Emergent Christianity and Holiness

I want to launch off a comment from my good friend Kimberly on that last post since it's a question I would expect from many in my tribe (the Church of the Nazarene). And since my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents would/did all call themselves Nazarenes...it causes me to approach this question respectfully and thoughtfully.

For those who may be joining this conversation from other traditions and streams of Christianity, I welcome your insights on holiness and hope for some great comments from you regarding the way in which sanctification is discussed in your traditions.

As most Nazarenes would understand and describe holiness...sanctification is a second experience of grace, following salvation (initial sanctification) at which point a person usually becomes aware of a continued tendency towards sin. Sanctification is often taught and preached as a point of full surrender in one's relationship with God. My assumption then, is that when Nazarenes look for the "holiness" component within emergent Christianity or some other tradition or Christian experience, they are looking for the urge towards a holy life as opposed to an approach that seems to tolerate certain kinds or amounts of sin. (Any Nazarenes feel free to add to or correction my perceptions here)

Here's a look at the article of faith which describes this experience from the Nazarene manual:

13. We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God, subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotement to God, and the holy obedience of love made perfect.

It is wrought by the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, empowering the believer for life and service.

Entire sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus, is wrought instantaneously by faith, preceded by entire consecration; and to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.

This experience is also known by various terms representing its different phases, such as "Christian perfection," "perfect love," "heart purity," "the baptism with the Holy Spirit," "the fullness of the blessing," and "Christian holiness."

14. We believe that there is a marked distinction between a pure heart and a mature character. The former is obtained in an instant, the result of entire sanctification; the latter is the result of growth in grace.

We believe that the grace of entire sanctification includes the impulse to grow in grace. However, this impulse must be consciously nurtured, and careful attention given to the requisites and processes of spiritual development and improvement in Christlikeness of character and personality. Without such purposeful endeavor one’s witness may be impaired and the grace itself frustrated and ultimately lost.

Scriptural support for this doctrine of sanctification usually come out of Acts 2:1-4; Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Thess 4:7-8 along with many others...especially anything like "be holy" or "be sanctified"

Now this is not to be confused with being sancti-FRIED...as in love, peace, and chicken grease. That's totally different!

Sorry for the brief moment of linguistic levity. Back to our discussion of holiness and emerging Christianity...where is it? Does holy living and the doctrine of sanctification find amicable space within this movement?

My initial reaction to this question is that you will find holiness to the extent that you find Christ in emergent Christianity. And for those not tapped in to the voices and conversations of emerging Christians should be aware that the trajectory is indeed towards Christ. And to be honest, I see a greater emphasis on Christ within Emerging Christianity than I've seen in thirty years of Nazarene camps, bible quizzing, NYC's, and Nazarene colleges. That's not meant so much as an insult to my tradition as it is an affirmation of the grace I see at work within Emergent expressions. To be fair, Nazarene campuses are probably where I see a good bit of hope within our denomination because that is where ideas are most abundant in our denomination along with the places where those engaged in ministry to students are present.

The great struggle for Nazarenes as they encounter emergent Christianity in its various forms is going to center around external factors, questionable behaviors, legalistic perspectives, and a basic absence of "holiness." One of the healthy things I observed among emergents while in Memphis was an unencumbered sense of authenticity. When people who are passionately in love with God are also passionately honest...creative...real...and humble...the Gospel is incarnated in a potent way.

I respect the tradition of holiness from which I have emerged.

And I admire anyone who pursues holiness of heart and life while being vulnerably genuine in the process. I believe that God does call us to live holy lives...set apart and empowered by the Holy Spirit. I also happen to believe that someone caught up in a lifestyle of consumerism grieves the heart of God as much as someone in a homosexual relationship. The Christian who wields their tongue like a dagger against others is in much more spiritual jeopardy than someone who wets it with Warsteiner. And the fact that we even try to measure sin and behaviors like this reveals our inadequacy to even speak about holiness in terms of anything other than what God does and who God is.

This is an important conversation for sure...and would welcome anymore "Naz-mergents" out there to wade into the frigid waters.