Last month the Wesleyan Holiness Study Project, a consortium of leaders from ten holiness denominations (including the Church of God) released a "Holiness Manifesto" as part of a goal to articulate "a contemporary statement of holiness for the future mission of the Church".
I encourage you to read the Manifesto, further blog reflections at CHOG Migration, and an article at Christianity Today.
There is no need for me to summarize the key points, but I want to make a few observations and comments:
1. I am encouraged to see our participation in this project. Not only do we have something to contribute, but also much to learn from others.
2. The Manifesto is one of the finest statements of holiness that I have read. While it may not satisfy those looking for an exhaustive doctrinal treatise, the Manifesto affirms holiness and states it in a fresh manner that is relevant for our time and the issues we face.
3. There is deliberate effort to correct the abuses and misconceptions often associated with holiness. For example: "Holy people are not legalistic or judgmental. The do not pursue an exclusive, private state of being better than others. Holiness is not flawlessness but the fulfillment of God's intention for us."
4. Most impressive for me is the link of holiness with mission and even the stewardship of creation. This truly takes holiness beyond its individualistic and moralistic excesses, and places it in the proper context of Jesus' message.
5. As significant as this Manifesto is, how will this impact our broader constituency within the Church of God? If this is just another lofty statement created by theologians and administrators it will die a death along with many other ideals. I would hope that it would provide a springboard for discussion within our own movement, especially at the level of local congregations. Are we prepared to enter into a new dialogue concerning holiness and its meaning for our world, or we will be content to simply regurgitate previously stated abstractions?
2 comments:
how do you suggest that we help this "live"?
Randy,
I'd love to say that I had a simple answer, but I don't. Ultimately it will happen when we start to talk about it. Not because of some top-down program, but when pastors engage in the conversation among themselves, and when we encourage it to take place within our congregations.
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