Holiness?

[ChiRho]

Could those who are members within "Holiness" churches please define the term?

My mother belongs to the Church of the Nazarene. While she hesitates to hold strictly to the specific Nazarene doctrine, she is adamant about remaining in an "Holiness" church the rest of her natural life. Mind boggling was the fact that she couldnt even define what "Holiness" means. What separates "Holiness" bodies from other churches within Christendom and why?

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

 

[WesleyJohn]

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[ChiRho]

She is probably referring to churches based within the "American Holiness Movement." See here: http://mb-soft.com/believe/text/holiness.htm.

Integral to the American Holiness Movement was the renewal of the doctrine of Entire Sanctification as taught by John Wesley.

(Some other churches: Advent Christian, Salvation Army, e.g.; sometimes consider themselves "Holiness Churches" as well.)

Grace and Peace,

WJ

Wesley John,

Thanks for the response. Your link was very informative, but I still have questions. Is the "Christian perfection" or "Entire Sanctification" described in the linked article above, consistent with the expressed view of the "holiness" churches today or has it evolved or changed in anyway? If it remains as it was, then I have another question. In the below paragraph taken from the article, I am having trouble understanding sin as it is described...unintentional sin? Is this similiar to the Roman Catholic attempt to separate sins into catagories,- mortal and venial? If I understand this correctly, the "Holiness" church declares "a thousand defects arising from ignorance, infirmities, and other creaturely limitations" types of sin that God sort of winks at, or sins that bear no penalty. How does one ever know which sins are condemnable and which can be dismissed as no-fault violations?

"It is a process of loving the Lord God with all one's heart, soul, and mind, and it results in the ability to live without conscious or deliberate sin."

The above statement may need some explaining, for I can imagine no mortal creature pure enough to be free of sin. In light of many passages from Holy Scripture...1 John 1, Romans 3, etc. this appears to be unScriptural. For if they were without sin, of what use is Christ and His accomplishments and sacrifice? As I am sure I am misunderstanding this position, I beg you to shed some light upon my dark misunderstanding.

"In the first, conversion or justification, one is freed from the sins he has committed. In the second, entire sanctification or full salvation, one is liberated from the flaw in his moral nature that causes him to sin. Man is capable of this perfection even though he dwells in a corruptible body marked by a thousand defects arising from ignorance, infirmities, and other creaturely limitations. It is a process of loving the Lord God with all one's heart, soul, and mind, and it results in the ability to live without conscious or deliberate sin. However, to achieve and then remain in this blessed state requires intense, sustained effort, and one's life must be marked by constant self renunciation, careful observance of the divine ordinances, a humble, steadfast reliance on God's forgiving grace in the atonement, the intention to look for God's glory in all things, and an increasing exercise of the love which itself fulfills the whole law and is the end of the commandments."

I am not intending to debate your faith, but to try and understand it. No offense is intended...clear understanding is the lone motive.

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

 

[kel32]

For if they were without sin, of what use is Christ and His accomplishments and sacrifice? As I am sure I am misunderstanding this position, I beg you to shed some light upon my dark misunderstanding.

Although I am not a Methodist, I love Wesley's sermons and writings.

Others may be able to give you more detailed answers to your questions, but i'd like to shed light on your comment above.

The reason you are 'misunderstanding' is because you are under the impression that 'to stop sinning' makes the work of Christ unnecessary. What you fail to see is that one has the means to stop sinning because of Christ.

To say that one could stop sinning by their own power is obviously contrary to the entire message of God. To say that one could stop sinning through the power of God is an absolute truth that cannot be denied.

I hope this helped shed some light...

~peace~

 

[ChiRho]

Although I am not a Methodist, I love Wesley's sermons and writings.

Others may be able to give you more detailed answers to your questions, but i'd like to shed light on your comment above.

The reason you are 'misunderstanding' is because you are under the impression that 'to stop sinning' makes the work of Christ unnecessary. What you fail to see is that one has the means to stop sinning because of Christ.

To say that one could stop sinning by their own power is obviously contrary to the entire message of God. To say that one could stop sinning through the power of God is an absolute truth that cannot be denied.

I hope this helped shed some light...

~peace~

Do you sin?

Are you a Christian?

Pax Christi,

ChiRho