Merry Christmas Everyone! Now that we’ve passed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day, I am returning to my series on the future of our beloved Church of the Nazarene. This blog post series was inspired as a response to Josh Broward’s Will the Church of the Nazarene Split?
My desire is to discern a way forward for us as a people. I care deeply about our past, present, and future. My basic disposition toward such things is the Wesleyan “Via Media” or “Middle Way” & the peacemaker statement: “In essentials, unity; non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity” – which I often paraphrase/truncate to “unity AND diversity.” Here are my thoughts on the matter thus far:
(1) Nazarene Religious Orders – “A” Third Way
(2) Do We REALLY Need Religious Orders (Probably Not)
(3) The B-I-B-L-E (A Key to Nazarene Unity)
*Note: I really like Christi Bennett’s suggestion that instead of “orders” we call these groups “societies.” I approve this Wesleyan adaptation and ask that you read “society” wherever I wrote “order.”
I began my series talking about ONE historically proven way we MIGHT live with and celebrate our DIVERSITY. However, I perhaps should have begun that series with the basis of our UNITY. I believe that the basis of our UNITY as a denomination is SCRIPTURAL HOLINESS. Specifically, our articles of faith on scripture and holiness/entire sanctification. My post about the bible is a reference to Article IV – our stance on the Holy Scriptures. Today’s post is the first of two that explore HOLINESS. Here is Article X of the Church of the Nazarene.
10. We believe that sanctification is the work of God which transforms believers into the likeness of Christ. It is wrought by God’s grace through the Holy Spirit in initial sanctification, or regeneration (simultaneous with justification), entire sanctification, and the continued perfecting work of the Holy Spirit culminating in glorification. In glorification we are fully conformed to the image of the Son.We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God, subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotement to God, and the holy obedience of love made perfect.
It is wrought by the baptism with or infilling of the Holy Spirit, and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, empowering the believer for life and service. Entire sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus, is wrought instantaneously by grace through faith, preceded by entire consecration; and to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.
This experience is also known by various terms representing its different phases, such as “Christian perfection,” “perfect love,” “heart purity,” “the baptism with or infilling of the Holy Spirit,” “the fullness of the blessing,” and “Christian holiness.”
10.1. We believe that there is a marked distinction between a pure heart and a mature character. The former is obtained in an instant, the result of entire sanctification; the latter is the result of growth in grace.
We believe that the grace of entire sanctification includes the divine impulse to grow in grace as a Christlike disciple. However, this impulse must be consciously nurtured, and careful attention given to the requisites and processes of spiritual development and improvement in Christlikeness of character and personality. Without such purposeful endeavor, one’s witness may be impaired and the grace itself frustrated and ultimately lost.
Participating in the means of grace, especially the fellowship, disciplines, and sacraments of the Church, believers grow in grace and in wholehearted love to God and neighbor.
(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17; John 7:37-39; 14:15-23; 17:6-20; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9; Romans 6:11-13, 19; 8:1-4, 8-14; 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Galatians 2:20; 5:16-25; Ephesians 3:14-21; 5:17-18, 25-27; Philippians 3:10-15; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Hebrews 4:9-11; 10:10-17; 12:1-2; 13:12; 1 John 1:7, 9)
(“Christian perfection,” “perfect love”: Deuteronomy 30:6; Matthew 5:43- 48; 22:37-40; Romans 12:9-21; 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13; Philippians 3:10-15; Hebrews 6:1; 1 John 4:17-18
“Heart purity”: Matthew 5:8; Acts 15:8-9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:3
“Baptism with the Holy Spirit”: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9
“Fullness of the blessing”: Romans 15:29 “Christian holiness”: Matthew 5:1-7:29; John 15:1-11; Romans 12:1-15:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:17-5:20; Philippians 1:9-11; 3:12-15; Colossians 2:20-3:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:7-8; 5:23; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; Hebrews 10:19-25; 12:14; 13:20-21; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Peter 1:1-11; 3:18; Jude 20-21)
For an EXCELLENT analysis of the development of our holiness doctrine, READ Mark’s Quantrom’s A Century of Christian Holiness. It will not disappoint and gives great historical context.
Today’s post is a blast from the past. Specifically, a time 20 years ago when, as Student Government President of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, my fellow Nazarene Student Government Presidents and I noticed a disturbing trend – many of our friends had left or were leaving the denomination. Through the guidance of Dr. Jerry Lambert, then head of the International Board of Education for the CoTN, and through conversation with our Nazarene college presidents and church leaders such as Dr. John Knight, Dr. Jim Bond, Dr. Ron Benefiel – we “Gen Xers” set out to research and articulate the problems we saw and our thoughts/hopes for the future of the denomination.
The result is this “White Paper” titled “HOLINESS and the EMERGING CHURCH.” NOTE: Our use of the word “emerging” was chosen YEARS before there was such a thing as the “emergent church” or “emerging theology” – so please don’t confuse this document as being about that discussion.
Though dated in some ways, this paper is still very relevant to today’s discussions about the future of the Church of the Nazarene. Many of the issues we discuss today were discussed twenty years ago (and I’m sure have been talked about for much longer than that). This student led, student researched, and student-driven paper is worth your read.
HOLINESS & the EMERGING CHURCH
Personally, as the author/editor of this paper – my heart for the Church of the Nazarene and the doctrine of holiness is still very much the same.
Stay tuned for MUCH ADO about HOLINESS (The 2nd Key to Nazarene Unity – Part 2).
Grace & Peace,
Jason