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So there it is. A review of each chapter within the book “The Holiness Manifesto“.

Introduction: A Guiding Vision for the Future (link is to my initial finding the book)

The Context: Past and Present

The Holiness Manifesto (link is to the original manifesto)

Fresh Eyes on Holiness: Living Out the Holiness Manifesto (link is to response to original manifesto)

1. Goodness and Worship: A Perspective on Old Testament Holiness

2. Holiness in New Testament Perspective

3. Jesus and a Gospel of Holiness and (Part Two)

4. Integrated Streams of Holiness: Christian Holiness and Unity, Ancient and Future

5. The Social Vision of the Wesleyan Holiness Movement

6. Holiness: Sins Anticipated Cure

7. Holiness and the 5 Calls of God: Holiness in Postmodernity

8. Transformed by Grace: The Beauty of Personal Holiness

9. Social Holiness: Journey, Exposures, Encounters

10. Holiness in the City

11. Local Church Impact

12. Preaching as Charisma

The appendix that follows these contains 4 approaches to the definition of “Holiness” that can be useful when reading all of this, or in general.

Overall, I recommend the book. Perhaps not to be read straight through, but whenever you’re hungry/in need of a reminder of this concept that is so wrapped up in our creation and new creation; yet so often misunderstood and sold short. May we continue to be a people created Holy, called Holy, and called to become Holy…in the name of Jesus.

Chapter 12 of “The Holiness Manifesto” is called “Preaching as Charisma”, written by James Earl Massey. Massey is a long-time preacher/teacher, and Dean Emeritus from Anderson University School of Theology.

Massey begins with rescuing the word “Charisma” from any of it’s more recent secular uses. It is not simply someone’s ability to draw a crowd, or enjoin a small group of fans/followers. It has very little to do with our ability to entertain or illustrate well with words. It is a gift from God. He quotes Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s statement, “a sermon is only relevant when God is there. He is the One who makes its message concrete.”

A seemingly specific message, although still quite important to those of us called/involved in the realm of preaching. But I believe he could (and may have elsewhere) expanded his message to anyone who desires to speak God’s word into the lives of others…verbally and in action. What we do and say is nothing on its own merit. Mere “good things” to do and say. We believe, and pray for the Spirit of God to do something beyond the natural….to bring value only possible in the name of Jesus, and the power to heal and transform.

A proper warning to anyone…whether preacher, pastor, leader, or simply someone who speaks the Truth of Jesus Christ to others. Any follower of Jesus Christ will be gifted in the area of Love and Hope-bringing to others…for it is the nature of the Spirit within us. That may attract the attention of the lives around us. We may sometimes be tempted to speak or write on our eloquence alone. Eloquence may even attract followers. But it is only when God’s blessing, God’s divine claiming occurs on our lives, words, and ministries….that these become so much more. We are warned that when this happens…even without our purposeful action, others may look to us. Humility and a proper concept of self will be great tools in those moments, as we are called to let go of any credit that is due Him.

Masseys’ is a message of Divine Duty, and the significance of a message praught from the Spirit of God. The large-ness, and importance of it cannot be promoted enough. But at the same time, the humility required of anyone involved in a ministry which finds its’ effectiveness completely in the “other”. May God continue to lead us into both…

Chapter 11 of “The Holiness Manifesto” is called “Local Church Impact”, written by Jim Adams & C. Stevens Schell. Adams is the executive director for the Center for Global Learning and Engagement at Azusa Pacific University, and is connected to the Foursquare Church. Schell also serves the Foursquare Church, and is pastor at Northwest Foursquare Church in Washington.

Despite several points in this chapter where they talk about “postmodernism” as if someone just discovered it, and putting it in the same category as “paganism of ancient Rome, superstition/lack of biblical literacy among the laypeople of the Middle Ages, and the sexual revolution of the 20th century” in terms of a challenge the local church must face…it pans out to be a pretty good read.

They encourage us learning 5 things from John Wesley’s ministry that can be helpful to our ministry no matter what cultural changes occur:

1. Promoting Spirit-empowered prayer (and releasing/creating space & time for those we lead into such.)

2. Working effectively WITHIN the established church. Illustrating how Wesley’s desire was for revival and transformation of the already existing body of Christ he was a part of.

3. Encouraging small group ministry – not to “grow the church”, but to bring health and opportunity for maturity and faith-depths not possible by the usual large-group gatherings alone. They point to LTG’s and Neil Cole as a healthy example. (ps. I REALLY like this LTG concept…and may be leaning in this direction in my own small group interactions.)

4. Living out a “deeply felt and actively expressed” faith. An area that can definitely go un-discussed in many church-attenders homes these days. That a healthy church can only come when it’s people experience meaningful and growing spiritual lives.

5. Recognizing Holiness as a Requisite to the Christian Life. A recurring theme throughout this book. That holiness is more than just a “pie in the sky”, and definitely not reserved for only the purest of elders. But IS actually a living aspect of this whole “God at work in my life and heart” thing we call salvation.

Overall, it’s a great reminder that this “call to holiness is a call to change in the church.” I can definitely get down with that…