A Highway...and a Way

In the dramatic changes which have taken place in my own beloved denomination in the past ten or fifteen years very little, if anything, has been left unchallenged, if not unchanged. Growing up in the Church of the Nazarene in Michigan and Ohio was, for me at least, an exercise in responding to the challenge of being sanctified wholly.

I understood from an early age that being sanctified wholly meant that the carnal nature was eradicated, and so sanctified people never got (carnally) angry, and never (really) envied, or evidenced (carnal) pride by wearing jewelry, or make-up (except maybe for face powder to take off the shine), although men could wear flashy sport coats.

I also understood that church came ahead of everything else, so we went to Wednesday prayer meeting even though the Lone Ranger was on the radio at 7:30 Wednesdays.

So what do I believe today? It might take a book to help me understand myself. My head is in a whirl as I hear music in church that would have sent my musician parents running for the exit. I don’t see any difference in the way Nazarenes look, now, from any other group. Those things I can deal with, sort of. I know and love the worshipers singing those repetitive choruses. But one thing I believe to the core of my being: there is truth at the heart of the call to holiness. There is a second definite crisis to which believers in Christ are challenged to all-out consecration. There is a sanctifying grace not only available, but absolutely vital to genuine growth in grace and fellowship with God in Christ.

...more to come