God is Doing a New Thing

The holiness movement has maybe never been better positioned than it is right now to be at the forefront of another great spiritual awakening in our culture. The time is now. The need is present. The message is available. And the power of God is promised!

I am encouraged as I observe some changes taking place and some I believe are coming!

1. Ministry to teenagers is beginning to move from entertainment and codling to evangelism and equipping for ministry. What was meant to be a bridge to adult hood had become a dead end street for spiritual maturity and selflessness. There was a time when it seemed that many ministry leaders were more interested in entertaining teenagers than they were challenging them to deny themselves and take up their cross. We do not need more self-centered people in the church; we need an army to rise up! I believe we are beginning to see that as we call our young people to full surrender.

2. For a long time we have adopted an institutional mindset. The church has been viewed as an institution to be protected rather than a Spirit filled means to fulfill the Great Commission. Institutional mindset leads to decisions that will neglect the mission if it risks institutional preservation. "Don't rock the boat." But a missions mindset recognizes that the body of Christ is cared for by the Christ Himself and that we have a purpose that we must be about fulfilling. When church boards and leaders are preoccupied with the existence of their church rather than accomplishing the Great Commission, even our institutional survival is at stake.

3. For a while there have been those who looked to the mainstream denominations (who had compromised truth) as our example. Some holiness churches looked to the United Methodist Church (UMC) as our older sibling. Some still foolishly covet the UMC through their denial of basic biblical truth and vindictiveness toward the Global Methodist Church (GMC), who sought to be faithful to Jesus. Biblical fidelity is surging right now. The promises of "progressive Christianity" are false and empty. People are hungry for the unedited truth. The want the unabridged Gospel. They do not want the sugar-coated falsehoods of the serpent any longer.

4. Faithful followers of Jesus who embrace the truth of the Gospel are starting to experience methodological freedom. Embracing a method that will help communicate the Gospel and reach the lost is a challenge for every generation. John Wesley struggled, at first, with preaching outside of a church building. Some have struggled with using television or social medias or the internet to help aid in the work of the Great Commission. I am thankful for a rising tide of individuals fully committed to the message of holiness who are creatively and faithfully seeking methods to fulfill the call of God.

5. Preaching and teaching on entire sanctification in the holiness movement has had a low point of vague generalities. Lack of clarity on the work and experience of entire sanctification has been a hindrance to many seekers. Often holiness has been preached as just going through life as a serious Christian or an ongoing growth/maturity. Entire Sanctification is not about maturity but purity. Many conflate the process (maturity) with definitive moment of the Holy Spirit's work (purity). A call for people to receive by faith the entirely sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in a moment need not diminish or be replaced by the ongoing dynamic in the life of every believer best described as maturity as we grow in the grace of God. Dying out to self and full surrender are calls required of those who are in need of a heart cleansing. 

6. Applicable holiness is beginning to be preached again. Due to the perceived error of previous generations who emphasized lifestyle issues (outward) over the inward cleansing and perfect love wrought by the baptism with the Holy Spirit, there has been a recent neglect to address issues of personal holiness in our pulpits. Fear of being labeled as a legalist has caused too many to abandon attempts to describe the holy life practically. I am hearing about and praying for more people to bless their brothers and sisters by preaching and teaching a practical holiness that will lead to restored relationships, biblical sexual ethics, Christian stewardship, holiness ministry, and people living with a sense of conviction about how the Spirit is leading them to live.

7. There is a move to be more spiritually minded. By that, I simply mean that many people are starting to think about things in terms of the will of God, the moral implications of actions, and being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Being conscientious and discerning of the Holy Spirit's work is much needed in the church today! Praise God there is a transition by some to reject dry dead forms that do not necessitate the presence of God in favor of a vibrant and empowering move of God.

A year or so ago, I was at a Captain D's restaurant having lunch with a ministry intern in our church. AS we ate an employee of the restaurant sat nearby (in a virtually empty dining area) and yelled across the room to other employees still working the checkout, kitchen, and cash register. Giving up on my own conversation, I started to engage her in conversation.

She told me that she rejected marriage as she has had much frustration with previous relationships. "I want someone who will be with me for life. Who will commit to me for all their life and be faithful no matter what."

I quickly responded with: "I agree that this is what a relationship should be! And the Bible outlines this and calls it marriage. You're not against marriage that God defined in the Bible, you're against what the world has twisted and called marriage."

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

There will certainly be those who reject the truth found in the Bible and the way of living that the Bible describes as holy. But there are many more people who are desperately hungry for someone to graciously and clearly share to them what God says about everyday life in fellowship with Him. May we not disappoint another person be neglecting these great truths.

God is doing a new thing in our hour! 





Also check out these other articles:

I Am Against the Horseless Carriage

How to Obtain the Blessing of Entire Sanctification

Why Counterfeit Christianity Will Fail

Why I Am a Holiness Preacher