, if I can make it in my kitchen, it probably is not any holier than my pot roast.

Baptism

In contrast, there is at least one sacrament performed with holy water that really is Holy. I call your attention to the sacrament of baptism.  Baptism with water is a Holy act, an act commanded by Jesus.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.

Matthew 28:19

“…Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Mark 16:15-16

Baptism is an act of obedience symbolizing one’s faith in Christ, death to sin, and resurrection of a new life in Christ.  It is a testimony of our belonging to the One who is Holy.  Many believers say they feel directly connected to and filled with the Holy Spirit when emerging from the baptismal water. Jesus began His ministry with baptism.  If He is to be our model of holiness, it seems fitting that we should follow His lead mindful that it is the sacrament that is Holy, not the water.

And finally, to John came the One he was prophesying: “Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:13-15).

Why would sinless Jesus come to be baptized, which sins could He possibly repent? Here another mysterious side of the Baptism is revealed.  So, Jesus comes as a man to be baptized by John, and what happens?

gotquestions.org

The Spirit of God Descends

“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17).

Therefore the Evangelical evidences about the Baptism of Jesus give us clear understanding of the divine essence of this sacrament.

gotquestions.org

So Is Holy Water Actually Unholy?

In fact, the bible simply does not teach on the subject of holy water.  Certainly it is not my intention to judge if the practice of rituals using “holy water” are right or wrong. It is a matter of opinion, not commanded nor directly forbidden by scripture.  And so I will pose three questions:

• Can God make water Holy? YES

• Can man make water Holy? NO

• Will God make water Holy if one of us asks Him to?

Apparently that is what this all comes down to.  He is God!  Surely He can and will do what He chooses to do. Ultimately, none of us can presume to know the mind of God. 

That being said, the blood of Christ is the source of our salvation. The holiness of the water or lack thereof makes no difference to our salvation.  Attributing holiness where there is none, however, is a form of idolatry.  Carefully examine the scriptures and even more carefully examine your heart.  If you are reminded of your baptism by a sprinkle of water that has been blessed, I see no harm, but be mindful of the difference. Offer your worship only to Him, and not to the rituals surrounding Him.       

Blessings & Adventure,

Lynn “lynnibug” Rios