Author: Wick

So over the past, well….20 years that these prospects have been running for president, it’s been interesting. Interesting to see people who have switched opinions, and to hear why. But I’m glad I can hear why in those cases at least. I don’t care if you’re gonna vote for McCain because of his favorite chicken souffle’ recipe, or for Obama because he kicks butt at hide and seek. I’m just thankful for those who are willing to at least talk about it all.

It seems to be a “taboo” subject, especially at/around church stuff. Which I guess makes sense to an extent. We’re not legally allowed to support one candidate over another. Although I’ve wondered if you even state both of the Dem/Rep. candidates names, are you favoring them over the Green/Libertarian parties? Or do they not count yet….until either of them gets a 5% vote to be on the ballot next time?

The answer I’m not a big fan of is, “I’m just not voting this year.” Although maybe there’s an incredibly relevant reason (you’re not 18) that’s out there I haven’t heard yet. For the most part, I believe we are all each called to place our vote. As responsible citizens, who are participating in the world around them, etc.

But my logic probably takes this too far. We’re called, as Christians, to be participatory in the world around us, and therefore Vote. And we each know that surely our duty is not to take the issue lightly, as I joked above. So that, each of us should have legitimate reasons to choose whatever candidate we are choosing. Neither candidate is a fool, having gained the support of their respective parties, and hundreds of thousands of voters. So you can be reasonably at peace that you have made a decent choice, whatever side you land on.

Understanding of “ALL things political” aside, and slander against either candidate being not necessary…shouldn’t it be possible, and even useful, for us to be talking about these things together?

I understand that some people will follow a spiritual leader (even a flip-flop wearing fool of a fallen one) over a cliff without much thought. Because of that, I probably won’t post who I’m voting for online. But for those who we’ve had great discussions with so far, and for those willing to bring it up over the next few months…..thanks. 🙂

Just stumbled on this interesting article. It’s a speech made before the entire “Christian Holiness Association” back in 1995. You’ll notice the title of the speech is “The Holiness Movement is Dead”. You can tell throughout the speech, that it is intended to be a bit inflammatory, to poke those in attendance from a doctrinal holiness to a movement once again.

Statements like:
“We have a holiness heritage. We have holiness denominations. We have holiness organizations. We have holiness doctrines. We even have holiness colleges, but we no longer have a holiness movement.”

He then gives 8 main reasons he believes the movement had died (remember, this was 1995). They are:
1. We wanted to be respectable. “we decided we didn’t want to be weird”

2. We have plunged into the evangelical mainstream.
“We built respectable churches on busy highways”

3. We failed to convince the younger generation.
“holiness is preached as an attractive accessory, not as an essential necessity”

4. We quit making holiness the main issue.
“Today’s trend is uplifting, cheery, help-for-Monday sermons, not holiness sermons”

5. We lost the lay people.
“(holiness conventions) have become fellowships of ministers on expense accounts, not a crowd of laymen with a personal passion for holiness”

6. We have over-reacted against the abuses of the past.
“legalistic and judgmental. So we became behavioral libertarians”

7. We adopted church-growth thinking without theological thinking.
“Many holiness pastors just switched movements…(to the church growth movement).”

8. We did not notice when the battle line moved.
“The doctrine at risk in many holiness churches is not entire sanctification but “transformational conversion”. Christ is “added on” to achieve a balanced life.“

At the bottom, he reponds almost 10 years later (2004) to his own speech, adding some more points and explanations that enrich what he’s saying here.

I think this can all be very important, especially as a member/pastor of a denomination that is the product of AT LEAST 3 theological reforms. (Protestant Reformation, Method-ism, Free Methodism) We are not supposed to “fit well” with the world around us. There is something significantly different about the way we live, and the way God has called us to live in this world. And it means a lot more than wearing a tie.

I’d say “let’s do it this time, without starting a new denomination/sect”…but of Luther, Wesley, and Roberts….none of them wanted to either. But seriously…let’s at least try and do this together…

I’d say, let’s be in prayer together. Prayer for an entire Body of Christ. That we would, AS THE ENTIRE BODY, be putting on the “new self” talked about in Ephesians chapter 4. Not as opposition to this world and it’s ways, but as a declaration of the reign and rule of God which is present HERE AND NOW.

Not sure why I haven’t heard of this before finding it online. Maybe someone told me at some point, and I was just too distracted to know what they were talking about. I don’t pay enough attention sometimes. Ah well…glad to have stumbled on it.

Over the past 4 years, at least 10 denominations have been gathering together, studying/discussing/preaching/living/etc…this message of “Holiness”. They’ve compiled a lot of what has been talked about in a book called, “The Holiness Manifesto“.

This project includes discussions from: Free Methodist, Church of God (Cleveland & Anderson), Brethren in Christ, Nazarene, Wesleyan, Salvation Army, Evangelical, FourSquare, Shield of Faith, Christian Missionary Alliance (US & Canada).

Most noticeably, for my Nazarene friends: a chapter by Craig Keen
and for my Free Methodist friends: a chapter by Bishop Kendall, and Howard Snyder.

This next paragraph captures well, I think, why this topic could be very important to our churches that are beginning to realize “saving souls” is not, and can not be the “main focus” of a vital body of Christ. Why worrying about how many numbers of people have “asked Jesus into their hearts” this past year is not the best way to make sure our church is alive and contributing to the Kingdom.

From “The Holiness Manifesto” (the paper on the website, not the book):