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6-1-1989 Preacher's Magazine Volume 64 Number 04 Wesley Tracy (Editor) Olivet Nazarene University

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Recommended Citation Tracy, Wesley (Editor), "Preacher's Magazine Volume 64 Number 04" (1989). Preacher's Magazine. 614. https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_pm/614

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Advice is seldom wel­ come; and those who need it the most always like it the least.'

—Lord Chesterfield, Letters, Jan. 29, 1748

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R Q C K E R ...... THE EXPLANATION

When I was a kid, we had a dog named Daniel around our as you know. So, as a fellow pastor, I went to talk to Smerdley place. And until last Wednesday, I had always believed that we about the matter. And that is where I began to learn about this should have lived in constant fear of Danny’s being dog- force, or whatever, called NOTHING or NOONEIN­ napped— either by breeders, philosophers, theologians, or PARTICULAR. (I capitalize simply because I do not care to the editorial staff of Encyclopaedia Britannica. You see, in antagonize anyone or anything with this sort of power.) “Ah,” common terms, Danny was THE EXPLANATION. In fancy lan­ said Smerdley, avuncular and “deeply concerned,” which put guage, he was the ultimate Deus ex machina. me on full alert. “Really, the issue was partly economic and Was there paper or other stuff scattered about the floor? partly personal, but we dare not say that publicly lest it panic Danny did it! Had a piece of pie or cake turned up missing in the folks and embarrass Lycurgus. ‘Better lie than die,’ I say— the middle of the morning? Danny ate it! Morning mail mis­ but not to the folks, of course. They would probably mis­ laid? Danny took it! Radio or TV left going full blast? Danny! understand. ‘Keep it positive,’ I always say. Curggie’s a prob­ Flower vase knocked off the piano and broken? Danny! lem personality, you know. Too intense. Always finding and I tell you, that dog was sheer genius! Or so I thought until eliminating dirt somewhere. Needs to lighten up. But be that last Wednesday. Then I learned that Danny was mere con- as it may, you should know that I really am not personally dog. He had duped us. He was a genius only at getting us to responsible for Curggie’s release, though of course, I had to believe that he had been responsible for stuff that really do the dirty work. I got considerable pressure from the Mops should have been chalked up to the account of “NOTHING” and Slops Committee of the official board. Hey! Your wife’s or “NOONEINPARTICULAR.” uncle is the chairman of Mops and Slops; why don’t you talk It astounds me that I had not learned about this “NOTH­ to him? In fact, all I heard were generalities. So find out what ING” or “NOONEINPARTICULAR" business before, and I you can and get back to me, if you will.” apologize for bothering you with it, for you probably figured it A bit more conversation ensued, then I had to go. So as I out long ago. In fact, you may even have written a college headed for the door, I said, “I guess we should say that no one term paper on it, so far ahead of me are you. But at least let thing nor any one person in particular is really responsible for me tell you how it dawned on me that there is an active, ag­ Curggie’s ‘retirement.’” gressive, maybe even intelligent force in the universe called “Right!” said Smerdley, happy with my quick intellect. NOTHING or NOONEINPARTICULAR and that it seems to be “Nothing nor anyone in particular.” the real source of a lot of problems, even in the Church! Well, I was now in too deep to get out. So off I went to Well, last Wednesday, unbeknown to each other, Curggie Uncle Mops and Slops. Cautiously, I ventured, “I see that Smith and I read the same notice in Sixth Scents, the Sixth Sixth Church is releasing Curggie.” Church newsletter: “Recent efforts of the Sixth family to keep “Ah,” said Uncle-in-law, “really the issue is partly economic our building and grounds clean have so far succeeded that we and partly institutional, but we dare not say that publicly lest have had to terminate the employment of Lycurgus ‘Curggie’ it panic the folks and embarrass both the past and present Smith, effective with the end of Pastor’s birthday pageant re­ pastors. ‘Better a little lie in loving service of the truth than hearsals in August.” This was the first that Curggie had truth that only hurts,’ I say— but not to the folks, of course. known of his disemployment. They would only misunderstand. ‘Keep it positive,’ I always Curggie called me about it because he needed someone to say. We all love Curggie but not at the expense of losing Pas­ talk to and because his roots were in my congregation. (In tor Smerdley. Lots of janitors, not many pastors. Smerdley fact, his aged parents still attend when they need an extra 40 inherited some problems here and needed to be able to re­ winks.) My notes on the conversation quoted him: “Bng jntr solve them in his own way, so we gave him the authority to do not grtst job in wrld, but a way to srv chch for pst 10 yrs. Wnt so. We’re a bit embarrassed that Curggie got caught in it, but jb bck if pssbl. Cn I hip hm?” Well, I know Smerdley, his pastor, Continued on p. 57 IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURE ARTICLES

THE DEVOTIONAL LIFE 4 Monday Morning Devotions...... Reuben Welch ?

THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY 8 Failure Feelings in a Pastor...... Johnson Corners j 10 Streams in the Wasteland...... Ron Rodes

WORSHIP 12 Scripting the Drama of Worship...... Keith Schwanzi 17 Signs and Wonders: Wimber or Wesley...... Levi Keidel

EVANGELISM 18 Farmer’s Report...... M. V. Scutt

LEADERSHIP 20 Do You Really Want to Be a District Superintendent?

FINANCE 25 Stewardship of Health...... John C. Oster

CHURCH ADMINISTRATION 26 20 Questions to Ask Before You Build...... Ray and Sally Bowman with Eddy Hall

PREACHING 28 Lectionary Preaching...... David L. Vardaman 30 Preachers, Here’s What I Want from Your Sermons...... Eldred Johnston 31 Preachers, Don’t Strain Your I’s ...... Larry T. Allen

HOLINESS 32 Coming to Terms with the Doctrine of Entire Sanctification...... David D. Durey

THE MINISTER’S MATE 36 “If He Won’t, I Won’t!” ...... Cledah Scutt * a WESLEYANA 38 John Wesley and “The Present Scarcity of Provisions” ...... Bob Black

THEOLOGY 40 A Wesleyan Theology of Salvation and Social Liberation...... Timothy L. Smith 42 Holiness, Righteousness, and Justice...... Richard J. Stellway WOMEN IN MINISTRY 45 Whatever Happened to Our Women Preachers? David Ackerman

CHURCH GROWTH 48 Natural Church Growth...... Louie E. Bustle 50 We Planted Our Church at a Garage Sale...... David Wesley

MISSIOLOGY 53 The Biblical Basis for Christian Confrontation with the Demonic...... Terry Read

REGULAR FEATURES * Suitable for Framing...... IFC Sermon Outlines...... 60 The Ark Rocker...... 1 Today’s Books for Today’s Preacher...... 62 Preacher’s Exchange...... 39 Editorial...... 64 Sermon Illustrations...... 58

r TMTa g a z i n e Proclaiming Christian Holiness

Volume 64, Number 4 JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 1989

Wesley Tracy Contributing Editors Robert Kline Editor Eugene L. Stowe General Superintendent William M. Greathouse Churches of Christ in Mark D. Marvin Jerald D. Johnson Christian Union Assistant Editor John A. Knight Raymond W. Hurn R. Donald Shafer Consulting Editors General Superintendents General Conference Church of the Nazarene Secretary Bill Sullivan Brethren in Christ Director of the Division of O. D. Emery Church Church Growth Earle L. Wilson Church of the Nazarene Lee Haines Harry C. Wilson Cover Photo: Wesley Tracy Wilbur Brannon General Superintendents The Wesleyan Church Director of Pastoral Ministries Jack C. Rea Authors should address all articles Church of the Nazarene Maurice Roberts and correspondence to Editor, Robert Hess Preacher’s Magazine, 6401 The Pa- 1 Howard E. Harmon seo, Kansas City, MO 64131. Self- Wayne E. Caldwell Superintendents addressed, stamped envelopes General Editor Evangelical should accompany all manuscripts. The Wesleyan Church Friends Church

! PREACHER'S MAGAZINE (ISSN 0162-3982) is published quarterly by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 2923 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO 64109. Editorial offices at 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. Address all correspondence concerning subscriptions to your denominational publishing house. Copyright 1989 by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to the Preacher's Magazine, P.O. Box 419527, Kansas City, MO 64141. Subscription I price: $3.50 per year. Second-class postage paid in Kansas City, Mo. Litho in U.S.A. MONDAY For Monday, June 5 For Monday June 12 YOUR CONCERN FOR ME NOT THANKS, BUT REJOICING MORNING I rejoice in the Lord greatly that I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your now at length you have revived your concern for me; you were indeed concern for me; you were indeed DEVOTIONS concerned for me, but you had no concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I complain of opportunity. Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content (Phil. state I am, to be content (Phil. 4:10-11, RSV). 4:10-11, RSV). A long time ago my brother-in-law, Paul had received a care package Milton Poole, said to me, “If you from the Philippians. Why didn’t he want to stay in a church and be say, “Thank you very much, I really happy for any length of time, always appreciate it”? Nowhere in this letter impute the best motives to the ac­ of gratitude does he say, “Thank tions of your people.” I think Paul did you.” Instead, he rejoices in the Lord that with the Philippians. Whatever that their care for him has flourished. had delayed or interrupted their care I wonder if it was because he was for him, he was careful to put the sensitive to the complexities of giv­ very best light on it. ing and receiving gifts. (Paul Tour- Paul and the Philippians had a lov­ nier writes about this in his book ing, affirming partnership in the gos­ The Meaning of Gifts.) Don’t you pel that was deeper and more bind­ wish there were some dependable by Reuben Welch ing than normal pastor-people rules to guide us through our inevita­ Associate Professor o f Religion relationships. And though there ble experiences of giving and re­ Point Loma Nazarene College were times when he had to rebuke ceiving gifts? San Diego or correct them, he was careful to We give a lot to the people we see the best in them. Was it because serve, and they give a lot to us. he knew that even tight and loving Sometimes they give gifts with relationships are fragile and need strings attached. Accepting these tender treatment? gifts places us in their debt. Our I think so, and that is our medita­ freedom is diminished as our obli­ tion for this Monday. It is com­ gation to them is increased. What mencement season, and (for Naza- are we to do? renes) it is General Assembly time. It seems that Paul received their That means intensified activities, gifts as from the Lord and not just transitions, hopes, and expecta­ from the Philippians. Their giving tions, to say nothing of heightened was interpreted as an expression of stress! Our actions don’t always their love for Christ. For that, Paul measure up to our declarations of gave thanks and welcomed their love and concern. And even when gifts as from Christ. And so he was our love is real, things sometimes free. come up to delay or interrupt its an­ “O Christ, we want that freedom. ticipated expression. Make us know that You are the We understand that for ourselves. Giver of every gift. Save us from ] Today is a good day to understand it bondage to the givers who surround ' for others as well and deliberately us. May no earthly gift we receive ever impute the best motives to those compromise our total reliance on You Reuben Welch around us. or our total obedience to You.”

4 4 For Monday, June 19 know how to abound; in any and all We are drawn to these verses be­ circumstances I have learned the cause we, too, experience prisonlike LEARNING CONTENTMENT secret of facing plenty and hunger, limitations. We have homes and Not that I complain of want; for I abundance and want. I can do all families and churches and bodies have learned, in whatever state I am, things in him who strengthens me and bills. These and a hundred other to be content (Phil. 4:11, RSV). (Phil. 4:12-13, RSV). “givens” restrict our freedom and This verse is a wonder! Paul, in Twice in verses 11 and 12, Paul tether our mobility. How can it be prison, didn’t have anything. Yet his says, “ I have learned.” He has said, “I can do all things”? response to their gift of things he re­ learned a secret. Literally, he says, “I Well, we instinctively know that ally needed came not out of a sense have been initiated.” He has gone “all things” doesn’t really mean "all of want but out of contentment. through it and knows the ropes of things.” Let’s reflect on the “all “I have learned, in whatever state I both “plenty and hunger, abundance things” Paul meant. He tells us what am, to be content.” Well, my state’s and want.” they are: “I have learned . .. to be California. What’s yours? The real Morris Weigelt closes his letters content.” “I know how to be question is, what is our state in the with a beautiful phrase, “Resting in abased." “I know how to abound.” “I state we live in? We certainly are not the rhythms of His grace.” We want have learned the secret of facing as bad off as Paul was, but a lot of to believe that grace rhythms are up­ plenty.” “I have learned the secret of us are right now experiencing ward spirals of blessing. Paul knew facing ... hunger.” “[I have been ini­ enough troubles and sorrows and they were rhythms of “plenty and tiated into] abundance and want.” stressful situations to make us won­ hunger, abundance and want.” And Brothers and sisters, we have der if we aren’t in some sort of all the while, rhythms of grace. been seeking our sufficiency in the prison. And, like Paul, we need to It is hard for us to see our times of wrong directions and expressing learn to be content. What easy abasement, of hunger, and of want our strengths in the wrong places. words to write! as integral to the basic contentment We think doing all things means do­ We know that contentment is not of our lives in Christ. In spite of all ing all things— mostly in our own just a matter of deciding to be our sermons to the contrary, we in­ strength. For Paul it meant facing happy, but it comes from total de­ stinctively feel that humiliation, loss, the good and the bad, the hard and pendence upon Christ, the Source and emptiness are symptoms of dis­ the easy, the sorrows and the of our strength. But it is something tance from God and tokens of the joys—and learning contentment in we can learn. I wonder if we have absence of grace in our lives. Him who was his Strength. ever tried. This very week some will abound; Actually, I am wondering if anyone others will feel rejected and abased, will even read this meditation. Every­ humiliated and defeated. Some will For Monday, July 10 one, it seems, is getting off to Gen­ get what they want; others will get eral Conventions and Assembly. and feel they must respond to what THE SECRET OF STRENGTH they really do not want. We are not There’s no time to learn con­ I can do all things in him who exhorted to imitate the contentment tentment! But that is precisely what strengthens me (Phil. 4:13, RSV). of the Stoics, exercising passive in­ the Spirit would have us learn at this In Paul’s dependency he was in­ ner disengagement. I believe we are precise time in our journey. Wouldn’t dependent; in his inadequacy he urged to understand that all the it be awful to go to Assembly dis­ was adequate. It was because he rhythms of our lives—the whole content, wanting something, need­ was totally dependent upon Some­ ing to be in the right places and seen range of them—are rhythms of His one who is totally adequate! When grace. by the right people, hoping to get Paul said he could do all things, he that something we want, so that we was not talking about his own abili­ will be content? Wouldn’t it be won­ ties nor about his own personality or derful to find our contentment in For Monday, July 3 psychic energy. He was not talking Christ and in the simple, good things about himself at all, he was talking that He gives us for our lives? Then DECLARATION OF about “him who strengthens.” we go simply to praise God and INDEPENDENCE Our strength, then, is not a matter seek His guidance as we do the I know how to be abased, and I of personality type. We know Paul business of the church, free of our know how to abound; in any and all was a strong personality. In spite of compulsions and content in Him. circumstances I have learned the physical problems, he was a strong, “O Lord, don’t let this be the sum­ secret of facing plenty and hunger, dominant person. But that’s not the mer of our discontent. We let our abundance and want. I can do all point. Strong Christians are not the lives down on You. Teach us the things in him who strengthens me same as strong persons! I wonder, ‘great gain in godliness with con­ (Phil. 4:12-13, RSV). given our culture, if we can ever re­ tentment’ ” (1 Tim. 6:6, RSV). Strange that a man in prison with ally learn that Christians with strong neither clout nor resources should personalities are not necessarily say, “I can do all things.” Actually, he strong Christians. For Monday, June 26 couldn’t do anything at all; he was The dark side of our identification totally dependent. How can he make of strong Christians with Christians LEARNING THE SECRET this astonishing declaration of inde­ with strong personalities is that in I know how to be abased, and I pendence? our mental exhaustion, when our psychic energy is drained and we ness: it is self-dependency. I believe I am concluding that a strong are feeling depressed, we think we God’s word to us is this: Bring your Christian, whether young or old, must be weak Christians—and add strengths to Jesus, give them up to strong or weak, is one who has false guilt to our depression! Him. He can do wonderful things learned to lean harder, quicker! We I think the Spirit would have us lis­ with strong people who are totally can indeed “do all things in him who ten to Paul and learn that our dependent upon Him. Bring your strengthens” us. Well, we can’t— but strength is in dependency on Jesus weakness to Jesus, give it up to He can! and not in our mental state nor emo­ Him. He can do wonderful things tional well-being nor our hyped-up with weak people who are totally de­ positive attitude. If Jesus is our pendent upon Him! For Monday, July 31 Strength, He is our Strength when we are strong. If He is our Source of THE FRUIT OF GIVING adequacy, He is our Source when For Monday, July 24 Not that I seek the gift; but I seek we are wrung out and depressed. the fruit which increases to your Living in the prisons of our own hu­ ALL THE WAY ALONG credit. I have received full payment, manity, then, we can yet say with I can do all things in him who and more; I am filled, having re­ hope and with joy, “ I can do all strengthens me (Phil. 4:13, RSV). ceived from Epaphroditus the gifts things in him who strengthens me.” These July days, when we are you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacri­ wishing we were stronger and had fice acceptable and pleasing to God more time to do our summertime (Phil 4:17-18, RSV). For Monday, July 17 chores, let’s think again about our It is amazing how the center of strength in Christ. gravity keeps moving away from OUR UNFAILING SOURCE We all know that our strength is in Paul to God and to these Philippi­ I can do all things in him who Him; it is awfully hard to accept the ans. He was in prison, but he was all strengthens me (Phil. 4:13, RSV). corollary that we ourselves do not right, able to say, “ In him who I saw this title on a shelf of a ever become strong. “All the way strengthens me I am able for any­ Christian bookstore: Developing along, it is Jesus.” I think we are thing" (Moffatt). Craddock writes Your Spiritual Muscles. Wait a most vulnerable when we assume that Paul was not pacing the floor of minute. I didn’t know we had such that having been Christians for a his cell, asking the guard every five things. Jesus is our Strength, and long time, we are strong. We think minutes whether the mail had come. because He is always our Strength, we have our lives in hand, and then The Philippians had sent gifts, and we ourselves do not ever become tragedy comes in the shape of di­ he was profoundly grateful. They strong. Spiritual strength is not anal­ vorce, or death, or loss of place. We had paid in full, and then some. ogous to physical strength. think we are in control, then tempta­ But Paul’s real gratitude was not We know how to get strong phys­ tions we never dreamed of almost for the gifts themselves. As we ically. We start easy, gradually in­ overwhelm us. would say, it wasn’t the money but creasing the weights and the sweat. These things cause us to have the gift—the giving that mattered. In No pain, no gain—but keep it up, feelings of anger or despair or fear fact, Paul interprets their gifts as a and we’ve got muscles. or guilt that we could never have an­ fragrant offering laid upon the altar, Is that the way it is with faith? Do ticipated. We wonder what is the “a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing we believe for little things and then matter with us—we were stronger to God” (v. 18). We talked in an ear­ gradually increase the size until we than that, we were more trusting lier devotion about the ambivalent can have faith to heal cancer? I think than that, we were more mature character of gifts. Paul received his not. Nor do we carry faith around than that! No, as a matter of fact, we in such a way that their gifts were with us like we carry muscle, waiting were not. Assuming our maturity not just gracious tokens to him, but for something to exercise it on. We and our strength, we were covertly were sweet-smelling offerings to don’t grow prayer like we grow mus­ depending upon ourselves and not God. cles. We don’t get strong by obeying trusting wholly in Christ. I wish we weren’t so secular and little and finally obeying big. I keep thinking of that line, “All the casual about our service and giving The trouble with thinking that we way along it is Jesus.” We say to to each other. We can do it with can get spiritually strong is that the new believers, “Trust in Jesus; de­ hardly a thought of God or any sacri­ center of gravity stays with our­ pend on Him. You can’t do it alone; ficial offering to Him. My prayer for selves and not with Jesus. And who don’t trust yourself; rely on Jesus.” us this Monday is that we will be of us could not testify, “The trouble What do we say to ourselves who able to see the deep and real inner began when I took my eyes off for long years have known Him? Do connection between our loving acts Jesus and got them on myself.” we need to trust not quite so much, of giving to each other and our lov­ Jesus is our Strength, He is always now that we are mature? Because ing worship of God. I pray we will re­ our Strength. we are strong Christians, do we ally believe what Jesus said: “As you It isn’t that it is not good to be need to flee to Jesus not quite so did it to one of the least of these my strong, in personality or in body. Our quickly and desperately for refuge in brethren, you did it to me” (Matt. problem is not strength—or weak­ temptation? 25:40, RSV). and probing one—and realize that I For Monday, August 7 We do not live there. We live in an don’t really know how to answer it. environment of our own making. We What were Paul’s needs in the live with books and study, prayer ALL YOUR NEEDS prison compound? Food and And my God will supply every clothes; I guess he had shelter. He and devotion. We live among good need of yours according to his needed love and friends and mean­ people and relate to them pretty riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. ing for his life. And he needed resto­ much on our own terms. This Mon­ 4:19, RSV). ration for his soul. The Philippians day is our day to both celebrate and Well, this is the classic “blank sent a friend with a care package, intercede for the saints who keep check” verse. Just fill in your needs; and Paul said that all his needs had the faith in the environment of Cae­ it is already signed by Jesus and been met. Does that mean spiritual sar’s household. They live in an at­ waiting to be cashed at the bank of as well as physical, for his soul as heaven. I have actually seen the well as his body? Since he refers to mosphere permeated with greed printed checks. Have you? the gift as a “sacrifice acceptable and saturated with lust. They work Most of us have had enough ex­ and pleasing to God” (v. 18), we’ve every day in earshot of foul talk. perience to know that the verse is got to say yes. We make our pastoral forays into not a universal proverb nor an un­ It is interesting— actually, it is this world in which they live, but we conditional promise for all comers. I awesome— how our spiritual as well don’t live there—they do. These think our problem is how to take the as our material needs can be met by saints in Caesar’s household don’t verse seriously without taking it so the loving gift of something as ordi­ belong to Caesar; they belong to mechanically and literally that we nary as food and clothes and money misuse it. given in love. Paul would say, “That’s God; and they greet us and pray for Out of their poverty, the Philippi­ what happened to me, and my God us and pay for our life-style and min­ ans had given gifts to Paul, and will supply all your needs, too.” istry. Let’s pray for them today, let’s through them God had supplied all The word that comes to mind is affirm them today, and love them to­ his needs. I believe the sense of “sacramental.” Physical acts meet day. They are “the household of Paul’s response is that the God who spiritual needs. Given service nour­ God” (Eph. 2:19). had used them to meet his needs ishes the soul of the served and would not fail to use others to meet server. Are we looking in the wrong theirs. direction for the meeting of our For Monday, August 28 That’s the heart of my own medi­ needs? Are we looking up to heaven tation for this August Monday. God in expectation instead of looking out THE GRACE OF OUR did not supply Paul’s needs directly; in love to the brothers and sisters LORD JESUS CHRIST the Philippians thought up the idea who give meaning and sustenance and did the legwork. We miss a sig­ to our lives? In them we find God The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ nificant point if we interpret the meeting our needs. be with your spirit (Phil. 4:23, RSV). verse to mean that God will act sov­ Philippians ends the way it ereignly and directly, as by some begins—with grace. “Grace to you miracle, to meet ours. God seldom For Monday, August 21 and peace from God our Father and works that way. Usually, He uses or­ the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:2, RSV). dinary people in ordinary caring SAINTS IN CAESAR’S We have thought together about a ways to meet our needs. That HOUSEHOLD lot of things from this book, some of means that He uses us to meet them encouraging, some of them other people’s needs and uses them probing and disturbing. Some have to meet ours. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household (Phil. called for gratitude and thanks­ How wonderful. Through our car­ giving; others have called us to con­ ing for each other, God is supplying 4:22, RSV). fession and repentance. And it is all all our needs! Caesar and his palace stand for the power and the vainglory of this of grace! Grace that comes to us in world. They epitomize the egotism, God’s gift of Jesus. For Monday, August 14 the greed, the lust, and the hypoc­ What comes to your mind with the risy of depraved human society. Ev­ word “grace”? It is a word that goes ALL YOUR NEEDS? eryone in the palace had a hidden with mercy. I have read that mercy agenda; everyone was on the make, means that you don’t get what you And my God will supply every deserve. And what we don’t deserve paying whatever price was neces­ need of yours according to his is the free, unmerited, unearned, un­ sary to keep in vogue and in favor. riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. deserved love and kindness of God 4:19, RSV). No, not everyone. There were in Jesus. But we get it—and that is In the presence of this inspired saints there, friends of Paul and of grace. verse, think about the question, the Philippians, whose values were Another word that goes with “What are my needs?” Not just a not defined by the politics of power grace is gift. The undeserved love few of them, not just the primary and whose goals were not seduced and kindness of God are given— not ones or the spiritual ones, but all of by the pleasures of the court. And worked for, not “worthed” for, but them. I find the question a serious their name is Laymen. Continued on p. 57 FAILURE FEELINGS IN A PASTOR by Johnson Corners

y wife and I finally arrived like mine. Yet the great report did not meeting blues. Most pastors and home from our annual state stop the hollow feelings that ap­ wives experience it, yet I have never assemblyM of the churches. Most of peared deep inside. I had to know heard it addressed in a public forum. the eight-hour ride had been in si­ where they came from if I was ever Most pastors become uncom­ lence. Something was wrong. The to be free from their torment. fortable when I bring up the subject. church I pastored had done well. My During my week of anguish I Most of them deny ever struggling report was outstanding. We should probed what was happening inside. with such feelings. have felt good. The feelings whispering inside my One day I grew weary of the has­ Instead, my wife and I both felt heart said, “Not good enough, not sles. I told the Lord I could go no like failures. What we had accom­ good enough!” I felt I had been further I was tired of living in failure plished was not enough. We had judged by my church and been and judgment with the ensuing de­ missed the mark. For days after­ found inadequate. I found that I was spair. I was developing a cynical atti­ ward that feeling sat in my stomach too ashamed to talk with anyone tude that only made matters worse. like a big, raw biscuit. Nothing I did about my failures. Any solutions In my prayers I reaffirmed that more would shake it. I was confused. I would have to come alone or with a than anything else I wanted to had thought a good report would few trusted friends. I had no access please Jesus and be used by Him to take care of my traditional after­ to a counselor, nor would I have build His kingdom on earth. I did not assembly blues. I was so sure it been brave enough to use him if I want to spend the rest of my minis­ would that I had worked long hours did. try and life feeling that judgment: throughout the year to be sure my At the end of the week the pres­ “Not good enough, not good report was good. I went to assembly sures of life took over, and the feel­ enough.” Gradually the Holy Spirit confident that there would be no ings were shelved like a disease in began teaching me the folly of my postassembly emptiness inside to remission, waiting to erupt once thinking. He used experience, ob­ fight. I was wrong. My good report more. servation, scriptures, and others to did nothing to stop the feelings of I was not long in waiting for the show me that I had been making the failure, worthlessness, and subtle next attack. In late winter my wife demands of the institution the voice despair. My long hours of extra ef­ and I rode with two other pastors of God. fort seemed to increase the empty, and their wives to preachers’ meet­ As a young pastor, I had thought l-have-failed feelings instead of pre­ ing. On the way home I had the post­ that by fulfilling the demands of the venting them. Their sudden appear­ preachers’ meeting blues (the only church, I was fulfilling the demands ance had shocked me because I had difference between it and the post- of the Kingdom. If the church said left home thinking this year would be annual-report blues is the time of that more numbers was a sign of different. year). I again felt my work had been growth of the Kingdom, then I had to Arriving back home with these pronounced not good enough. With have more numbers to be used by surprising inner pains, I was forced six in the car I could not ride in si­ God to build His kingdom. If the to quit looking outside myself and to lence the whole way. In a weak mo­ church said paying budgets was begin looking inside to find out their ment I confessed my failure to mea­ building the Kingdom, then I must cause. Up to then I had assumed the sure up. The response from the pay budgets. If the church said feelings were prompted by poor per­ others was like a tidal wave. What I sending in reports, getting sub­ formance on my part. I am not an felt was exactly what they were feel­ scriptions, passing out magazines, earthmover and thought these feel­ ing. We compared experiences for reading books, teaching certain ings were the price nonearthmovers two hours. We all felt the same, “not classes, or winning contests was had to pay. But for once, I was an good enough” feelings inside. Since building the Kingdom, then I must do earthmover. Any pastor would have then I have talked openly about all of them to be used by God to been pleased to have given a report postassembly and post-preachers’ build His kingdom. Without realizing it, I had placed the law of my church My postmeeting blues came serious problem. I pastor a church. as the standard to judge that part of when institution demands got Is it a Kingdom, or is it an institution? my life that could only be judged by scrambled with Holy Spirit de­ I assume it is an institution con­ the grace of God. mands. I could not reconcile my stantly trying to line itself up with the Paul had warned that no one was commitment to Christ with my fail­ Kingdom. The natural drift is toward ever freed by law. Law only pro­ ure. My anguish flowed from a deep the institution and away from the nounced guilt. In the law there is al­ Kingdom. Institutions have powerful ways one thing lacking. In my case, I They know something forces at play within them to protect usually fell short on a dozen things. and sustain them. The Kingdom is The law of the institution had be­ is wrong when I make one generation from extinction. The come for me the law of God. Church doughnuts part of the effort to keep the institution lined up leaders are prone to attach the au­ Great Commission. with the Kingdom never ceases. The thority of the kingdom of God to ev­ institution is a clay pot holding the erything from reporting weekly sta­ treasure of the Kingdom. It is a clay tistics to paying budgets. Even sense of failing God, when in reality pot that keeps cracking and letting promotional slogans use God- I was only failing the institution. Be­ the treasure seep out. language to give them clout. In my cause I could not separate the two, I Sometimes the seepage is great, early pastoral years I heard all offi­ could only conclude I had a serious and the church becomes more pot cial voices as the commands of spiritual problem. What shocked me than treasure. At those times it is God. It has only been recently that I most the good year was that the easier to understand the workings feeling of failure appeared even have realized that those voices are of the church as a franchise than as when I had done virtually everything the Kingdom. The demands sound not always Kingdom voices. The I had been told to do. more like “Thus saith the board” leaders do not always take time to Today I am better able to separate than “Thus saith the Lord.” sort out the two. Besides, God can the two. I have accepted the fact Viewing the church like a fran­ become a powerful ally to reach in­ that I will never rise to the full de­ chise may be crude and insensitive, stitutional goals. By keeping all mands of the institution. Its de­ but it allows the church to criticize things together on God’s side, there mands are unattainable— and they itself and work toward correcting is no need to face human weakness, never end. Each need calls out— the flaws in its alignment. The failure, and temptation. Who of us is demands— my absolute support. church leader who gets God on his going to argue with the Lord? Even if I do exceptionally well today, side in an argument shields himself Today I see two forces at work in my success has no merit tomorrow. from any criticism because no one my professional life: One is the de­ If I do extremely poorly, it carries no with any sense is about to take on mand of the institution; the other is demerit for tomorrow. Failure and God. The end result of a closed sys­ the demand of the Holy Spirit. success have value only one sea­ tem is an inept institution. An open Sometimes they are the same; more son. environment leads to a strong, effi­ often they are not. I and I alone can When I sense the institution using cient system. determine which is which for me. I my commitment to the leadership of As a leader I must ask myself if may or may not meet the demands the Holy Spirit to judge me “not the people who are part of the of the institution; but I must meet the good enough, not good enough,” I church I pastor are hearing a dough­ demands of the Holy Spirit at any picture myself as the manager of a nut salesman or a Kingdom speaker. cost. The institution demands doughnut franchise. Most of the in­ If I am selling doughnuts, I can only through intimidation; the Holy Spirit stitutional demands help me run a convince them a few times that sell­ through inspiration. The institution better shop. They are neither right ing doughnuts is Kingdom business. moves through emotions; the Holy nor wrong. They are just part of run­ They may not be able to explain it, Spirit moves through the heart. ning a business. I do my best to pay but they know something is wrong The institution’s demands are franchise fees (budgets), send in re­ when I make doughnuts a part of constantly changing. Its successes ports, and support all the other the Great Commission. are generally measured against oth­ shops in the chain. I am proud to be Nowadays I go to assembly to re­ ers in the race. After the moment of part of the chain, and I respect my port to the institution. I accept the accountability is over, the demands bosses. I know they have to see that judgment that is passed down. So and their successes are forgotten. the whole corporation survives. far, I have never left the meetings The demands of the Holy Spirit are Once in a while they do some really without feeling like the institution constant; they cannot be measured dumb things, but then, so do I. I needed just a little more from me against anyone else and can never work hard as the manager, and I than I gave it. But after about a be escaped. want to excel. I give it my best. week, the pressure is off. I have re­ The institution’s demands leave The demands of the Holy Spirit ceived many institutional honors. each person with his own devices to are different. They are my life, my They make me feel great, but after a achieve success, whereas the Holy breath, my all. I probably would not day, the euphoria wears off. Spirit’s demands are accompanied die for a doughnut shop, but I would Each day before I sleep I face my by personalized instructions, ade­ die to fulfill the demands of the Holy God. He reveals weaknesses, fail­ quate personal power, and physical Spirit. ures, and unchristlike ways. He also resources to succeed. This dichotomy of worlds has a whispers, “Well done.” $ STREAMS IN THE WASTELANI

Glimpse of Time A Pastor’s Personal Renewal by Ron Rodes Associate Pastor First Church o f the Nazarene Spokane, Wash.

hen it looked like my ministry verted into negative channels, drain­ the church. The problem was further W and my dreams for the local ing you emotionally and focusing on complicated by personality prob­ church I was pastoring were slipping your fears. lems, lack of communication, and away, one of the great promises The first five years of this pas­ misunderstanding. Attitudes hard­ God gave me was found in a remote torate were the greatest. Atten­ ened, and the liberty and unity once passage in Isaiah: dance had doubled, and people enjoyed began to vanish. “Forget the former things; were finding love, acceptance, and The conflict widened, infecting do not dwell on the past. forgiveness. I caught a glimpse of a others. Groups began polarizing, See, I am doing a new thing! church “coming alive,” and it was and the services began to feel the Now it springs up; do you not beautiful. negative impact. The sense of God’s perceive it? We broke ground for a new sanc­ presence diminished. The crowds I am making a way in the desert tuary, and we were soaring to new began to thin, and the people and streams in the wasteland” heights, we thought. The next three seemed listless and lifeless. I heard (43:18-19, NIV). years were to be different. Little did rumors of people leaving. The sanc­ I was certainly in the desert; but I realize the valley into which I was tuary was 60 percent finished. We like an oasis bubbling up out of no­ about to descend. had been in a building program for where, this promise was given to Then problems began mounting; four and a half years and gone me. It was mine and I knew it. It be­ the economy sagged, and the build­ through six building fund drives. came richer as the weeks and ing program bogged down. Con­ Doubts began to arise whether we months passed by and was fulfilled flicts and difficulties arose on every should ever have started the sanc­ in my own life and ministry. side until it seemed that all that had tuary. Satan was dancing on our “Forget the former things; do not started so well was going to col­ grave. dwell on the past.” If you don’t for­ lapse. The rapid growth and con­ I made several attempts to resolve get, you will dwell. That’s how you sequent change was threatening to the conflict by confrontation, but ev­ know you have a problem. You dwell some. Others had doubts and fears erything I did seemed to boo­ and brood, and your energy is di- concerning the future direction of merang. I decided something had to

10 be done about the undercurrent of ened with might by his Spirit in the How easy it is to sing, “Melt me, talk that seemed to center around inner man.” But no deliverance mold me, fill me, use me.” Yet when me. But I couldn’t seem to get a han­ seemed forthcoming. the Lord begins to answer that dle on it or do anything to stop it. One morning when I could not prayer, we cry, “Help! Deliver me!” “Forget the former things; pray, I decided to jog. About a quar­ It’s very uncomfortable when the do not dwell on the past.” ter mile down the road, the heavens Lord begins to “turn on the heat” How I needed that! My energies opened up, and the Spirit enabled and melt us. Tom Landry, coach of were diverted into destructive, nega­ me to pray. My prayer flowed like the Dallas Cowboys, said he had to tive channels or emotional, mental, water from a dam that had burst. make his players go through what and spiritual conflict. Fear and bond­ What a sight! Early in the morning, they didn’t want to go through in or­ age affected my preaching, my pas­ pitch dark, jogging down the road, I der for them to become what they toral work, and my approach to peo­ blubbered out my heart-wrenching wanted to become. ple. I could hardly drag myself to the prayer. How wonderful it was to re­ “I am doing a new thing! ... I am church. I prayed each week that the ally pray! I reminded the Lord that I making a way in the desert and Lord would see me through one was His child, and He did not die and streams in the wasteland.” more Sunday. A chicken ranch rise again that I might be defeated He is doing it in me in the midst of looked good to me. Anywhere but but that I might be free and victo­ my hurt. While I am out in the wilder­ here. My prayers did not get rious and Spirit-filled. I claimed it ness, having lost my way, thirsty for through. I was hedged in, and I over and over again and would not the spiritual waters I cannot find, He could barely function the last part of be denied. I confessed my need and is doing a new thing. He has His spir­ the three-year period. I could feel claimed cleansing, deliverance, and itual soul-moving machinery oper­ the death throes of my ministry and ating day and night, making a way sensed the cold breath of the death for me in the desert and digging out of my dream. I was weepy and on streams in the wilderness. the verge of exhaustion. Yet I had not perceived it! I had a I was certainly dwelling and Instead of walking problem of recognition. brooding over my problems. I was away broken and Several consequences of this obsessed. It took all of my attention bleeding, I came great infilling happened in this se­ and energy and was a very painful away victorious and quence during the following months: time. I approached people differently, But how does one forget the free. which in turn enabled them to re­ former things? The answer is to for­ spond positively toward me. give, though I hadn’t thought I was I had a growing sense of His abid­ harboring unforgiveness. But one ing presence, a new sense of vic­ who dwells on the past does not for­ a new, beautiful infilling of the Holy tory, and new appreciation for the get “the former things.” I remem­ Spirit. person of the Holy Spirit. bered perceived wrongs in great de­ By the time I had finished running, The church began growing, the tail, which signaled to me that I had the burden, fears, and bondage atmosphere changed, the altar calls collected some garbage along the were gone. I was totally free, filled were fruitful. way. I needed to forgive and be for­ with the Spirit. I had a new anoint­ After months of delay, construc­ given so that I could forget and get ing, a new freedom, a new sense of tion on the sanctuary began again, the past behind me. the abiding presence of the Holy and within six months we had our Did you know that Jesus was cru­ Spirit— and I had a new love for my first service—filled to capacity. It cified in a garbage dump? He was people. Nothing had changed, but was a moment of glory and victory. crucified “outside the gate,” where Eph. 3:16 had been fulfilled in me. A spiritual breakthrough occurred the refuse of the city was collected The congregation sensed it, and the on a regular Sunday morning that (Heb. 13:12, NASB). The Cross, services were transformed. Altar brought healing. It was an un­ then, was the place for me to bring services commenced; the people planned, one-day, in-depth revival, my accumulated garbage; my sin of rallied. Christ was magnified in my and the testimonies of victory con­ unforgiveness, my wounded and in­ heart. The freshness of the Spirit tinued on in the evening service. fected spirit. But I couldn’t seem to blew across my soul, and my spirit Nearly two years later, the Lord re­ lay hold of the grace I needed. was drawn to the Word. leased me and gave me a new as­ My custom was to jog several Then it dawned on me. “See I am signment. Instead of walking away times a week. As I jogged, I would doing a new thing! ... do you not broken and bleeding, I came away quote scripture and pray and claim perceive it?” It was as though the victorious and free. It only happened fulfillment of Eph. 3:16: “That he Lord was saying, “Are you catching when the pastor was revived, would grant you, according to the on? The things you think are break­ cleansed, and filled with the Holy riches of his glory, to be strength­ ing you are actually making you.” Spirit. $

11 7

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CREATIVE WORSHIP PLANNING by Keith Schwanz Associate Pastor, Oregon City, Oreg., Church of the Nazarene and Instructor in Music, Western Evangelical Seminary

ith the recent renewal of interest in worship, participates; no person feels excluded. W many discussions and articles refer to What does the script look like in this worship drama? Kierkegaard’s model: Worship is a drama. Some­ How does the worship leader plan for total, meaningful times worship leaders present a play for the involvement? congregation’s approval while hoping God This article presents four methods used by worship will prompt their words and actions. planners to script the drama of worship: Configuration, Deficient theology. Denigrating prac­ Content, Conversation, and Canon. Evangelical pastors tice. Legitimate corporate worship use all four methods, but the first three are the most occurs when worship leaders common. Detailed examples illustrate the fourth prompt the congregation to act method, which may provide new territory for the wor­ out their faith for God, who ship leader to explore. is the Audience. The goal of the wor­ CONFIGURATION ship leader, then, is to involve every The service always begins with a choral introit. Af­ worshiper in the ter a pastoral prayer of invocation, the congregation drama. The stands to sing a hymn of praise. Ushers receive the stage reaches offering, the choir sings their anthem, and Scripture is to every cor­ read. A solo or duet always precedes the sermon. ner of the The person planning this service uses a blueprint. The sanctuary. outline of worship seldom changes; only the content Everyone varies. Many worship leaders use this method because of its simplicity. Once the pattern is designed, a worship leader has only to plug new hymns and Scripture read­ ings and anthems into the appropriate slots. The pastor, after careful design work, knows every aspect of the corporate worship experience will receive adequate attention in every service. The church office secretary likes this method because it is quick to pre­ pare when a printing deadline approaches. The choir director uses whatever anthem the choir has ready. The congregation feels comfortable with the predictability of this type of service. Sometimes the congregation becomes too com­ fortable in this routine. The people of God stand to sing and kneel to pray out of habit. The moves become me­ chanical. Nuts and bolts have replaced flesh and blood. Elements of this service were selected because of their content. The worship planner chose a theme, then searched for ways to present the concepts involved. The elements of this service are like spotlights focused Allow your personal on the topic. As each light turns on, it illumines the experience and rela­ theme with clarity, bringing understanding to the wor­ tionship to God to shiper. The worship planner may choose a theme for any of a mold the structure of number of reasons. A Scripture passage or sermon worship. topic may spawn the direction for an entire service. Christmas and Easter services are often thematic. Con­ gregations that closely follow the liturgical year use this organizational method for many services. I attended a funeral where the pastor arranged the whole service The head switches into the automatic mode, resulting in around a subject important to the deceased (the Word a “heart bypass.” of God). Woe to the leader who pulls the plug on this worship I have heard music ministers responsible for worship machine by changing the service order! Fuses pop and planning lament the fact that they do not know the pas­ radiators boil over. Charges of desecrating the “sacred tor’s sermon topic until late in the week. They lack ade­ form” pummel the innovator. quate preparation time needed to plan a unified thematic Another caution flag waves when the worship service service. The content method may still be used. Begin built on a prefab configuration appears disjointed and with the most inflexible part of the service. In many awkward. The parts don’t fit together. The hymn does cases this is the choir anthem, which has been in prepa­ not relate to the choir anthem, which does not relate to ration for several weeks. Weave a service around the the Scripture reading, which does not relate to the text subject expressed in that anthem. Several related the­ of the sermon. matic packages may be used in the same service. Consider a jigsaw puzzle. Colors and lines flow from The content method of worship planning requires one puzzle piece to another as they are locked together. more from both worship leader and congregation than Likewise in worship, correlation heightens the under­ the configuration method. The congregation looks in­ standing and impact of worship activities. tently for nuances of the theme. Worshipers, in a sense, Leaders in congregations of nonliturgical traditions walk around the subject, viewing it from several angles. may exhale a sigh of relief at this point. “We’re Spirit-led. This requires thoughtful consideration of the theme for Our worship is spontaneous.” I know of a church that maximum benefit. provides a time in each service for simultaneous, individ­ Care must be taken to insure that the worship service ual expressions of praise. The whole congregation does not become mere academic exercise on a religious stands: one person prays while another person sings theme. True worship is more than cerebral stimulation. It while another person ... all at the same time. must challenge the congregation to respond obediently A visitor asked, “How do you know when it’s time to to God’s revelation. Leaders, in every service, strive to stop?” communicate God’s Word with clarity so that each per­ “Listen to the organist. When she plays this certain son knows God’s will, then challenge the hearers to act chord progression, we know that it’s time to sit down.” out a response in holy living. Even improvised services develop patterns just as a The worship planner can invest large amounts of en­ composer can be identified by recurring melodic ergy and creativity with the content organizational shapes, harmonic progressions, or rhythmic patterns. method. He may find it difficult to develop some themes. Repetitive structure can have value. Often, form pro­ Long-range planning helps assure a complete range of vides a stability that keeps chaos and insecurity locked subjects. out. The worship leader strives to keep worship vibrant Several resources make the worship planner’s job and fresh within the structure used to plan a worship easier. Scripture passage on a specific theme can be service so that the congregation may freely respond to located with the aid of a Bible concordance or Nave’s God. Topical Bible. A topical index helps identify appropriate hymns. Congregational songs may be selected with the CONTENT use of an index of Scripture references in hymns and a The heading in the bulletin identifies the theme for hymn concordance. (NOTE: The author has compiled the day. As the worshiper glances over the service both for the Worship in Song hymnal.) Scripture refer­ order, he sees everything relates to the subject stated ences are provided in many chorus books. Lillenas Pub­ in the headline. The congregation and choir sing lishing Company offers books for soloists and an index about it, the Scripture reading describes it, and the of choral octavos that groups songs according to topic sermon explores it. and lists Scripture references. Sparks of insight ignite a creative flame that requires subjective extreme. If the experience becomes bloated development and preparation, but the enhanced wor­ by the starvation of content, this hazard may bring harm ship experience makes the extra planning effort worth­ to corporate worship. The worship leader strives to bal­ while. ance objective and subjective elements in every service. Both are necessary. CONVERSATION The conversation method may require a significant Imagine a pastor visiting a home of a church member. time commitment, but the result is a worship experience They talk about issues facing the family. The conversa­ that feels spontaneous and natural even though care- j tion progresses naturally as the pastor reads a passage fully planned. of Scripture, then prays for the family. Every element of the visit relates to what precedes and follows it. The CANON dialogue moves smoothly from topic to topic. As the organist concludes the prelude, the worship The same conversational quality can be built into a leaders move to the platform. A pastor steps to the worship service. The Scripture reading begets a ser­ pulpit as the reverberation fades. He invites the con­ mon, the sermon prompts confession, confession ex­ gregation to turn to Phil. 4:8 and reads this verse out presses itself in prayer, victory in prayer leads to a loud. testimony, the testimony results in a corporate hymn He continues, “Sometimes we read God’s Word of praise. without putting what we find there into practice. For This type of service emphasizes the dynamic flow of example, Scripture gives us specific instruction con­ the worship experience. The plan for such a service may cerning what we think about. But when was the last be described as a worship crescendo as each action time you reserved your thoughts for only that which is grows out of the preceding event. true and pure and excellent? This morning we will be Often a worship planner will try to alternate between ‘doers of the word, and not hearers only’ (James God’s voice and man’s voice in the worship conversa­ 1:22). Let’s begin by considering things that are true.” j tion. We find this pattern in Isaiah 6: God reveals His This congregation experienced an order of worship holiness, Isaiah confesses his sinfulness and is prompted by Scripture. The order and content of a bibli­ cleansed; God calls for a holy messenger, Isaiah re­ cal passage directly determined the order and content sponds with eager readiness. This design illustrates of the worship service. Usual activities were used: con­ worship in its simplest form— man responding to God’s gregational songs, pastoral prayer, choir anthem, offer­ revelation of himself. ing. The sequence, however, resulted from a leader’s The worship leader also considers pace and balance interaction with Scripture. Worship becomes a Dramatic when organizing a conversational service. He wants the Paraphrase of God’s Word when a leader uses this movement to be quick and energetic at times, slow and method of worship planning. The entire worship service tender at other moments. Walt Disney discovered early becomes an exposition of a Scripture passage. that his most successful work elicited both laughter and Examples will help clarify the design of a Dramatic i tears. A worship service needs a similar balance. Paraphrase service. Three types are discussed in this The worship organizer must “converse” while plan­ article: Dramatic Reading, Dramatic Instruction, and ning a service. Imagine your congregation gathered for Dramatic Reenactment. worship. What might you do that would compel them to DRAMATIC READING: An entire worship service may join the celebration? What song will encourage an en­ be woven around an interpretive reading of a passage of counter with God? What Scripture passage will be Scripture or biblical story. One person may read alone, meaningful at this juncture of the spiritual journey? or several readers may assume specific roles. The script Better yet, actually worship as you plan a corporate pauses at several points to allow the worshipers the worship service. Allow your personal experience and privilege of responding to God’s Word. In these mo- : relationship with God to mold the structure of worship ments each person is encouraged to personalize eternal as you guide fellow, believers. Allow God to breathe life truth through song, prayer, testimony, or quiet medita­ into your corporate worship through your own revived tion. spirit. As you might guess, this process makes demands on THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT the leader not seen in the previous methods. It engages Matthew 5— 7 the leader’s identity as a believer. The order of worship A preacher may place the sermon at any place in this will probably change each week as form becomes sec­ service. Begin the homily after the reader has read the ondary to the dynamic considerations. The worship Scripture text to be expounded. planner must know the content and mood of all songs READER Matt. 5:1-12 sung by choir and soloist prior to arranging a service SONG: “Jesus, If Still the Same Thou Art” (WH 14) order. All participants must have at least a limited in­ READER: Matt. 5:13-16 volvement in the planning process. ' I One potential danger of this method is slipping to a SONG: “We Are the Light of the World” (STS 42)

14 READER: Matt. 5:17-37 II. The Prayers of God’s Humble People SONG: “Spirit of God, Descend" (WIS 267 or octavo PAAT- Sing “He Has Shown Thee, O Man” (Mic. 6:8). 1155) Four readers: Eph. 4:2; Isa. 66:2b; Ps. 25:9; 1 Pet. READER: Matt. 5:38-48 5:6. SONG: “The Servant Song” (EH 57) Sing “Humble Thyself in the Sight of the Lord” (James 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:6). READER: Matt. 6:1-11 Several prayers of confession. PRAYER: Pastor III. We Seek God READER: Matt. 6:12-15 Soloist sings “I Am Thine, O Lord,” “Nearer Still SONG: “Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive" (SSAS, page 198) Nearer,” or other song with similar theme. READER: Matt. 6:16-24 IV. We Turn to God OFFERING: Pastor Sermon: “If My People.” SONG: “Consider the Lilies" (STS 21) Prayer of consecration. READER: Matt. 6:25-34 The congregation will benefit by knowing the Scrip­ TESTIMONY: Victory over worry ture passage used to organize the service. A worship SONG: “Seek Ye First,” stanza 1 (EH 10) leader may read the whole passage at the beginning of READER: Matt. 7:1-8 a service. A scriptural phrase or verse may be read just SONG: “Seek Ye First,” stanza 2 (EH 10) prior to each worship activity. Consider using an over­ READER: Matt. 7:9-14 head projector to display the scripture during worship. Passages containing a list or progression of ideas SONG: “My Lord Is Leading Me On” (SSAS, page 200, or lend themselves to this type of treatment: Psalm octavo PAAT-1183) 95—Shouts, Silence, Submission; Matt. 5:3-12—The READER: Matt. 7:15-27 Beatitudes; Gal. 5:22-25— Spiritual Fruit; Heb. SONG: “The Solid Rock” (WIS 92) 10:19-25— Four Varieties of “Let Us”; James 5:13-16 NOTE: All songs used in this service are printed in — Happy Songs and Powerful Prayer; 2 Pet. 1:5-8— books from Lillenas Publishing Company: Exalt Him Spiritual Addition. (EH), PAMB-528; Scripture Solos for All Seasons DRAMATIC REENACTMENT: Worship leaders often (SSAS), PAMB-491; Scriptures to Sing (STS), PAMB- use this method during holiday seasons. The Christmas 439; Wesley Hymns (WH), PAMB-510; Worship in Song story is told in Scripture and song with costumed char­ (WIS), PAMB-287. acters. The seven last words of Christ provide or­ The use of several Bible translations may prove help­ ganization for a Good Friday service. The apostle Paul ful when writing the script. Any dynamic Bible narrative used this method in 1 Cor. 11:23-26 when he outlined can be developed in this manner: Biographies (Joseph, the Communion service. Moses, David, Elijah, Jesus, Peter, Paul); Events (Solo­ This type of dramatic paraphrase restates a biblical mon building the Temple [1 Kings 6—8; 2 Chronicles event in a contemporary setting. This is more than a play 2— 7], Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem [Nehemiah], on a stage. This reenactment reaches every person, The New Jerusalem [Revelation 21—22]). drawing them into the action. Since this method uses DRAMATIC INSTRUCTION: A young mother asked the greatest amount of resources, it requires the most her two-year-old to pick up the toy and put it in the toy preparation. box. The child stood motionless. The mother took the The following example blends elements from the Old child by the hand, waited while the youngster picked up Testament celebration of firstfruits with an American the toy, and led him to the toy box. Dramatic in­ Thanksgiving celebration. This informal worship service structions; active learning. occurs in a fellowship hall with everyone seated around The worship leader can guide worshipers in a similar fashion, not as a parent to a child, but as a fellow wor­ shiper. The leader may help the congregation experi­ ence the principles of Scripture through bodily actions. Together they hear the Word, then “do” the Word with The desire for a corporate worship activities. The worship planner will free flow of the discover the ease with which this type of service can be Spirit does not elim developed. inate the need for A PRAYER FOR REVIVAL preparation. 2 Chron. 7:14 I. We Are God’s People Read 1 Pet. 2:9-10. Sing a hymn and/or chorus about the church. Prayer of thanksgiving for the church.

15 tables. Announcements in previous services encourage activity requires the direct involvement of the congrega­ each family to bring canned food and/or a freewill offer­ tion as each person responds to God. ing for needy persons. A Thanksgiving Table with two offering baskets is prepared for the reception of these SUMMARY donations. Each of the worship planning methods described in GIVING THANKS this article can be used with integrity. The worship Leviticus 23; Numbers 28— 29; Deuteronomy 16 leader is encouraged to vary the basic structure of wor­ I. Thanksgiving and Song ship on a regular basis. One method may become the II. Thanksgiving and God’s Goodness usual operating procedure, but others should be utilized A. Sharing: Each person in the small group takes an regularly. apple from the center of the table. One at a time, each says, “This apple represents . . . ” or “I am Different planning techniques may be combined. For thankful fo r . . . ” Before the next person shares, the example, a sermon series uses the canon method for its group member directly opposite the one who has general structure. Each service, however, is developed just shared prays, thanking God for His goodness. thematically, the content method. The dramatic instruc­ “Lord, thank You fo r . . . in (person)’s life.” tion method is another multitheme form based on Scrip­ B. Read Lev. 23:9-11. Describe the action in the cele­ bration of firstfruits. Our apples represent God’s ture. Other combinations can be used effectively. goodness. Our “priest” offered a prayer of thanks­ Ultimately, the success of any worship service de­ giving to God. One element of the firstfruits festival pends on the congregation’s awareness of God’s pres­ we have yet to do: wave offering. Hold apples up as ence. The mechanics of a service may operate without we sinq “God Is So Good” and “I Will Bless Thee, O flaw, but if people are not drawn to God, the energy has Lord." III. Thanksgiving and Atonement been expended needlessly. A. Sermon Except the Lord conduct the plan, 1. Sacrifice for atonement part of Israel’s celebra­ The best concerted schemes are vain tion (Lev. 23:12; Num. 28:26-31, especially v. 30). And never can succeed. 2. Thanksgiving begins with a righteous heart (Ps. We spend our wretched strength for naught; 33:1-3; Isa. 61:10-11; Phil. 1:11). But if our works in Thee be wrought, 3. Jesus, the Atonement, brings righteouness (Rom. They shall be blest indeed. 3:21-26). B. Communion (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Lord, if Thou didst Thyself inspire IV. Thanksgiving and Giving Our souls with this intense desire A. Israel’s harvest celebration and the needy Thy goodness to proclaim; (gleaning— Lev. 23:22; freewill offering— Deut. Thy glory if we now intend, 16:10). O let our deed begin and end, B. Giving march: While the congregation sings, every­ Complete in Jesus’ name! one moves by the Thanksgiving Table placing —C h a r l e s W e s l e y canned food and/or money on the table. C. Benediction: The pastor reads Num. 6:24-26, one However carefully the worship leader may plan a ser­ line at a time. The congregation repeats that line in vice, there may be times when he releases his plan, al­ unison before the pastor reads the next line. lowing the Holy Spirit to substitute one of divine design. D. Sharing: The service concludes with open-ended The desire for a free flow of the Spirit does not eliminate sharing. Everyone is encouraged to cut the apples the need for careful preparation. A worship leader and eat the fruit as they visit with each other. serves the Lord and is open to His direction. Trying to duplicate details in a dramatic renactment Plan well. Hold it loosely. Pray fervently. $ may become frustrating to the worship planner. Instead, match the general flow of a passage by paraphrasing the main ideas and events. Most of all, think creatively. God has charged ministers of the gospel to speak His unchanging Word in fresh, vibrant language. Tell the story of redemption in new, creative ways. Be careful to keep the focus on God. If people begin elevating creativity above the Creator, then worship be­ comes unbalanced, and potential danger exists. The dramatic praphrase method of worship planning causes a congregation to worship with eyes opened wide in wonder. Services become invigorating. Worship

All unidentified Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. Quotations from the following translations are used by permission: The Bible: A New Translation (Moffatt), copyright 1954 by James A. R. Moffatt. By permission of Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc. The New American Standard Bible (NASB), © T h e Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. The Revised Standard Version of the Bible (RSV), copyrighted 1946,1952, © 1971, 1973. SIGNS AND WONDERS: WIMBER OR WESLEY? by Levi Keidel Instructor in Mission and Evangelism Columbia Bible Institute Clearbrook, B.C.

uring my term of missionary service in Zaire, I was read of such phenomena in an account of Edwards’ min­ D astounded by nonrational phenomena in a home istry, he longed for such “wonderful bodily effects” in his prayer meeting. People shrieked, moaned, and growled. own.3 Soon thereafter they began occurring from time Bodies shook so violently that heads were a blur. People to time in Wesley’s ministry, as recorded in his journal. fainted or had visions. The famous American revivalist C. G. Finney experi­ My theology gave me no frame of reference for such enced what he described as “a mighty baptism of the happenings. These were sincere, devoted Christians. Holy Ghost.” During the early years of his revivals, faint­ Their tribal grouping has a history of revivalism. They ings and prostrations were consistent and anticipated. were convinced such things came from the Holy Spirit. Inasmuch as signs and wonders, whatever their value, The experience became part of my lifelong interest in have been a part of important revival movements in his­ spiritual renewal movements. Subsequently, a graduate tory, we should not be surprised at their occurrence in study program provided me the occasion for research spiritual renewal movements today. toward resolving my perplexities. A thesis resulted, “The Notwithstanding, at least two aspects of the Vineyard Relevance of Nonrational Motoric and Psychic Phenom­ Movement cause me concern. First, I am uneasy about ena to Personal Christian Experience.”1 the prominence given to signs and wonders. Dr. John In further pursuit of that interest I attended two Vine­ White, psychologist, theologian, and prolific writer, is a yard conferences. The sudden outbreak of dramatic re­ primary teacher within the movement. Instruction he vival movements has always produced controversy. The gave in the sessions I attended was clear, forthright, and acclaimed “signs and wonders” of the Vineyard Move­ biblical. He taught that we must, above all, seek God. If ment have fueled such controversy. In the light of all that a sign happens as incidental, let us affirm it. He warned had preceded, I wanted to evaluate the movement first­ of Satan’s power to counterfeit the power of God. It hand. appeared that White endeavored to define theological I affirm some aspects of the Vineyard Movement. parameters for the movement. First, the initial long periods of praise singing with free, John Wimber was next on the program. Seeking uninhibited worship backed by contemporary music are signs as evidence of the presence of God rather than an spiritually uplifting. This factor attracts the generation of incidental consequence of seeking God, his ministry ex­ young singles and “baby boomers.” On occasions when ceeded the parameters defined by White. He an­ I visited, such persons constituted 70 percent or more nounced approaching “waves of the Spirit.” He waited of the congregation. for and anticipated such signs as evidence that the Holy Second, the movement teaches a “realized escha- Spirit was at work. Signs came: shakings, faintings, hys­ tology.” With the coming of Jesus Christ, the kingdom of terical laughing, ejaculatory shouts, convulsions; I’d God broke into history. It is among us now. I believe this seen nothing like it since that village home prayer meet­ understanding of Scripture adds excitement, ex­ ing in Zaire. pectancy, and potential to one’s faith. Seeking signs and wonders as an end in themselves Third, God performs signs and miracles to witness has always proved counterproductive. Jonathan Ed­ that His kingdom power is among us. Such happenings wards came to discountenance them. He saw they had validated the ministry of Jesus and of Paul (John 2:23; become a source of spiritual pride and self-confidence, Rom. 15:18-19). There is no reason that such things which provoked God. By the fall of 1748, acrimonious should not validate our ministries today. slander by those who had enjoyed such signs under his Fourth, signs and wonders have been part of every ministry drove him from his pastorate.4 great revival movement in history. Some Anabaptists John Wesley’s attitude toward such happenings went and Huguenots in the 16th and 17th centuries spoke in full circle. During the early years of his ministry, French tongues, fainted, had visions, and made prophetic utter­ Huguenot immigrants brought their trances, visions, ances.2 The New England revival of 1734-35 under Jon­ shakings, and tongues into England. Wesley sternly athan Edwards produced tremblings, shrieking, con­ warned against such “excesses.” However, in 1738, vulsions, and faintings. When John Wesley, in England, Continued on p. 19

17 FARMER'S REPORT by M. V. Scutt Director o f Evangelism Ministries Church of the Nazarene

ear now the allegory of the ued farms in the land. It is a beau­ door, then it loses power. We have H agriculturist: “This has been a tiful place, too. Why, during these tried different generators and fuels, good year. The farm is in great warm weather months, we have and the noise has been earth- shape, and everyone around here spent untold hours on the shrub­ shaking when we revved the en­ is experiencing a real sense of con­ bery, we have erected a new own­ gines, but just outside the door it tentment. Oh, we may have a prob­ ership sign, and we even installed a loses power and can barely pull it­ lem here or there, but minor diffi­ new fence to keep the animals out. self along. We have come to be­ culties are to be expected with this “We have some great plans that lieve there must be something kind of operation, and we have will mean success for the future. about the air-mixing or atmosphere simply determined that we will not One whole week has been sched­ inside the barn that makes it better, be discouraged. uled for us to look at ourselves and so we are confining our operation “We believe it was a genuine each other. We have invited a farm there. miracle that provided our new barn expert to come and spend those “We had a beautiful program to addition. The space was really days reminding us what farmers celebrate the birthday of the One needed for the farmers’ dinners, are supposed to look like and how who put us in the farming busi­ and we have just had no place at they should act. We have also ness. Our children are all so bright­ all for recreation. Our children have scheduled a time to study the prin­ eyed and excited at that time of the always needed a facility of their ciples of sowing and reaping. I year. Of course, the story of His own; it would be a real tragedy if know that will be a rich resource, birth has been worn out, so we they were forced to mingle with for each year it has been getting have spiced it up with fantasies those unwashed children down the greater attention. I think we are all and fairy tales to maintain a high road. We have just surveyed our in­ a little bored, however, when we interest in the celebration. There vestment and determined that ours spend so much time studying the were also lots of other special may be one of the most highly val- sowing and reaping that is going events. We even attracted many on in other lands. We do not mind from neighboring farms for the helping them with our ‘helping ‘hoopla.’ We had fiddlers and sing­ hand farmers’ program, but those ers until we nearly shook the studies are not the most popular rafters. Things sure seemed quiet events on the farm, even if there when they were gone, but it was are things to be learned through some of the best entertainment them. money can buy. “We are all a little puzzled by the “We have all been very busy this difficulty we experience in keeping year. One of our high priorities has the machinery in working order. We been training our young people and try to keep it oiled and polished, children in the advantages and but it is so imperfect we have conveniences of farming inside the never been able to make it very ef­ barn. We have also spent a lot of fective outside the barn. It all looks time working on the ‘farmer image’ M. V. Scutt great until we get it outside the so that the world will know by looking at us that we are farmers. the nerve to suggest, during one of harvest emphasis is over, for it We really had high hopes that we our harvesting seminars, that we sometimes makes us feel guilty. could do some planting this year; had some responsibility to gather But why should we feel guilty? We but with the high level of energy in His crops. He even said that the know our priorities, and we are too necessary to run our program in harvest was in danger of being busy to get involved in this harvest the barn, everyone was just too ex­ lost; but we all believe that our thing. We have to earn money to hausted. That kind of toil is just so barn is available, and if the harvest keep the farm going, we have our dirty and hot, we can hardly find really wanted to come in, we are families and friendships, we have anyone interested in doing it any­ here and it is welcome. Besides, our recreational interests, we have more. We are doing our best, sometimes this harvesting enthusi­ the responsibilities of meeting in though, by sending out seeds in asm drags in fruit that is not like the barn and keeping the activities the newspaper and supporting ours, and we can’t tolerate that in alive, and we must spend all that farm radio and television. our barn. We try to keep an open- time polishing fruit! Why, it’s a mira­ “Of course, the Master Farmer door policy, though, and some of His cle that we keep this thing running keeps spreading seeds every­ fruit did blow in the door this year. at all! All in all, I’d say it was a great where. Someone in our barn had “We will all be glad when this year!”

Wimber or Wesley? Continued from p. 17 upon reading the account of Edwards’ ministry, he dressed human need. It is credited with sparing England viewed such “wonderful bodily effects” with “profound the horrors of revolution like that which later ravaged thankfulness.” He saw them as manifestations of God.5 France. Wesley preached a lot about money. He feared By 1750 Wesley no longer encouraged “signs and storing treasures on earth. He gave away all he earned wonders” (his wording). He wrote in a journal entry of above living expenses. In 1776 English tax commis­ sioners would not believe his return and accused him of April 3, 1786: hiding silver plate. He replied, “I have two silver spoons Satan strives to push many of them to extrava­ at London and two at Bristol. This is all the plate I have gance. This appears in several instances... Some of at present, and I shall not buy any more while so many them, perhaps many, scream all together as loud as around me want bread.”8 A full-orbed Kingdom theology they possibly can... Several drop down as dead; and must address social need. are as stiff as a corpse; but in a while they start up, Followers of the Vineyard Movement constitute, for and cry, “Glory! Glory!” ... bringing the real work into the most part, a body with great material resources. I contempt.6 have lived with Third World people for 25 years. What C. G. Finney, in his early ministry, encouraged thewould the world’s 2 1/2 billion hungry think if they saw that outbreak of emotional manifestations. However, in later we attach more importance to enjoying some esoteric years he came to denounce them. In 1836 he said that emotional worship experience than to meeting human of all the converts of the revivals of the preceding 10 need in a manner that impinges upon our pleasure- years, “the great body of them are a disgrace to re­ oriented, affluent life-styles? ligion.” Of a group of eight evangelists who had gotten I have read an occasional article in Vineyard’s period­ their inspiration from Finney, all but two had abandoned, ical Equipping the Saints that expressed concern for or were forced out of, the ministry by 1845, four of them meeting social need. Notwithstanding, to the present a for sexual immorality.7 theology of social concern has not visibly impacted the History intones a consistent somber note of warning movement. Rather, its theology centers primarily upon to any Christian movement that gives primary attention the biblical basis for signs and wonders. to nonrational phenomena. These concerns do not suggest an encouraging long­ My second concern is this: A renewal movement that term prognosis for the Vineyard Movement. Given the is biblical must address itself to human need. choice, I choose Wesley over Wimber. $ Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice . .. to set the oppressed free NOTES 1. C. G. Oosthuizen, Post Christianity in Africa (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerd- . .. to share your food with the hungry and to provide mans Publishing Co., 1968), 151. the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the 2. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, III., 1984. naked, to clothe him . .. ? Then your light will break 3. Frederick Morgan Davenport, Primitive Traits in Religious Revivals (New York: MacMillan Co., 1917), 133. forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly ap­ 4. Ibid., 130-31. pear . .. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; 5. Hoell N. Bloch, The Pentecostal Movement (Oslo: Universite foriaget, 1964), you will cry for help, and he will say, Here am I (Isa. 190, n. 103. 6. Nehemiah Cumock, The Journal of John Wesley (London: Epworth Press, 58:6-9, NIV). 1938), 7:153. No spiritual renewal movement in the history of Chris­ 7. William G. McLoughlin, Modem Revivalism (New York: Ronald Press, 1959), 132, 147. tianity so impacted society for good as that which was 8. Charles Edward White, “What Wesley Practiced and Preached About led by John Wesley. It changed social ethics. It ad­ Money," Mission Frontiers (April 1987): 15. m m i p m % %

m i

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE A DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT?

Best job in the church, isn’t it? What more could any­ one want than to be a district superintendent? Big money, secretarial help, lavish expense account, free­ dom to set your own schedule, and all that power. ... Isn’t that the way it is? Well, believe it or not, being a D.S. is not all fun and games. Or as Ogden Nash might have said, “Roses are things that the district superintendency is not a bed of which.” Problems nag you, elections hover like omens of doom, and disasters keep you as nervous as a mole who hears a black snake behind him in his burrow. In this feature, a Nazarene district superintendent shares four case studies that illustrate typical oc­ cupational hazards encountered by superintendents. 2. Will tension enter their relationships? 3. Will they avoid confiding in the D.S.? CASE 4. Will their morale fade? STUDY PROBLEM 5. Will they privately or publicly accuse the D.S. of not properly presenting their names? I 6. Will they have less enthusiasm for paying district budgets? THE MALAVISTA VACANCY 7. Will they think the D.S. has lost confidence in them? District Superintendent Jones has a church open on 8. Will these pastors participate in zone and district his district. The Malavista church has 325 members. It is projects? located in a university town, and the lay leaders of the church are, for the most part, highly educated and pur­ 9. D.S. Jones has a renewal vote coming up in a few sue a fairly sophisticated life-style. weeks. Will the disappointed pastors vote for him? The church came open just 10 days before the district 10. What biblical or theological resources can D.S. preachers’ meeting. During the two days of the preach­ Jones draw on in this case? ers’ meeting, four different pastors called the D.S. aside to tell him that the Lord had been talking to him about What is D.S. Jones to think, feel, and do? If he were to the Malavista church. The four pastors are good minis­ ask your advice, how would you counsel him? ters and sincere Christians, and the D.S. regards them as friends and colleagues. He also knows in his heart that the Malavista board will not give any one of them a second look. A. The first pastor to whom “the Lord has been speaking” about Malavista has pastored for the last 12 years in a rural setting. His church attendance has grown over that time, from 60 to 80. This man has little education, and his every sermon leaves the landscape cluttered with misplaced modifiers, mismatched plurals and singulars, and mismated subjects and verbs. CASE B. The second pastor praying about Malavista is STUDY highly educated. He has a seminary degree, flawless grammar, and good potential. But he is short on experi­ PROBLEM ence. He has pastored 18 months at a little church that 2 has grown from 10 to 50 during that time. He certainly has potential, but Malavista most assuredly will want a more experienced pastor. ABOUT THAT NEW STAFF MEMBER C. The third pastor who chatted with D.S. Jones is well educated and has done well at a church of 120 members. The problem is that this pastor is a woman. D.S. Jones knows that the key leaders on the Malavista The “in thing” on the district is to hire full-time staff. board were Baptists before being converted to the Holi­ Many pastors on the East Central District with churches ness Movement, and they are strongly prejudiced in attendance of around 125 have hired one full-time against any woman preacher. staff person, and many other pastors (in churches of D. Pastor No. 4 has pastored on this district for 27 200-500 in attendance) have hired two, three, or four years. He has pastored six churches on the district, full-time staffers. none bigger than 150 members. Everyone knows his The past three years has seen an economic crunch hit strengths and weaknesses. He has never had spec­ the East Central District. Every church has felt the pinch, tacular growth nor significant losses. He has been a and every church has had to tighten its belt. Most pas­ journeyman pastor. But he is 60 years old. tors cut every budget item possible before facing the A few weeks later, the Malavista church calls a pastor problem of cutting staff. Finally several pastors made from off the district. the decision: There was not enough money coming in to keep their paid staffs and to pay all connectional bud­ FOR REFLECTION gets, so the staff was retained, but the connectional D.S. Jones now has several things to consider: budgets were only partially paid. Several pastors from churches of around 125 in atten­ 1. Will the pastors who collared him because “thedance recently approached D.S. Jones, asking permis­ Lord was speaking about the Malavista church” still re­ sion to hire one full-time staff person. When asked if gard him as a friend? they could handle this added expense and also keep all connectional budgets paid, they admitted that they

21 doubted it. “But,” they chimed, “Brother Joys and fully expects the church to meet all obligations including Brother Moss have full-time staff, and their budgets all budgets being paid in full. were not paid last year!” The D.S. took his stand by quoting (Nazarene) Manual 4. Don’t tamper with those who have paid staff but Par. 166: “When paid assistance in the local church, all budgets not paid (because they are larger churches whether ministerial or lay, becomes necessary for who carry weight on the district, plus many potential greater efficiency, it must be such as will not... tax the votes at the D.S.’s next recall vote), but refuse to grant church’s financial resources.” approval to churches who want to hire paid staff when The furor started! These pastors got on the telephone they admit it will take their budget money to fund the and told others on the district that they could not hire new associate. paid staff because they would not guarantee their bud­ gets would also be paid, but there were pastors on the 5. Never mention Manual Par. 166 to anyone, al­ district last year who now have staff, and their budgets were not paid. “Where is the fairness in that?” “What ways grant approval for staff when asked, and when kind of D.S. do we have?” “Why would he say no to us budgets are not paid in full, say nothing to the senior but let the others get by?” pastor about it. D.S. Jones started taking the heat! He could feel re­ sentment building from those pastors and church 6. None of the above. I would______boards who were denied associates. He knew he had to take a stand and be consistent with it, so he told every­ one that if their connectional budgets were not paid in full, he could not approve some or all of their paid asso­ ciates. The resentment really started to build then. The pastors who had staff (who didn’t have all budgets paid in full) felt like the D.S. was after them. The staff mem­ bers from involved churches didn’t like the D.S. one bit and told everyone within earshot about it. The church boards of the involved churches felt D.S. Jones was try­ ing to destroy their ministries and programs. “How can we ever see this church come out of it if we have to let staff go and lose those ministries?” “What will happen to our youth?” “What will happen to our singles?” “What will happen to our choir?” Stress mounts on the district superintendent! What should he do? He doesn’t want to hurt the churches that are struggling financially further, and he realizes if he demands that staff be cut, there will be morale problems in those churches. D.S. Jones inwardly wants every There has been “low level” tension in the Corringtown church to have every ministry possible, but he also church for years. Two distinct groups make up the wants to be consistent with these pastors who are ask­ congregation—two churches under one roof, two very ing for staff (but knowing it will take budget money to different personality groups. There is no doctrinal prob­ pay them). What is a D.S. to do? lem, just two very different kinds of people meeting to­ FOR REFLECTION gether as one congregation. Across the years it seems that every situation that Discuss these options: comes to the church causes these groups to polarize. 1. Back off. Let every church retain their staff mem­ Such situations as: bers even if they can’t pay all connectional budgets. Should we sell this church and relocate, or stay here and spend big bucks on fixing up this facility? Should we hire staff, or use our laymen in such key 2. At the beginning of the new church year, refuse to ministries as music, youth, and Christian education? approve some or all of the paid staff if the church did not Should we call a “white collar, professional type” meet all financial obligations during the previous year pastor or a “blue collar, good-old-boy type" pastor? (including connectional budgets). (The Nazarene Man­ One group (about one-half of the church) finally de­ ual, Par. 166.2, states that the D.S. must approve all paid cided that the continual tension was not pleasing God. staff in writing each year.) They reasoned that another Nazarene church was needed in Corringtown anyway, since the population is 3. Explain the problem clearly from the superinten­ 40,000, and there is only one holiness church in the city. dent’s view in a letter to the pastor and church board of They talked among themselves until they were all con­ every church that did not pay all budgets in full. Give vinced a new church was needed, and that was the only both the board and the pastor a one year’s notice of the solution to the Corringtown First Church problem. D.S.’s policy of not approving one or all paid staff if all Twenty years of tension is enough! financial obligations are not met, including all budgets. Three representatives went to the pastor with the Write the letter in a positive way that indicates the D.S. plan. The pastor reacted negatively to the plan! His blood pressure went sky-high, and he made a late-night What should D.S. Jones do in the midst of this never- call to the D.S., telling him of the subversive plan. With ending pressure cooker? Yes, the District Advisory both pastor and people talking about the issue, the en­ Board will be called into session, and a decision will be tire church soon knew of the plan. Old Corringtown First made, but— Church exploded! “You’re splitting our church!” “You will 1. The District Advisory Board will basically do ruin us!” “You’ll take half of our Sunday School teachers, what the D.S. feels is right in this situation because half of our finances, half the teens, and half of the choir. they know he is much closer to the situation than they We will never survive! We’ll be nothing but a little home- are. The D.S. knows all of the dynamics, and they do mission church again!” not. Truthfully, the Advisory Board will only know what The tension mounts. The rumors fly. Words are spo­ the D.S. tells them. What recommendation should the D.S. give the Advisory Board? ken that should never be spoken between Christians. Both groups feel clearly “led by the Lord,” and both 2. When the decision is made, one-half of the Cor­ groups feel the other group is carnal—or worse! ringtown church is going to be upset. Those upset The telephone blitz to D.S. Jones starts! From one of church members won’t be calling the Advisory Board the persons who wants to leave and start the new members—they will call the district superintendent! church, “We are leaving. Twenty years of tension is As high as their emotions are running, they will be enough. We need another Nazarene church in this town, calling by the dozens! “I can’t take any more phone and you should give us your blessing!” calls from Corringtown," declares Jones. “But can I Within 30 minutes, another call comes from “the refuse their phone calls and still be a responsible dis­ home church.” “Don’t you dare give them permission to trict superintendent?” become a church in our denomination! They are dividing 3. The D.S.’s vote is scheduled for next August. our church. They have said this, this, this, this, and even Eight months after the proposed date for the new this, and you will be wrong if you let them form another church to start, he is on trial before the entire assem­ church!” bly. “I don’t need a block of ‘no’ votes any more than The next call comes from one who wants to leave. “It a pastor needs them,” Jones reasons. “How can I turn will never work to stay. The decision has been made. We this ‘no-win’ situation into a ‘win-win’ one?” are leaving January 1 to form a new church. We want to 4. Our common enemy, Satan, sees a chance to be Nazarenes but if you refuse to allow it, we’ll be Wes- topple a well-known district superintendent! He starts leyans, Free Methodists, or independent. Someone will in. He plants seeds of hurt, disgust, and resentment in take us! We are leaving! Will you grant us church-type his heart. The D.S. feels himself growing cynical. He mission status?” grumbles, “The harder I try, the worse it gets. No By now, the calls coming to the D.S. from Corringtown matter what I say, it is wrong with someone! I hate this average around six per day. He feels the pressure job! Is there an honorable way to quit? I didn’t create mounting higher and .higher. Sure enough, the phone this problem, but it’s for sure, I must handle it. What is rings again, this time from a person from “the home right? What is wrong? Who is right? Who is wrong? church.” “You can’t let them go! If you just put your foot What is God’s will? What should we do?” down and say no, they will settle down. Besides, D.S. While the Rev. Jones is crying out to God late at night, Jones, this isn’t fair to our pastor. He came to a church the phone rings. Corringtown again! “D.S., let me tell of 200 only months ago, and now we’ll only have 100. you .. How can we keep his salary at the same level? How can we keep at the same level? It isn’t fair! Say no, Brother FOR REFLECTION Jones, just say no!!” 1. List three things you would say to D.S. Jones. The next call comes from one of those leaving. “We Then discuss your list with the list of others if you are have found a building that will work well for a church- considering this in a group meeting______type mission. We want to lease it for one year. We have the money committed. We aren’t asking the district for money, only for district approval and blessing. This isn’t a split, it’s a birth! Brother Jones, will you help us, or must we contact the district superintendent of another holiness denomination?” The stressed-out D.S. hears the phone ring again, and this time it’s from one from the “home church.” “This is no birth! It is not a church planting project! This is a YOUR PASTOR OR MINE? divorce! They are leaving. It isn’t right. How can we sur­ vive? How can we pay our budgets? Just say no!” This phone blitz continues for three weeks. The D.S. CASE is under incredible pressure. The phone rings around six STUDY to eight times per day from this situation alone— besides all the pressures from the other 75 churches. It PROBLEM seems to the D.S. that there is an organized effort from 4 both sides at Corringtown to “keep calling the D.S. Keep the pressure on him. If we keep it up, he will stand by us!” St. John’s congregation heard their pastor’s resigna- tion and, in a few days, heard from their D.S. about the The D.S. finally came to the conclusion that the pastor start of the pastor-calling process. At the first meeting of must resign to save both the church and the pastor. The the D.S. and church board, all went well. Board and D.S. pastor reluctantly agreed. Three days later, however, the both said they felt good about the spirit of the meeting pastor called the D.S. to announce that he was staying and believed that progress was made. at St. John’s church. “I just talked to my brother-in-law At the second meeting, the superintendent presented who works at headquarters, and he told me I have Man­ the names of five good pastors; the board submitted ual grounds to stay. I was elected for two years, and I’ve one name. As the discussion developed, it was evident only been here 11 months. I don’t have to leave, so I that a feeling about “our man vs. the D.S.’s men” was won’t leave. The church may fall to 100, but I’ll build it emerging. When the vote was finally taken, “their man” back to 200 with ‘my kind’ of people.” was first by a landslide. “Their man” was a pastor three Then the phone rang from the key board member states away, who had been suggested to an influential who made the original call at 11:30 p.m . some months board member by an old college friend. The D.S. had ago. “I thought you told us you had a solution worked never met nor heard of him. out for our pastor. I thought the pastor was resigning. “Their man” came for the interview; everyone seemed Now I hear he isn’t. The church is being destroyed. We to like him—except the D.S.— and the board voted to only had 53 last Sunday night, and all but two of our nominate him to the congregation. The D.S. expressed teens are gone. We’ve asked you for three months to hesitancy to the board, stating that “his personality and help us, but nothing has been done. Are you trying to the personality of this church just don’t match.” The destroy our church? You’ve had other open churches; church board wanted him, however, and voted unani­ why didn’t you move him? Do we have to take this into mously to recommend him to the congregation. He car­ our own hands and throw him out? When is this man ried the congregational vote with a 97 percent “yes.” going to leave? When are you going to exercise lead­ Everyone felt good about the call except the D.S. ership and get him out?” Eight months later an influential board member called “By the way,” the board member continued, “I’ve given the D.S. at 11:30 p.m . With great emotion the board $1,000 per year to your home mission projects; but if member told the D.S. about the new pastor’s peculiar you don’t help us when we have a need, I’ll not be help­ ways, that there was great tension in the church, that ing you when you are in need! Are you going to move the attendance was dropping, and that this man just this preacher out or not?” didn’t fit in at St. John’s. Of course, the board member The pressure mounts. The D.S. gets so he doesn’t like said he had been talking to other board members, and to hear the name St. John’s, even on the television everyone he talked to felt the D.S. must come for a news. He clenches his teeth when the phone rings. His board meeting! wife cries. The D.S. called the pastor the next day, and the pas­ The D.S. didn’t create the problem; in fact, he warned tor agreed that there was growing tension in the church, them about the potential problem back at the time of the that attendance was falling, and that the adjustment at interview. But now he has the problem squarely in his St. John’s was difficult. Nevertheless, he was sure it lap. The pastor doesn’t fit. The church is falling apart would all work out! fast. The superintendent has no power to force him out, Four board meetings later (with the D.S., pastor, and and the pastor knows he can stay for the full two board all involved) and three from the first phone call to years— if he’s stubborn enough to do so. The only the D.S. about the situation, the problem became intol­ power he has is the power of persuasion. But the pastor erable. The pastor had never pastored a church more listens to his brother-in-law at headquarters more than than half this size, nor did he have the gifts and graces to the D.S. There won’t be much church left at the end of to do so. But he wanted to stay and “bring it around.” two years. Desperately, the D.S. cries, “Dear Lord, what The church board was adamant that he leave. The D.S. am I supposed to do?” was in the pressure seat again! He knew that 11 months ago he had told them of his hesitancy about calling this man, but that would not solve the problem now. If this FOR REFLECTION pastoral arrangement continues, the church that once 1. What would you suggest this D.S. do or say to the ran 200 in attendance, and now is at the 125 level, will pastor, the church board, the $1,000-a-year man, and soon be south of the 100 mark. the brother-in-law? The D.S. asked for time and patience from the board so that he could attempt to move the pastor. However, no other church would call him! 2. How can he cope with his own Would you call a pastor who had feelings, nerves, and stress? How only been at his church 11 months can he help his wife cope? where the attendance had fallen nearly in half? The board members 3. What kind of shaping influence ran out of patience. Two or three do such experiences have on a su­ phone calls were charged with emo­ perintendent’s leadership style? tion! The D.S. felt that funny sting in his stomach start up again. He knew 4. What resources do the Bible what that meant four years ago, and and Christian theology offer for this he feared about his future. sort of problem? $ STEWARDSHIP OF HEALTH

by John Oster Editor, Board of Pensions and Benefits USA Church of the Nazarene

s the cost of medical treatment for illness skyrock­ identify potential problems and institute corrections be­ A ets, the cost of staying healthy looks better all the fore they become problems. time. A diet strongly inclined to vegetables and natural Good health costs mostly the employment of com­ foods with minimal intake of starches, fats, and sugars mon sense and good habits: eating good food, exer­ helps our system do its own maintenance work. cising moderately, obeying God’s laws, enjoying life, and By surrounding mealtimes with good friends and easy taking care of the biological equipment that God has conversation, there may be less tendency to substitute given us to use on earth. food for emotional filling. Eating right and living right fit the holiness life-style Aerobic exercise (walking, swimming, etc.) keeps the like a hand in a glove. We start out with a tradition that body alive and feeling fit. Harsh exercise hurts. Pain is keeps us away from many of the most harmful elements God’s way of telling us something is wrong, not a cata­ of modern life. Smoking, drinking, and illicit adventuring lyst for strength and growth. We can gain without pain no doubt contribute to the higher incidence of disease through free and easy, yet disciplined, exercise. upon the general population than upon holiness people Combat stress by controlling time; don’t let time con­ in particular. But there are harmful elements of modern trol you. In a word, take time to smell the roses. Take life for which we have no protection in our tradition. time each day to deliberately think a happy thought. Overeating is one. Overstressing ourselves is another. Count your blessings! It could be life-saving. High blood Lack of moderation in exercise is another. We tend to be pressure is a common killer among us. Know your blood either a couch potato with no physical exercise or a pressure, and if it is high, do what it takes to bring it burn-at-both-ends achiever who does not know how or under control now. The common sense rules of living when to take it easy. Neither rusting out nor wearing out that help us control blood pressure also can help pre­ makes sense as sound strategy for stewardship of the vent cancer and make us feel and look better. health that God has given us. Preventive medicine is almost always cheaper than Certainly, physical ailments can strike anyone, even remedies, plus it’s a lot more fun than being sick. those who take the best care of themselves. Hereditary When you do get sick, seek medical counsel early and conditions can bring even the most avid practitioner of follow it to the letter in order to prevent more serious and good health to illness. Accidents can strike anyone, of­ expensive remedies later. Get a second medical opinion ten due to no fault of the one who is injured. In time, the before authorizing drastic surgical remedies. aging process claims each one of us. All of this being Whenever possible, avoid long hospital stays. The en­ true, it is still fact that we are responsible for much of our vironment for recovery is likely better in a peaceful home own general health. once the need for instrumented monitoring by a hospital How much better stewardship it would be if we were is past. to become responsible for improving the status of our The best all-purpose medicine is a positive attitude health. We can start by designing a profile of the person that allows the body’s built-in health maintenance sys­ we should be as to weight, exercise, physical condition, tems to work at peak efficiency. Prov. 17:22 puts it well: and so forth. A thorough medical exam may help us “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” $

25 QUESTIONS TO ANSWER BEFORE YOU BUILD

n Sunday mornings, your wor­ WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION by Ray and Sally Bowman O ship space is filled to 90 per­ FOR BUILDING? Consultants in Church Building Design cent capacity. The junior high and Caldwell, Idaho 1. Do you expect the building to with Eddy Hall young married classes have stand­ create growth? _____ ing room only. The fellowship hall can no longer seat everyone at once 2. Do you think better long-term during your potluck dinners. Obvi­ stewardship (giving) will result? ously, it’s time to build. Or is it? For most churches in this situ­ 3. Is “bigger will be better” a mo­ ation, we have found that the an­ tivating concept? _____ swer is no. Certainly such a church has urgent facility needs, but a ma­ 4. Do you believe that building a jor building program is only one of building is the work of the many options for meeting those church? _____ needs. Rarely is it the best one. Ray and Sally Bowman When a church asks us to help 5. Do you expect the building them assess their building needs, program/process to unify your one of the first things we do is ask people? _____ the pastor and board members to fill out a questionnaire— a tool we have 6. Do you want a new building pri­ developed to help identify mo­ marily so that you can better tivations for building and the congre­ serve your present members? gation’s readiness to take on a ma­ jor building program. If you think the time has come for 7. Do you see the building as a your church to build, simply answer way to make a statement to the each of the following questions community about the church’s “Yes,” “No,” or “Maybe.” significance? _____

26 8. Do you believe that the building “Maybe" answers. Every “Yes” or ministry. Most churches, with expert will bring people to Christ? “Maybe” is a possible reason not to advice, can develop a plan for be­ build, to delay building, or to seek coming debt-free. Building future another more appropriate solution buildings without debt allows the 9. Is building buildings one of your through prayer, research, and re- church to expand ministry. evaluation. church’s primary goals?_____ Most churches we have consulted Interpreting Your Answers with have answered questions 16 10. Do you expect a building pro­ and 20 “Yes.” Seldom does a con­ If you answered “Yes” or “Maybe” gram to motivate your people to gregation thoroughly explore the to questions 1, 2, 5, 8, or 10, you minister? _____ creative options available. These op­ may be trying to solve a nonbuilding tions include multiple use of space, problem with a building program. rearrangement of space, minor re­ The needs for greater church IS YOUR CHURCH READY TO modeling, multiple services, and growth, better stewardship, unity, BUILD? many other possible solutions that winning people to Christ, and mo­ require only a fraction of the time, tivating people to minister are all 11. Are you still paying debt on the money, and energy of a major build­ nonbuilding needs. If your church last building? _____ ing program. expects to meet these needs If you answered “Yes” or “Maybe” through a building program, you are 12. Will paying for the project de­ to question 17, have you prayerfully sure to be disappointed. pend on future growth?_____ considered that opposition to build­ If you answered “Yes” or “Maybe” ing, even from a small minority, may to questions 3,4, 7, or 9, you may be 13. Will you have to borrow a major be the Holy Spirit’s way of trying to in danger of substituting the world’s part of the finances? _____ slow you down? Do you need to standards of success for biblical take another look at some of the is­ standards. We are bombarded daily 14. Will paying for the building take sues raised in these 20 questions? with the message that “bigger is bet­ funds away from ministry— Consider other alternatives? One of ter” and that money and buildings meeting needs of the body, the most common confirmations of are signs of a successful institution. meeting needs of people at your the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the New But we are not called to build “suc­ doorstep and far away?_____ Testament Church was unity. cessful institutions”; we are called to Question 18 points to a danger of minister to people. Because the 15. Could you pay cash by waiting which many growing churches are world’s values are so pervasive, we to build and so save the inter­ unaware. A rapidly expanding must constantly be on guard, or est? _____ church, afraid that a crowded facility they will influence how we set goals will slow its growth, may plunge into and measure effective ministry. 16. Are you building when an alter­ a building program only to discover If you answered “Yes” or “Maybe” nate solution is possible at less that growth stops when the building to question 6 or 19, your church may cost? _____ begins. Why? Because much of the have drifted into a “maintenance” time, energy, and money that has mind-set, focusing primarily on your 17. Is there any division among been channeled into the ministries own needs rather than continuing to your people concerning build­ of outreach that brought growth has reach out to the needs of others. ing? ------been redirected to the building pro­ Leading the church in recovering its gram. So, instead of promoting sense of mission is more urgent 18. Will a building program shift more growth as intended, the build­ than a building program. You may be your people’s focus from minis­ ing program stops the growth. surprised how different your build­ try and outreach? _____ When a church builds for the ing needs look when you design a wrong reasons, before it is finan­ building for others more than for 19. Is your church more oriented to cially ready, or when other more ap­ yourselves. maintenance of the body than A “Yes” or “Maybe” answer to propriate alternatives have been to growth? _____ questions 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 is a passed over, the true work of the flashing red light warning of financial church suffers. But when a church is 20. Could you use your existing danger. While it is customary to fol­ building for the right reasons, at the building more efficiently, as by low the example of the secular busi­ right time, after fully utilizing its ex­ multi-use, two services, two ness world by financing church isting facilities, a building can be a Sunday Schools, change of for­ buildings through debt, our experi­ highly useful ministry tool. These 20 mat or time frame? _____ ence has convinced us that this is questions, prayerfully considered, can seldom necessary. It usually crip­ help your church approach facilities ples a church financially, hindering needs in ways that will help you carry Now, add up your “ Yes” and its ability to reach out creatively in out your God-given mission. $

27 pecial-day sermons can be one For weekly preparation I sub­ of a minister’s greatest chal­ scribed to Preaching the New Com­ Slenges. To speak freshly and cre­mon Lectionary (PNCL), published atively year after year can drive a by Abingdon Press. Several preach­ parson to distraction. One may “do a ing aids based on the NCL exist and LECTIONARY series” at Advent or Easter, or con­ are available through your publish­ tinue with the current series from ing house. This paperback is pub­ wherever, trying to work in a sea­ lished three times a year. (Lent: sonal emphasis. However, I have dis­ PA068-733-8492, $11.95; Pen­ PREACHING covered a challenging and re­ warding alternative. It is lectionary tecost: PA068-733-8506, $11.95; preaching. Advent: PA068-733-8404, $9.95.) A lectionary is a schedule of I didn’t jump into this experiment weekly Scripture texts intended to without reservations. Two questions by David L. Vardaman be read and/or expounded in the lo­ troubled me initially. First, I was con­ cal church. Lectionaries may contain cerned that it might be like sub­ Pastor, Rowley Wesleyan Church scribing to a “sermon service.” The Williamston, Mich. listings for one year or as many as three. Followed regularly, such pro­ last thing I wanted was to preach grams expose a congregation to a someone else’s warmed-over mate­ well-balanced diet. I decided to give rial. While sermon preparation is my congregation a taste of the work, it undoubtedly contributes to lectionary menu by following the vibrancy of what is spoken on *%k. through Advent. Sunday. Much to my relief, use of a I chose The New Com­ lectionary doesn’t spare the mon Lectionary (NCL), preacher from the toil of thinking. In developed by The fact, it may require a bit more. Consultation on Com­ Four Scripture readings (one each mon Texts. The NCL from the Prophets, Psalms, Gos­ follows a three-year pels, and Epistles) are included for cycle, designated as each Sunday. Often it is a challenge Years A, B, C. Year A just to find the common link (if any) took me into Mat­ between these four. Another task is thew’s account of to discover what these scriptures Christ’s birth. Year B have to do with the season at hand. listed readings A third concern is to discern the from Mark, theme that fits the needs of one’s John, and Luke. congregation. From there the work I started with is very much like developing a series Year C. It led me from scratch. However, following a through the Ad­ carefully planned schedule such as vent season this should keep one from riding the with readings same texts annually, neglecting from Luke. fresh mounts. The following excerpt from the in­ troduction for PNCL indicates that my concern for proper preparation was not unique. This volume is not designed as a substitute for work with the biblical text; on the contrary, its in­ tent is to encourage such work. ... There are no sermons as such here. . . . Only the one who preaches can do an exegesis of the listeners and mix into sermon preparation enough local soil so as to effect an indigenous hearing of the Word.1 A second concern was whether worship services would auto­ matically become more formal, less

28 Spirit-led, and lukewarm. Gladly I tends to dull the richness of our read the Word privately. With Sun­ found that the services continued to faith. But worse than that is the day School attendance also on be visited by the Spirit. In addition, experience of having major feast the decline, there is less study of since the lectionary covers the en­ days such as Christmas and the Scripture among our people. tire Christian calendar, not just Ad­ Easter go by without adequate The primary place or setting for vent, I was directed toward preach­ preparation for them and no larger the systematic reading of the ing on the theme of Epiphany. Prior context in which they can be un­ Scripture remains with the wor­ to this I didn’t even know what derstood. This is a trend of secu­ ship service. This places an enor­ Epiphany meant. I discovered it to larism that an increasing number mous responsibility upon most be a season in January focusing on of Christian people want to avoid.3 leaders of worship. Do we each texts in which Jesus revealed him­ I was reassured by these com­ develop our own systematic read- self as the Son of God. ments that using a lectionary could ing list or use “the roulette These texts almost demand an be done profitably. When I began im­ method,” praying that the Holy evangelistic emphasis. If Jesus said, plementing it, experience confirmed Spirit will guide us each week? “I am the Christ, the Son of God,” that notion. For instance, use of a The former requires wisdom and the next question ought to be, lectionary has prompted me to in­ knowledge beyond our ability for “What are you going to do about it?” clude a greater quantity of Bible in the most part. Further, it requires An invitation to decision naturally fol­ each service. Lectionaries were de­ more preparation time for plan­ lows such a question. veloped centuries ago partly as a re­ ning worship than many are able In addition to these questions, I sponse to the cry for Scripture. With or willing to give. wondered where others in the literacy levels low, and printed texts A benefit of using PNCL pertains evangelical/Wesleyan tradition to ritual of lighting Advent candles. stood in regards to lectionary Complete Advent candle lighting preaching. In John Wesley’s “Letter thoughts are available each year to Dr. Coke, Mr. Asbury, and Our from Christian bookstores, but I Brethren in North America” of Sep­ have chosen to write “original” tember 10, 1784, he said: thoughts based on commentary in­ I have prepared a Liturgy, little cluded in PNCL. These are usually differing from that of the Church thoughts not included in, but compli­ of England . . . which I advise all mentary to, the sermon. the Travelling Preachers to use on While I am enthusiastic about lec­ the Lord’s day, in all the congrega­ tionary preaching, I do have one or tions, reading the Litany only on two reservations. First, following the Wednesdays and Fridays, and lectionary through Lent, and es­ praying extempore on all other available only to a few, congrega­ pecially after Easter, was difficult. It days___ tions received their weekly ration of was hard to find common themes or If any one will point out a more God’s Word in church meetings. I reasons why a scripture passage rational and scriptural way of liked the idea of feeding my people was chosen for a particular Sunday. feeding and guiding those poor more “meat” and began opening After six months I began to feel lost in sheep in the wilderness, I will worship with several verses of someone else’s territory. I wanted to gladly embrace it. At present, I Scripture in addition to the usual go back to the Bible and find the way cannot see any better method reading and sermon text. for myself. So I did. I have preached than that I have taken.”2 Now our worship typically in­ from Genesis, Mark, and Colossians, Robert Webber, professor at cludes two readings of several emphasizing truth my congregation Wheaton College, wrote: verses in addition to the sermon and I myself needed to hear. But, with I believe the current move to­ text. The theme of the service is an­ Advent coming soon, I will be picking ward following the cycle of the nounced before the first reading up the lectionary again. church year will assist us in recov­ with hints as to how the scripture re­ Lectionary preaching is a valuable ering the variety in worship which lates. Hopefully the congregation experiment for the parson striving to so many evangelicals feel is a pri­ does not hear a disconnected jum­ present a balanced diet of God’s ority. I have often found that wor­ ble of scriptures but perceives the Word to his people. It will give a ship which does not follow the voices of prophet, historian, Gospel more even emphasis on the “high church year is often characterized or Epistle writer in concert. days” of the Christian calendar and by sameness. Sermons are built Dr. Melvin H. Shoemaker, pro­ draw us away from those texts and around the study of a particular fessor of New Testament and theol­ issues we tend to overwork. $ biblical book or a series on the ogy, Azusa Pacific University, wrote NOTES 1. Preaching the New Common Lectionary: Year Lord’s Prayer, the Beatitudes, the in a personal letter about the con­ C. Advent. Christmas, Epiphany (Nashville: Ab­ Ten Commandments, and the fruit tinuing need for regular public Bible ingdon Press, 1985), 9. of the Spirit. This pattern is then reading and teaching. 2. The Works o f John Wesley, 3rd ed. (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1978), interrupted only then by “special” The tragedy today is that so 13:252. For this reference I am indebted to Dr. Melvin Sundays of Christmas, Easter, few people are attending worship Shoemaker, professor of New Testament and theol­ ogy, Azusa Pacific University. Mother’s Day, and so on. For me, on a regular basis in our society, 3. Worship Is a Verb (Waco, Tex.: Word Books, this has become a routine that and so many who do have not 1985), 167-68.

29 PREA Here’s What / W ant from Your Sermon

fter 40 years in the ministry and ters and pin it above your desk so you are not living an insular life but A after preaching 2,000 ser­ that you never lose sight of it as you are involved in the real world. mons, I retired in 1972. Since then prepare. Avoid generalities. Keep it 6. Intellectual stimulation I’ve been in the pew as a listener in specific. I want to feel that you have wres­ scores of churches across the coun­ 4. This sermon is based on a mes­ tled with various concepts and phi­ try. I don’t claim to be competent to sage from God losophies and are challenging us to teach you how to preach, but of one To most people the term preacher do likewise. The famous preachers thing I’m sure: what I want from a means the typical popular cler­ of our tradition—Isaiah, Jesus, sermon. gyman on TV who continually as­ Paul—were not preoccupied with 1. Clear auditory reception sures us that God loves us and creating euphoria but appealed to Preachers who don’t use ade­ therefore everything will turn out the powers of reason with which quate voice volume or have never right. God has endowed us. As I watch the learned to enunciate or to use a mi­ The biblical meaning is derived popular TV preachers, I see camera crophone are wasting my time and from the word prophet, one who shots of flowers, water fountains, theirs. speaks for God. As I listen to you, I swaying singers but merely crumbs 2. Acknowledgment of my pres­ want to feel that you have had an of intellectual nourishment. ence intimate conversation with God and This is not a TV sermon where the that you were a good listener. I want 7. I want color and warmth preacher and I have never met. You the feeling that the ultimate author­ We who are in the pews are not a are my pastor; I am a member of ity is the God of Moses, David, Jere­ seminary class prepared to listen to your flock. The true shepherd miah, and Paul. I want to feel that a theological exposition. We are all knows his sheep—their particular you are not speaking casually but sorts of people trapped in a pew scars, needs, hopes. If you keep that there is a sense of divine com­ with our minds easily diverted, es­ your nose in a manuscript or con­ pulsion and urgency in your mes­ pecially if the speaker lapses into tinually stare at the ceiling, I feel that sage. lengthy rationalizations. Nothing you might as well be delivering a ra­ I want a feeling that you are thor­ puts me to sleep quicker than drab, dio sermon. I expect you to glance oughly grounded in biblical theology. pedantic, predictable theologizing. at me a few times. That tends to This is in contradistinction to myopic No doubt an X ray of Miss America transform a dull monologue into a concentration on your favorite Bible is accurate and scientific, but it’s not living dialogue. passages and the ability to cleverly going to grab my attention. Some­ 3. Simplicity use the concordance to fortify your thing in me is attracted to beauty, I don’t want seven points nor five position. grace, and color. The effective points, nor even the classic three 5. You are in touch with reality preacher knows how to use adjec­ points—just one distinct point. To We are not in a Levantine country tives, illustrations, similes, analo­ try to do more in 20 minutes is sheer of the first century. We are not in me­ gies, and so on, to dress up the bare folly. I am not pleading for simplistic dieval Wittenberg, nor Elizabethan bones of a sermon. thinking but for effective communi­ England, nor in a celestial kingdom 8. A renewal of my faith in God and cation. The parables of Jesus are fa­ surrounded by angels and saints, hope for the future mous because they gave His hear­ nor in a science-fiction world of the In this world of violence, interna­ ers one clear and impressive point 21st century. We are in the United tional tension, increasing computer­ to take back into daily life. States in the 20th century,’ enjoying ization and depersonalization, there One of the most helpful sug­ more material advantages than any isn’t much to sustain us. We urgently gestions I ever received from a nation in history but facing desper­ need—as never before—the strength homiletics professor was this: De­ ate problems in crime, nuclear war­ that the sacraments, the church com­ cide on one clear, specific purpose fare, moral decadence, and eco­ munity, and the sermon can bring to for your sermon. Write it in large let­ nomic instability. I want to feel that us. HERS: DON'T STRAIN

y o u r r s

here is a reason to be con­ vine love. Worship must be God- The apostle Paul used “I.” In Phil. cerned about the excessive centered, not self-centered. 3:14, he states, “I press toward the Tuse of the word “I” in the pulpit. The rich man in Luke 12 used “I” mark for the prize of the high calling More than one minister with whom I several times in those few short of God in Christ Jesus.” A chapter am acquainted has received consid­ verses. He was caught up in his own later, in verse 13, he states, “I can do erable criticism for talking too much little world. It is so easy to see con­ all things through Christ.” In 2 Tim. about himself. After noting how ceit or self-centeredness in this 4:7 he testifies, “I have fought a many times one pastor referred to parable, but each minister should good fight, I have finished my himself, an unsaved hearer stated he look into his own mirror for “/strain.” course, I have kept the faith.” felt the pastor was “too full of pride.” In a revival service I attended re­ Christ himself used I. In John 6:48 One man who had just joined a holi­ cently, the word “I” was used 180 He declares, “I am that bread of life,” ness church, after hearing one of times during the course of the mes­ and in 9:5, “I am the light of the our evangelists speak, declared, sage, not including the opening and world.” “I am the good shepherd,” “The problem is, they talk too much closing remarks! Nor were the He announced in John 10:11, 14. about themselves.” I’ve heard similar words “I’ve,” “I’d,” “me,” “my,” “mine,” There are appropriate times to comments about other men. and so on, included in the count. use personal illustrations. The con­ Preachers, don’t “strain your I’s.” One hundred and eighty times! cern is for the excessive use of “I” in One concern is that we turn peo­ While it’s hard to pinpoint just how our pulpits. “I” can’t be your favorite ple off, and in doing so, we lose a many times are appropriate, 180 subject. Have a valued friend check chance to win them for Christ. The seems excessive. After hearing this you and see how many times you’re person in the pew will be perturbed evangelist speak for several nights, using the first person, or record a by too many references to oneself. it became increasingly difficult to sermon and count for yourself. Another concern is that when a handle the “I strain.” There is a real One well-known evangelist spoke pastor speaks too frequently of him­ danger of speaking more about self about winning people to the Lord. self, his people will probably tend to than of the Savior! His advice was to look them in the follow suit. If we’re not careful, our Let’s make a comparison. In the eye and talk about Jesus, Jesus, testimony services can become sermon “Handpicked for Greatness” Jesus. Jesus tells us in John 12:32, times to let God and the congrega­ the author, Randal Earl Denny, uses “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, tion know how much we love Him. “I” twice, referring to himself. It is will draw all men unto me.” Fellow The songwriter wrote, “What a possible to preach effectively with­ preachers, lift Him up, and don’t Friend We Have in Jesus,” not “What out constantly referring to oneself! “strain your I’s.” a Friend We Are to Jesus.” The fo­ Use of the word “I” shouldn’t be — Larry T. Allen cus of our worship must be His di­ necessarily avoided in the pulpit. Chandler, Ind.

Postscript other. Notice how things change: this vital quest for God’s Word, Here is an acid test for a sermon: The volume of your voice and the God’s love, God’s peace. Will it hold up if you change the set­ frequency of your gestures de­ ting from a public to a person-to-per­ crease. Your theology becomes — Eldred Johnston son situation? Take away the pulpit, more modest, less confident. Notice Columbus, Ohio ! the pews, the choir. Move to a your increased concern for the re­ Reprinted from The Clergy Journal, January 1985. kitchen table with you on one side sponse of your listeners— and per­ Copyright by Church Management, P.O. Box 1625, and a couple of your friends on the haps even a request for their help in Austin, TX 78767. Used by permission.

31 COMING TO TERMS WITH THE DOCTRINE OF ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION

by David D. Durey Assistant Pastor, Church of the Nazarene J Redlands, Calif.

rior to my ordination as a minis­ Kenneth Grider states that entire cerned with understanding entire P ter in the Holiness Movement, I sanctification is “the most crucial sanctification and pursuing it as a began asking other pastors what and definitive nomenclature” within life passion than he was with using their views were concerning the the study of Christian holiness.1 It is correct phrases and terminology. doctrine of entire sanctification. The clearly the distinctive doctrine of Wesley was not troubled when oth­ resistance and confusion that I en­ Wesleyanism and the Holiness ers expressed this doctrine in terms countered came as a surprise. Few Movement. However, establishing that differed from his.4 Grider calls were willing to offer an explanation clarity and consensus regarding this this problem “nomenclaturitus.” of the doctrine. One pastor stated doctrine has been difficult, even dur­ Wesleyanism’s terminology has long that most Wesleyans who had ing the time of John Wesley. Wes­ been misunderstood and some­ worked through this doctrinal issue ley’s emphasis was on the experi­ times misappropriated, even within had probably done so outside of tra­ ence itself, not the systematic and the movement. A simple listing of ditional Wesleyan-holiness theology. comprehensive statement of the terms commonly used as synonyms For example, one stated that he held doctrine. His associates set out to for entire sanctification illustrates a view of sanctification that was clarify and develop the doctrinal the need for clarity. These terms in­ more in line with the Keswick move­ structure, but in doing so they intro­ clude “perfection” or “Christian per­ ment, not the Wesleyan. Is the doc­ duced terms and nuances that Wes­ fection,” “perfect love,” “the second trine of entire sanctification facing a ley did not include, or to which he blessing,” “the second work of theological identity crisis? only alluded. The refining of the doc­ grace,” “Christian holiness,” “holi­ Having grown up in the Holiness trine of entire sanctification during ness,” “scriptural holiness,” “second Movement and having served for 13 the past 200 years has led to scores blessing holiness,” our “Canaan,” years within three of the larger holi­ of splinter groups, many of which “Wesleyanism,” “the baptism with ness denominations, I assumed that emphasize some specific element of the Holy Spirit,” “heart purity,” “the my understanding of entire sanctifi­ belief or behavior.2 By 1971 there fullness of the blessing” or “full sal­ cation was accurate. However, in were more than 150 denominations vation,” and “sanctification.”5 All of reading the works of John Wesley, it and organizations who held mem­ these terms have been used to refer became clear that there was a great bership in the Christian Holiness As­ to the act of God, subsequent to re­ deal of difference between Wesley’s sociation.3 However, the fact that generation, whereby the Christian is definition of entire sanctification and this association exists indicates that cleansed from the sin nature and the “folk theology” that I had been there is strong agreement within this filled with the Holy Spirit. taught as I grew up. The prospect of segment of evangelicalism, even I have examined the writings of being ordained within the Holiness though there have been differences over 20 current Wesleyan-holiness Movement without resolving this in the past. scholars from various holiness de­ tension between folk theology and One reason that this doctrine has nominations to see if these scholars Wesleyan-holiness scholarship pro­ been plagued by misunderstanding could provide a consensus definition vided the initial motivation for the fol­ is the lack of clarity and exactness in of this important Wesleyan doctrine. lowing study. terminology. Wesley was more con­ The purpose of this investigation is

32 UPDATE EDITOR, MARK D. MARVIN, PASTORAL MINISTRIES

thousands of sinners repented and believed under W esley’s min­ CHRISTIAN istry in 18th-century England. But this was just the beginning. As soon as they were converted, they were enrolled in small groups. EDUCATION The Methodist class meetings, with their emphases upon careful study of the Word, prayer, and personal introspection, were crit­ ically important in conserving the fruits of evangelism. — OR ELSE And the tw o still g o togeth er— it is not either/or but both/and. By his own admission, Billy Graham’s greatest frus­ Ever since our Master mandated the Great Commission, tration is at the point of making disciples out of believers. In evangelism has been the highest priority of His Church. From its every crusade, thousands come forward to accept Christ as their inception, the Church of the Nazarene has made this its key Savior. But relatively few of these converts demonstrate their objective. But Church history records the fact that in too many faith by becoming responsible members of His Church. denominations the initial priority placed on evangelism has slack­ Nazarene pastors are well aware of the fact that although ened with the passing years, supplanted by concern for nurturing we still see great numbers of people respond to our evangelistic and Christian education. This has resulted in a critical shift from invitations, the attrition rate is tragically high. Even after be­ crisis to process— growing into grace rather than growing in coming “new Nazarenes,” many fall by the wayside— up to 50 grace. percent in a 10-year period! It is time to spend more time in The truth is, evangelism and education are two sides of the intentional nurturing, without decelerating our evangelistic ef­ same coin. It all began with Jesus. He made it clear to Nico- forts. Candidates for church membership must be carefully in­ demus that his progress in piety, evidenced by the religious dis­ doctrinated in our basic beliefs. They must know what they are ciplines of Judaism, would not get him into the kingdom of God. joining. Both new and older Christians should be urged to partic­ “You must be born again,” He told him (John 3:7, NIV). The ipate in small prayer and Bible study groups. Grounding in the Savior was setting the timeless entrance requirement for disci- Word is the best “ preventive medicine” for spiritual illnesses. pleship. Both physical and spiritual births are instantaneous ex­ Adult Sunday School classes serve this purpose effectively, as periences. But in each case, birth is just the beginning. A fter His well as providing excellent opportunities for fellowship, which is disciples had responded to His call to follow Him, they had a lot a vital part of the nurturing process. of growing to do. Their Master patiently taught them the basic But Christian education must begin long before a commit­ principles of Christianity and nurtured them in their newfound ment to Christ has been made. The Board of General Superin­ faith. The Great Commission still includes both “G o and make tendents recently met with George Gallup, the well-known poll­ disciples,” and “[Teach] them to obey everything I have com­ ster. He shared some rather alarming data with us from his most manded you” (Matt. 28:19-20, NIV). current religious survey. Although four out of five Americans Our Wesleyan roots go down deep into this spiritual soil. classify themselves as Christians, fewer than half attend church Mr. Wesley carefully followed Christ’s example of calling men with any degree of regularity. A considerable number of those and women to make definite decisions to follow Him. Multiplied surveyed could not correctly identify who preached the Sermon on the Mount, or state how many apostles were called by Jesus! American spiritual illiteracy is almost unbelievable. Some fu­ turists predict that by the turn of the century, 50 percent of all U.S. residents will have no Christian memories or orientation. These harsh realities make it imperative that we prioritize Christian education in our programming. Sunday School is im­ portant business. Buses should be taken out of mothballs and put back into action. Biblical seeds must be planted in young minds by General Superintendent if an evangelistic harvest is to be reaped. Eugene L. Stowe It is, in fact, Christian education, or else!

A complimentary subscription to the Preacher's Magazine is sent to all English-speaking ministers in the Church of the Nazarene from the Nazarene Publishing House. CHAPLAINCY IV1IINJIST Hlfct*

WeVe Looking for a Few Goo

MINISTERS

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT Chaplaincy Ministries

6401 THE PASEO, KANSAS CITY, MO 64131 ... In recognition of faith­ ful stewardship ... repre­ sented by payment in full of all assigned budgets and giving 10 percent or more for others." The Functions of the Church Growth Division Are .. .*

CHURCH GROWTH DIVISION d 'ii i\ a c i r __ ■ ■ ■ To contribute to the growth of God's kingdom by Bill M. Sullivan, Director encouraging growth in the Church of the Naza­ rene.

CHAPLAINCY MINISTRIES ..To provide administrative and pastoral support to Curt Bowers, Director Nazarene chaplains, to recruit and endorse qual­ ified leaders for specialized ministries, and to main­ tain a ministry to Nazarene servicemembers and families.

CHURCH EXTENSION MINISTRIES .To encourage and assist local churches and district Michael R. Estep, Director leaders to pursue an aggressive program of church plan ting .

EVANGELISM MINISTRIES .To promote aggressive evangelism in all of its many M. V. "Bud" Scutt, Director forms throughout the denomination.

PASTORAL MINISTRIES Wilbur W. Brannon, Director .To increase the effectiveness of the Christian minis­ try by providing resources in education, devel­ opment, guidance, and support for pastors and all ministers serving in the various roles of ministry.

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W o r W Is Your Team Winning?

TRAINING CAMP:

16th General NWMS Convention Hoosier Dome Indianapolis June 21-23, 1989

The NW M S team depends on you, pastor. Your participation could determine the outcome o f the season. You need to be at the Convention to know all the new plays, as well as rule changes.

SCHEDULE: Tuesday, June 20 • Registration of United States/Canadian Delegates— 4-9 P.M. • Orientation and Registration of International Delegates— 7-10 P.M. • Open Visitors’ Registration Wednesday, June 21 • Workshops on All NWMS Emphases— Morning and Afternoon • Prayer Brunch— Delegates and Missionaries Thursday, June 22 • Legislative Committees (Delegates)— 8:15 A.M. • Opening Session— 9:30 A.M., in the H oosier Dome • General President’s and Director’s Reports • Theme Presentation— 11 A.M. March of the Flags, missionaries, international delegates, and music from around the world • Elections • Exciting Reports from World Mission Regions • Inspirational Mission Rally— 7:30 P.M. Great missionary choir and brass ensemble; dynamic speaker— Dr. Jeanine van Beek, director of Nazarene Theological College in Haiti; 75th Anniversary Project Lift-off Friday, June 23 • Opening Session— 8:30 A.M. • Reflections from World Mission Regions • Induction of General NWMS Council • Adjournment Daily Events • Prayer Room— 7 A.M. to 9 P.M., open to all • Exhibit Hall— open to all Alabaster Fountain, 75th Anniversary Display, Creative Center (more than 100 new ideas on display)

SPECIAL TRIBUTES Wanda Knox— In Memoriam; Alabaster’s 40th Anniversary; World Mission Radio; General Budget

Be a member of a winning team! Attend the 16th General NWMS Convention and be informed and inspired. HAS YOUR CHURCH

STRUCK T OUT?

According to pastors' reports, local churches have shared more than 9 million spendable dollars that came into their coffers through bequests in wills over the last three years.

That's right, I said, over $9,000,000

Has your local church "struck out"? How long has it been since a Life Income Gifts Services representative presented a wills seminar for your congregation? The seminars are a free service of your General Church. Only a free-will offering for the representative is requested.

LIFE INCOME GIFTS SERVICES Church of the Nazarene 6401 The Paseo Kansas City, MO 64131 Rev. Robert D. Hempel, Director

Name:______Telephone:

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Church:______D istrict:------

( ) Please send the brochure, "Answers to All the Questions You Have Wanted to Ask About Life Income Gifts Services."

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E Q \ ' s e 321 As usual, God's forward planning was perfect! The photo above was taken through a dense filter every 10 minutes, starting 30 minutes before and ending 30 minutes after an annular eclipse of the sun on May 30, 1984, by photographer William P. Stern, Jr., in Picayune, Miss. The next annular eclipse of the sun in the United States will be May 10, 1994. At that time some photographer will get a spectacular shot of the eclipse because he or she will prepare for it by being in the right place at the right time with the right equipment to make the photo­ graph.

Nazarene Group Term Life Insurant is one of the best ways to reach in the uncertain future at the right pla and time to provide additional finai cial resources when they are mo needed. Regardless of anyone's pre ent income, it is possible to provic protection for their fam ily's futui through wise use of present resource Today's Action= Tomorrow's Security

Nazarene Supplemental Life Insurance Program

REOPENING OF ENROLLMENT Without Health Statements New enrollments or increased coverage "EXTRAS" STILL INCLUDED for primary insurance and dependent's insurance may be requested at any time • In the event of the participant's total of the year. However, from June 15, disability, no premium is charged for 1989, through October 1989, no proof of primary or dependent insurance. insurability will be required for the purchase of coverage within the re­ • Life benefits are matched in the case of accidental death. opening limits. (For either kind of cov­ erage a primary insured must be within • Special benefits apply in the event of the reopening age limits—44 or under dismemberment. —and may not have been declined in the past for Supplemental Group Term Life Insurance.)

Nazarene ministers and church-employed laymen may write for details to:

BOARD OF PENSIONS AND BENEFITS USA 6401 The Paseo Kansas City, MO 64131 Tel. (816) 333-7000, Ext. 405

Or stop by the Pensions booth at General Assembly and ask your questions in person.

32K THE SHEPHERD’Sl i f e Coming to you each quarter from Pastoral Ministries, Wilbur Brannon, Director

L e a d e r s h ip NSPIRATION ULFILLMENT NRICHMENT

GRACE.

GRACE What a liberating concept! Without fulness— discovering the error only our deserving it, God accepts us as His after irreparable damage has already IS NO children. He freely forgives us, no been done. strings attached. We are loved uncon­ A crisis faces our civilization. The fall­ ditionally! Incredible? Who can fathom out of nuclear armaments, ecological di­ EXCUSE! it? sasters, and the international monetary However, even “grace” can be a tool situation are constantly being dra­ the grand deceiver uses to lure the best matized. The moral failures of public fig­ of us into sin. Paul asserted, “ Where sin ures are also exposed, even if those fail­ was multiplied, grace immeasurably ex­ ures have been admitted, corrected, ceeded it.” Then he played the devil’s forgiven, and forgotten long ago. advocate and argued, “Shall we persist Isn’t it ironic that the toppling of great in sin, so that there may be all the more men from high places is by the very soci­ grace?” In holy rebuttal, he shouted, ety that encourages the compromised “No, no!” (Rom. 5:20; 6:1, NEB). morality they condemn? Pornographic Furthermore, he declares our free­ books and videos have invaded our dom from legalism: “ You are no longer homes and polluted the streams of under law, but under the grace of God.” Christian influence. Physical and sexual Again he argues the tempter’s point, abuse in fam ilies has now been so “Are we to sin, because we are not un­ widely made known that even the Chris­ der law but under grace?” The logic of tian community has been embarrassed. righteousness insists, “ O f course not,” Paganism is in the air we breathe. It because if we do sin we become its ser­ captures us; it converts the young and it vant. The purpose of God’s great grace subverts the church. Ignoring the very is so we may “ yield [our bodies] to the laws of God written into the fabric of our service of righteousness, making for a moral character has left us broken, holy life” (Rom. 6:14-15, 19, NEB). fallen, and confused. The effects have Personal morality has been so com­ destroyed both lay and clergy members promised these days that most can only of the church. faintly discern right and wrong, if at all. I could not rest after hearing of a fel­ This moral insensitivity has had a devas­ low minister having to leave his church. tating influence on the conscience and The question that kept pressing my at­ behavior of the church in general, in­ tention was, “ Would he have done it if cluding the ordained clergy. While we had kept the line between right and preaching grace, we have too often wrong more clearly defined?” Righ­ tacitly excused sin! Then, without no­ teousness does not give us the right to W ilbur W. Brannon ticing it, we have made unacceptable ac­ be judgmental. Yet neither does grace Pastoral Ministries Director commodations for our own unfaith­ give us an excuse to sin. as a prerequisite to receiving a certifi­ SPECIAL COMMITTEE cate in lay ministry. It would be further CONSULTATION expected that the lay minister receive a ON MINISTERIAL ON THE certificate in a specialized concentration CERTIFICATION OF of study through Continuing Lay Train­ PREPARATION ing (CL/SS). The Ministerial Studies HELD AT TNC LAY MINISTERS MEETS Board would provide support in recom­ mending an assigned practicum to be A Consultation on Ministerial Prepara­ An ad hoc committee met in Kansas implemented by the pastor of the tion was jointly sponsored by Pastoral City on November 29, 1988, to discuss church issuing the certificate. Ministries and Trevecca Nazarene Col­ how the roles of pastor and lay minister M anual changes were made to com­ lege, October 19-20, 1988, at Trevecca relate to the mission of the church. The ply with these recommendations, includ­ lay minister was identified as one who is ing the provision for districts to utilize Nazarene College in Nashville. District recognized as a leader, recognized for lay ministers for special assignment. superintendents, members of the Minis­ his spiritual gifts, demonstrates fruit­ More and more laypersons are being terial Credentials Boards and Ministerial fulness in service, and is motivated be­ identified to fill the role of pastor as a Studies Boards, college religion faculty, yond maintenance responsibilities. The viable alternative to the “ordained and representatives from Nazarene lay minister may fill roles such as a sig­ clergy” as leaders for growing numbers Theological Seminary participated. nificant lay leader in church growth- of churches. The program included “Foundations related ministry, pulpit supply, rural pas­ This special effort has been made to for Ministerial Preparation.” The charac­ tor, or a facilitator in establishing give added importance and an element teristics, competencies, and aptitudes of satellite or extension classes. of accountability to the certification of a model minister were presented. Dis­ Level I in the ministerial Course of lay ministers. cussions then centered on how to de­ Study, supervised by the district Minis­ For futher information, contact Pas­ terial Studies Board, was recommended toral Ministries. □ velop these in the educational process. “Facilitating Preparation for Minis­ try” was a section in which representa­ tives of Pastoral Ministries, TNC, NTS, and the districts presented their roles in •:*r. the process of ministerial preparation. Such topics as fostering the call to min­ istry, the developmental patterns of ministerial candidates, and the practical issues in ministerial preparation stimu­ lated helpful responses. The “nuts and bolts” of district boards were included in “ Functioning to Help Qualify Ordinands.” Question-and- answer periods helped bring to the sur­ face important perspectives that have no other forum for discussion. The ad hoc committee on lay ministry is pictured (I. to rJ. Rev. J. B. Evans, Rev. Jesse Middendorf, Rev. “Focusing on New Dreams” gave an Wilbur W. Brannon, Rev. David Felter, Rev. William Stewart, Or. Howard Chambers. opportunity to deal with ways to refine COURSE OF STUDY UPDATE the process of ministerial preparation. The Ministry Internship concept was Theology of Personal Ministry by Rich­ Steps to the Sermon by H. C. Brown, raised several times as having high value ards and Martin (optional reading book, H. G. Clinards, J. S. Northcutt (optional in the preparation of ministers. The cre­ Deacon— Christian Education track, reading book, Elder track, Level II, ative exchange of ideas made the ex­ Level II, 2 2 5 b ) has a new title, Lay M in­ 124d) has been dropped. perience of those present comment that istry. To Spread the Power by George G. this kind of dialogue should be re­ Introduction to Christian Theology by Hunter II will be used as the text for an peated. H. Orton Wiley (text, all tracks, Level III, additional course added in the Elder This is the third time a regional col­ 132, 232, 332, 432) has been replaced track, Level IV under the category of lege has cosponsored a consultation on by Grace, Faith, and Holiness by H. Ray Evangelism/Church Growth (146). The Dunning. reading books for this new course have ministerial preparation. The others have Preaching Holiness Today by Richard not been selected at the time of printing. been held at Mount Vernon Nazarene Taylor has been added as a required Contact Pastoral Ministries for their ti­ College and Southern Nazarene Univer­ reading book (Elder track, Level II, tles. □ sity. □ 124b). WELCOME TO THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE: INTRODUCING OUR FAMILY AVAILABLE ON FILM

Welcome to the Church of the Nazarene: Introducing Our Family, an outreach tool scripted by Dr. Richard Parrott, was designed for use in membership prepa­ ration classes and to inform potential church members about the Church of the Nazarene. It is available for purchase on videocassette (PAVA-5995) for $29.95, or can be rented on 16-mm film for $7.50 (PAFR-5995). This valuable tool for pastors projects a positive, yet realistic image of the Church of the Nazarene, and will help incorporate new people into the life of the church. A companion book (PA083-411- 2566, $4.95) and leader’s guide (PA083-411-2558, $2.50) both titled Welcome to the Church of the Nazarene: An Introduction to Membership, are also available for use in membership prepa­ ration classes. To order write your Nazarene Pub­ lishing House, P.O. Box 419527, Kan­ sas City, MO 64141, or call the U.S. toll-free order number 1-800-877-0700. □ MEET “HEARTLINE” COUNSELOR Michael (Mike) Malloy

Originally from Tulsa, Okla., Mike and his wife, Jeannie, moved to Nashville in 1975 to accept a posi­ and recruitment of support volun­ B.S., Oklahoma State University tion at Christian Counseling Ser­ teers, Beyond Fear. vices. He has been the center’s di­ Assistant Professor of Social Work, Mike, Jeannie, and their two rector since 1977, watching the Trevecca Nazarene College, daughters are members of Nash­ budget grow from $56,000 to over Nashville ville First Church of the Nazarene President, The Association of $330,000. Mike was instrumental and live in Williamson County. Nazarenes in Social Work in the creation of the “Promise” Mike brings with him several pro­ program, a resource to support fessional credentials, including: Writings: groups working with individuals M.S.S.W., University of Texas My Brother’s Keeper? dealing with homosexuality and at Arlington Currently editing— AIDS: A Primer their families. Out of this has devel­ M.R.E., Southwestern Baptist for the Church □ oped their work in AIDS education Theological Seminary

32N NAZARENE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY CONTINUING EDUCATION: PASTORS' SCHOOL Nazarene Theological Seminary MEGATRENDS IN PASTORAL CARE

nOBER 10, 11, 12, 1989

WILLIAM E. HULME Professor of Pastoral Theology, Luther Northwest Theological Seminary, and Author of 30 Books DELIVERS T he G il b e r t L e c t u r e s on C h ristia n P syc h ia t r y October 10, 11, 12, 1989

■RACE KETTERMAN Nationally known psychiatrist, adjunct pro- isor at NTS, author of 199 Questions Parents \sk, When You Feel Like Screaming: Help for toubled Mothers, addresses, “Emotional Prob­ ins in C hildren and H o w to P reven t T h e m ”

THER WORKSHOP LEADERS

MICHAEL J. CHRISTIANSEN DR. CHESTER GALLOWAY PAUL M. BASSETT DR. MICHAEL MALLOY REV. DAVID RODES Director, Golden Gate Professor o f Christian Professor o f the History o f Director Christian Pastor, Church of the Ministries, San Francisco Education and Counseling Christianity, Nazarene Counseling Services Nazarene, “Pastoral Care for Victims Nazarene Theological Theological Seminary Nashville and Grandview, Wash. of Addiction” Seminary. “Theological Foundations CONET counseling Workshop: "How Specialist in human of Pastoral Care” services to to Develop a development and stress ministers Nurturing Church” management.

ORS' SCHOOL: MEGATRENDS IN PASTORAL CARE COSTS AND CREDIT • October 10, 11, 12, 1989 1. Continuing Education Credit...... $165 ise register me for this event (Before August 1, 1989 ... $150) 2. Doctor of Ministry Credit can be iress arran g ed ...... $250 (Before August 1, 1989 ... $225)

Dhone. ).00— nonrefundable deposit enclosed CLIP AND MAIL TO: Director of Continuing Education eserve a room at King Conference Center if available Nazarene Theological Seminary r. $ 2 0 .0 0 ____ per day Double: $15.00 _____ per day 1700 E. Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64131

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CONDRY, CONNIE. (R) 1732 Fish Hatchery Rd, West Columbia, SC D IR E C T T D E y 29169 CONGER, DELOSS. (R) 10665 Ballestero Dr. E, Jacksonville. FL 32216 EVANGELISM MINISTRIES, CHURCH OF THE COOK, DANNY. (R) 506 N. 6th St, Weatherford, OK 73096 COOK, DAVID. (R) 757 S. Bosart St, Indianapolis, IN 46203 NAZARENE INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS vCOOK, JAMES. Box 332, Seymour, IN 47274 vCOOK, LEON G. 2418 Maple, Wichita, KS 67213 (M onthly slates published in the first issue of the "Herald of Holiness" each m onth) COOPER, DALLAS. (R) Rte. 1, Box 57, Okemah, OK 74859 •COOPER, DONALD k DOLORES. (R) 905 State St, Pekin. IL 61554 •CORNELSEN, EDMER. (R) 1119 Cedar Run Dr, Duncanville, TX 75137 VCOX, CURTIS B. 4002 Old Sterlington Rd, Monroe, LA 71203 COVINGTON, NATHAN. (C) 724 Knollwood, Broken Arrow, OK 74011 •BRACHT, CINDY. (R) 12955 Sarah Ln., Largo, FL 34643 A ______CRABTREE, JAMES C. (C) 3436 Cambridge Dr, Springfield, OH •BRALEY PAUL (R) 1878 Lake Hill Cir, Orlando, FL 32818 ABNEY, JOHN K., (R) R.R. 1, Box 214, College Grove, TN 37046 45503 •BRAND, MARGARET. (R) Box 10332, Fort Wayne, IN 46851 •ABRAMS, KATHY. (R) Rte. 1, Rose Hill, IA 52586 CRAMER, D. EDWARD. (R) 820 3rd Ave, Cadillac, Ml 49601 BREWINGTON, JANE. (R) 140 Hickory Hollow PI., Antioch, TN 37013 VAGNER, J. C. Rte. 1, Box 2570, Lee, FL 32059 CRANDALL VERNON 1 BARBARA. (C) 11177 S. Indian Lake Dr. E, BRICE, GLEN W. (R) 3115 Mission St., Colorado Springs, CO 80909 •ALLEN, JAMES. (R) 2803 Jonathan, Texarkana, TX 75503 Vicksburg, Ml 49097 ♦BRISCOE, JOHN B. (C) Box 78. Canadian, OK 74425 vALLEN, JIMMIE A. 205 N. Murray, No. 244, Colorado Springs, CO ♦CRANE, BILLY D. (C) Rte. 5, Box 447, Parkersburg, WV 26101 BROUGH, NICOLAS. (R) 5620 Cambury, Temple City, CA 91780 80916 V CREWS, H. F. Box 18302, Dallas, TX 75218 BROWN, FRED. (C) P.O. Box 30743, Gahanna, OH 43230 ANDERSON, GERALD W. (R) 2451 215th PI. S.W., Brier, WA •CRIDER, JAMES & JANET. (R) P.O. Box 284, Shirley. IN 47384 •BROWN, LOWELL. (R) 4618 Bostick Cir., Tampa, FL 33614 98036-8930 •CROFFORD, DON. (R) 151 Pond Rd, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 BROWN, MARK. (C) 6209 W. McArthur Ln., Muncie, IN 47302 APPLE, DALE. (R) 1128 S.W. 32nd, Oklahoma City, OK 73109 •CROSWAIT, MILDA (R) 33 Edgecombe Dr, Milford, OH 45150 •BROWN, ROGER N. (C) Box 724, Kankakee, IL 60901 •ARCHER, RONALD E. (R) 4304 N. Peniel, Bethany, OK 73008 CRUFF, CURTIS E. (R) 7726 Milton, Alanson, Ml 49706 BROWN, RON. (C) Rte. 2, Box 230, Ironton, OH 45638 AREY DONALD, EVANGELISM MINISTRIES. (C) RFD 1. Anagance vCULBERTSON, BERNIE. 100 N.E. 8th PI, Hermiston, OR 97838 BROWN, TIM D. (R) 708 Mock Ave, Blue Springs, MO 64015 Ln, Wolfboro, NH 03894 CUNNINGHAM, GARY. (R) 327 Bundy Ave, New Castle, IN 47362 ♦ARMSTRONG, LEON, LINDA, I LANCE. (C) No. 10 Foxcroft Dr., BRUNNER, RICHARD M. (R) Rte. 1, Box 182, Manawa, Wl 54949 Blue Ridge, VA 24064 BRYANT, GROVER. (R) P.O. Box 200, Carthage, MO 64836 ARMSTRONG, ROBERT W. (R) P.O. Box 187, Skowhegan, ME 04976 BUDD, JAY B. (C) 1385 Hentz Dr, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 D ______ATKINSONS, DEAN 1 PAT. (R) Atkinson Family Crusade, P.O. Box 517, v BURKE, OWEN. 2929 E. Broadway, Mesa, AZ 85204 •DAFOE, RAY. (R) 7873 Hickory, Vicksburg. Ml 49097 New Castle, OK 73065-0517 ♦BURKHALTER, PAT. (C) Box 801, Atlanta, TX 75551 DALE, BENNIE. (R) 717 Proctor PI, Midwest City, OK 73110 VATTIG, WALTER. 404 Elm St, Mascoutah, IL 62258 •BURNEM, ANN. (R) 103 New Hampshire Dr, Ashland, KY 41101 BURNHAM, KEN. (R) 221 College Dr, Hesston, KS 67062 •DALE, TOM. (C) 911 Florence, Nampa, ID 83651 V BYERS, CHARLES t MILDRED. 2121C S. Ingram Mill Rd, Spring­ vDANIELS, M. BERT. P.O. Box 75412, Oklahoma City, OK 73147 field, MO 65804 vDANIELS, M. HAROLD. P.O. Box 470, Littleton, CO 80120 B ______v DARNELL H. E. P.O. Box 929, Vivian, LA 71082 •BACHMAN, RICHARD. (R) 7273 Braile, Detroit, Ml 48228 vDAVIS, HAROLD C. 1955 Moran Rd, Choctaw, OK 73030 vBAGGETT, DALLAS. 1313 Fletcher Ave. S.W., Decatur, AL 35601 DAWS, LEONARD J. (R) 3286 Wyoming Ave, Xenia, OH 45385 •BAILEY, TONY ITRICIA. (R) 207 Edgewood Rd, Eureka, IL 61530 c______DAWSON, JAMES A. (R) R.R. 1, Box 189, Wapakoneta, OH 45895 CANEN, DAVID. (C) Rte. 2, Box 12B, Adrian, GA 31002 ♦BAKER, RICHARD C. (C) 3590 Coal Fork Dr., Charleston, WV 25306 DAX JOHN. (R) 4655 Tempe a , Indianapolis, IN 46241 CANFIELD, DAVID. (R) 503 Short White Oak, Russell, KY 41169 BAKER, SAMUEL (R) 3701 Chestnut, Corpus Christi, TX 78411 v DEBOLT, TED & DOROTHY. 349 Ellenwood, West Carrollton, OH •CARATHERS, DELORIS. (R) 9823 Cherry Tree Ln, Indianapolis, IN V BALLARD, DON. 4671 Priscilla, Memphis, TN 38128 45449 46236 vBALLARD, 0. H. 7113 S. Blackwelder, Oklahoma City, OK 73159 •DECKARD, STEVE. (R) R.R. 14, Box 459, Bedford, IN 47421 vCARPENTER, ROBERT. (R) 4805 Airport Rd, Nampa, ID 83651 BARNES, JACK. (C) Rte. 1, Box 150-A, Chapel Hill, TN 37034 ♦DELL, JIMMY (C) 4802 E. Mitchell Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85018 •CASWELL GERALD. (R) 2258 Wise Rd, Nortti Canton, OH 44720 •BELL, JEAN. (C) P.O. Box 776, Bethany, OK 73008 ♦DENNISON, MARVIN E. (C) 1208 S.E. Green Rd, Tecumseh, KS CAYTON, JOHN. (C) 16 Souttiworth St, Lakeville. MA 02347 BELZER, DAVE i BARBARA. (C) Box 32. Miller, SD 57362 66542 CERRATO, ROBERT. (R) 11210 Cherry Ct, 526. Palos Hills, IL 60465 •BENNETT, ROBIN. (R) 189 E Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton, OH vDEPASQUALE, JAMES. (R) P.O. Box 5462, Bellingham, WA 98227 vCHAMBERLAIN, DOROTHY Rte. 21, Box 28, Mobile Park, Car­ 44203 DEWEY KENNETH. (R) Box 637, Rte. 2, Spring Hill, TN 37174 michaels, PA 15320 BENTLEY, PAUL E. (R) 233 Young Ave., Nampa, ID 83651 ♦ DICKSON, RICHARD, LIVING WAY GOSPEL TEAM. (R) 821 Lons- vBERRIAN, HAROLD. 186 Highland Ave., Pennsville, NJ 08070 ♦CHAMBERS. EUGENE. (R) P.O. Box 1187, Bethany, OK 73008 uilp Dr Arviprsnn IN 1 vCHAMBERS, LEON & MILDRED. 218 Regan Dr, Magnolia. MS •BERRY, CHARLES. (R) 2524 Briarwood Dr., Albany, GA 31705 vDISHON, MELVIN. 936 Shive Ln, Lot184. Bowling Green, KY 42101 39652 •BICKFORD, BERNADETTE. (R) 3802 Driftwood, San Angelo, TX vDIXON, GEORGE I CHARLOTTE, c/o Evangelism Ministries' vCHANDLER, WILLIAM. 705 Meadow Lark Ln, Durant, OK 74701 76904 DODDS, JOHN. (C) 272 Jack Oak Rd, St. Marys, OH 45885 •CHANEY, OPAL. (R) 219 Curryer Rd, Middletown, OH 45042 BIRD, LANCE. (R) 1001 Laurel Hills a , Haines City, FL 33844 ♦DODDS, LARRY W. (R) Rte. 5, Box 385, Flint Valley Estates, vCHANEY, REEFORD & BARBARA 4070 Monza Dr, Richmond, VA ♦BLUE, DAVID i DANA. (C) P.O. Box B, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217 Burlington, IA 52601 23234 BLYTHE, ELLIS G. (C) 7731 S.W. 10th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32607 DODGE, KENNETH L (C) 1150 W. Winton Ave, Hayward, CA 94545 vCHAPMAN, W. EMERSON & LOIS. Rte. 1, Box 87, Miltonvale, KS BOCK, DON. (C) Box 412, Washington Court House, OH 43160 •DOLE, CHARLES It VERA. (R) 22210 Salt Fork Rd, Lawrenceburg, 67466 •BOGGS, JERRY. (R) 203-A Linden Ave., South Point, OH 45680 IN 47025 CHASE, FRANK. (R) Lake Country, Box 25, Mannford, OK 74044 BOGUE, WAYNE L (R) 5508 Buckskin Dr., Kokomo, IN 46902 •DOOLITTLE, KEVIN. (R) Andover Township, 2 Ravine Dr, Newton, ♦CHEATWOOD, HENRY i PHYLLIS. (C) Rte. 4, Box 96, Kissee Mills, BOHANNON, WILLIAM. (R) 542 Maple St., East Alton, IL 62024 NJ 07860 MO 65680 •BOICOURT, MARLA. (R) 1413 Willow Dr., Olathe, KS 66062 •DOWNING, ANN. (C) Box 767, Hendersonville, TN 37075 CHIPP, VERLIN E. (C) 127 S. State Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46201 ♦BOND, GARY & BETH. (C) 410 S. Clay St., Sturgis, Ml 49091 DOWTY, PAUL (R) Rte. 3, Box 741, Broken Bow, OK 74728 CHRISTNER, JACK. (C) 1560 Newark Rd, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 ♦BOOUIST, DOUG 4 DEBBIE. (R) 212 E. Sugar St., Mount Vernon, DRESSLER, R. H. (R) Box 750177, Duncan, OK 73573 CLARK, DAVID. (R) 266 Becklea, Madison, IN 37115 OH 43050 DUNCAN, HERSCHEL (R) 350 Birch Dr, Charlestown, IN 47111 CLARK, RON. (R) 1522 Hwy. 261, Newburgh, IN 47630 •BOUGH, ALICE. (R) 638 Oxford, Valparaiso, IN 46069 •DUNMIRE, RALPH & JOANN. (C) 202 Garwood Dr, Nashville. TN VCLAY D. E. P.O. Box 142, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 BOWDEN, AL (C) 4791 Alfred St., Cocoa, FL 32927 37210 vCLAY, M. E. P.O. Box 526, S t Marys. OH 45885 •BOWERS, LUCILLE. (C) 701 N. Buchanan, Little Rock, AR 72205 DUNN, DON. (C) P.O. Box 132, Bartlett, OH 45713 vCLIFT, NORVIE O. 25440 Guitta Ct, Hemet CA 92344 BOYNTON, RICHARD. (C) 6312 E. 98th St. Noblesville, IN 46060 •DURR, DON. (R) 1127 Oakwood Dr, Dunedin, FL 33528 ♦COFFEY, REV. It MRS. RUSSELL E. (C) 1841 128th Ave, Hopkins, BRAATEN, DANIEL W. (R) 4209 E. Pikes Peak Ave., No. 18, Colorado ♦DUTTON, BARRY & TAVIA. (C) PO. Box 119, Clarksburg, MD 20871 Springs, CO 80909 Ml 49328 E ______•EBY, PAUL & MARTHA. (R) P.O. Box 100441, Nashville, TN 37210 VECKLEY, LYLE. Box 153, Laguna Park, TX 76634-5153 •EDWARDS, BOBBY. (R) 1080 Jameson Ct. New Castle. IN 47362 EDWARDS, CHARLES. (C) 19924 Teresa Way, Cerritos, CA 90701 (C) Commissioned (R) Registered ♦Preacher & Song Evangelist ♦Song Evangelist •EIFERT, FRANKLIN. (R) 5902 N. Himes Ave, Tampa, FL 33614 VRetired Elders in Evangelism ELLINGSON, LEE. (C) P.O. Box 1823, Bethany, OK 73008 ’Evangelism Ministries, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131 ELZEY, LEE R. (R) PO. Box 93, Shawnee, OK 74801 ♦ESSELBURN, BUD (THE KING’S MESSENGERS). (C) 28241 S.R. A n adequate budget for evangelism at the beginning of each church year is imperative for each congregation. 60 N, Rte. 1, Warsaw, OH 43844 A revival savings account is useful in building toward adequate support for the evangelist. ESTERLINE, HOWARD G., SR. (R) P.O. Box 550, Coolidge, AZ 85228 EVERMAN, WAYNE. (R) 109 Cox St., Stanton, KY 40380 EVANGELISM MINISTRIES

F ______HOLSTEIN, J. TED. (R) 473-B Dewdrop Cir., Cincinnati, OH 45240 M ______♦FADER, WES & MARY (C) Quail Ridge Dr., Rte. 3, Box 310, HOLT, JAMES. (R) 6220 Old Mill Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46241 MACK, WILLIAM M. (C) 106 Youpon Dr, Hubert, NC 28539 Salisbury, MD 21801 HOOTS, BOB. (C) 309 Adair St, Columbia, KY 42728 •MADDOX, HOMER & MARTHA. (R) 1917 Wilkens St, Indianapolis. FAULK, A. RAY. (R) Rte. 1, Box 75, Crowley, LA 70526 •HOPKINS, RODNEY (R) Rte. 2, Box 546A, Many, LA 71449 IN 46221 •FELKNER, HENRY. (R) 173 Heartz, Coppell, TX 75019 •HORNE, ROGER & BECKY. (R) P.O. Box 17496, Nashville, TN 32717 MANER, ROBERT E. (C) P.O. Box 675, Fitzgerald, GA 31750 •FIGHTMASTER, ANTHONY (R) 198 Convent, Bourbonnais, IL vHOWARD, DICK. 7901 N.W. 28th Terr, Bethany, OK 73008 MANLEY, STEPHEN. (C) Box 522, Upland, IN 46989 60914 HUBARTT, LEONARD. (R) 8612 Timbermill PI, Fort Wayne, IN 46804 ♦MANN, THURL & MARY KAY. (C) 90 Sycamore Ln, Fort Myers, FL FILES, GLORIA S DOROTHY ADAMS. (C) 1102 N. Peniel Ave., Avon HUBBARD, JEFFIE. (R) 3213 W. Ave. I Temple, TX 76501 33908 Park, FL 33825 HUGHES, MRS. JOYCE. (C) 4524 Ashland City Hwy, Clarksville, TN vMARSH, MILTON. Box 234, Remington, IN 47977 FISHER, CLAIR H. (R) RD 1, 103 Valley View Rd„ Phoenixville, PA 37043 vMARTIN, LEON. Rte. 3, Box 242A, Bonham, TX 75418 19460 HUNDLEY, JOHN D. (C) P.O. Box 764, Nashville, GA 31639 MATTER, DAN & ANN. (R) 2617 Carew St, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 VFISHER, C. WILLIAM. No. 1, Antigua Ct., Coronado, CA 92118 VMAX, HOMER. Rte. 3, Box 217, Knoxville, IA 50138 FLETCHER, RAY. (R) Box 6225, Elgin, OK 73538 VMAY, JOHN. RD 1, Box 17-SG, Colliers, WV 26035 vFLORENCE, ERNEST E. P.O. Box 458, Hillsboro, OH 45133 MAYO, CLIFFORD. (C) Star Rte. 1, Box 13, Dumont, TX 79232 FLOYD, TOM. (R) 5543 W. Michigan, Glendale, AZ 85308 I ______•McABEE, JAMES. (C) 103 Loretta Dr, Spartanburg, SC 29301 FORTNER, ROBERT E. (C) Box 322, Carmi, IL 62821 VIDE, CHARLES. 4925 Cypress Gardens Rd, No. 3, Winter Haven, ♦McCALLIE, JAMES. (R) Rte. 6, Box 254, Columbus, IN 47201 FOSTER, A. D. (R) 1017 N. 20th St., St. Joseph, MO 64501 FL 33880 McCANDLESS, MARION L. (C) P.O. Box 97, Midway City, CA 92655 FRANK, RICHARD A. (C) c/o Evangelism Ministries' INGALLS, JAMES H. (R) 17616 W. 113th Terr, Olathe, KS 66061 McCOOL EARL (C) 1331 N. Iowa, Colorado Springs, CO 80909 •FRAZER, WILMA. (R) 305 High St., Brilliant, OH 43913 INGLAND, WILMA. (R) 1170 Princeton Rd, Monroeville, PA 15146 McCORKLE, ROB. (R) 7606 W. 86th St, Overland Park, KS 66212 FREEMAN, MARY ANN. (R) P.O. Box 129, Gas City, IN 46933 IRWIN, JAMES. (R) 1090 Muldowney Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15207 MCDONALD, CHARLIE E. (C) 920 W. Olive St., West Monroe, LA •FREY, FAMILY DONALD. (R) The Frey Family, 410 S. Clay, Sturgis, 71291 Ml 49091 vMcDOWELL DORIS. 540 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA vFRODGE, HAROLD C. Rte. 2, Geff, IL 62842 91024 J ______McELFRESH, RONALD. (C) 1964 Osage Cir, Olathe, KS 66062 ♦McFERRIN, RICK i LANETTE. (C) Rte. 8, Box 300, Lot 13, Muncie, G ______JACK, GLORIA JEANNE. (R) 701 Kenwood Dr, Russell, KY 41169 IN 47302 •JACKSON, PAUL & TRISH. (C) Box 739, Meade. KS 67864 McGEE, JERRY. (C) 3115 Goldmine Rd, Monroe, NC 28110 GALVEZ, MARCO. (R) 316 N. Lincoln, Barnesville, OH 43713 JACKSON, THOMAS. (R) Rte. 1, Box 242, Flemingsburg, KY 41041 McGUFFEY, JAMES. (R) 1580 Cape Charles Ct, Cicero, IN 46034 GARDNER, JOHN M. (C) 4102 Carlisle Rd, Lakeland, FL 33813 JAMES, RANDALL (C) Rte. 2, Box 138, Middletown, IN 47356 McKELLIPS, DALLAS. (C) P.O. Box 921, Bethany, OK 73008 GAWTHORP, WAYLANO. (C) Rte. 1, Box 97AA, Crowley, LA 70526 ♦JANTZ, MARJORIE. (C) 31 Holly Dr, Olathe, KS 66062 •McKINNON, JUANITA. (C) Box 126, Institute, WV 25112 GERBIG, BERNICE. (R) 315 N. 8th St, Boonville, IN 47601 JANTZ, ORLANDO. (R) HCR 1, Box 185, Minneola, KS 67865 •McMAHAN, W. T t MARGARET. (R) 4218 Lazard St, Chattanooga, GIBSON, NORRIS (Tobie & Company). (C) Rte. 1, Box 385, Man­ JAYMES, RICHARD W. (R) 617 W. Gambier, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 TN 37412 chester GA 31816 •JEWELL BONNIE. (R) 1311 Carroll Dr, Kent, OH 44240 •McNISH, PHYLLIS. (R) 4527 N.W. Geronimo Terr, Topeka, KS 66618 GOLAY, GEORGE. (R) 279 Boice Rd. N.W, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405 JOHNSON, ALBERT. (R) Rte. 2, Box 217, Kenbridge, VA 23944 McWHIRTER, STUART. (C) P.O. Box 458, Corydon, IN 47112 GOODWIN, LESLIE. (R) 12181 Rich, Loveland, OH 45140 JOHNSON, BOB. (R) P.O. Box 499, Woodland Park, CO 80863 vMEADOWS, NAOMI. 2626 Washington Ave, Lot 65, Vincennes, IN •GORDON, BOB. (C) c/o Evangelism Ministries* JOHNSON, DONALD. (R) Box 196, Ogden, IL 61859 47591 •GORMAN, CHARLES AND ANN. (R) 12104 Linkwood Ct, Louisville, •JOHNSON, RON. (C) 3208 Eighth St. E, Lewiston, ID 83501 vMEEK, WESLEY. 5713 S. Shartel, Oklahoma City, OK 73109 KY 40229 JONES, BERT. (C) 1926 Lakeside Dr, Erie, PA 16511 MEENACH, CHRIS. (R) Rte. 2, Box 80A, Franklin Furnace, OH 45629 GOULD, LOREN W. (C) 4479 Hialeah Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23464 JONES, EARL (R) 7958 Pines Blvd., Box 165, Pembrook Pines, FL •MEHR, BETHANY (R) Box 37, South Lyon, Ml 48178 ♦GRABKE, RONALD & MARTHA. (C) 225 Pleasantview Dr, Brain­ 33024 MELVIN, DOLORES. (C) HC 60, Box 224, Greenup, KY 41144 tree, MA 02184 JONES, GRACE L. (C) P.O. Box 251, Leming, TX 78050 •MEREDITH, DWIGHT I NORMA JEAN. (C) c/o Evangelism vGRAY, C. PAUL. 4016 Riverside Dr, Bethany, OK 73008 ♦JONES, TERRY. (C) 2002 Judy Ln, Pasadena, TX 77502 Ministries* ♦GREEN, JIM & ROSEMARY. (C) Box 385, Canton, IL 61520 •JONTE, JOHN. (R) 3905 N.W. 56th PI, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 vMEYER, VIRGIL t DOROTHY. 3112 Willow Oak Dr, Fort Wayne, IN GRIBBEN, GEORGE. (R) Longvue Dr, W in te rs *, OH 43952 ♦JUSTICE, MEL & DONNA. (C) 142 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 46809 GRIMES, ANDREW. (R) 110 Copperfield Dr, Chillicothe, OH 45601 ♦MICKEY, BOB. (C) 504 N. Sixth, Lamar, CO 81052 •GRINDLEY, GERALD & JANICE. (R) 414 W. Oliver, Owosso, Ml MILBURN, GARY. (R) P.O. Box 475, Braddock Heights, MD 21714 48867 MILEY, TROY J. (R) 102 Nazarene Dr, South Charleston, WV 25309 GROVES, C. WILLIAM. (C) 3986 Cypress Ave, Grove City, OH 43123 K ______MILLER, RICHARD S. (R) 2727 Sugar Tree Rd, Bethel, OH 45106 GUNTER, WILLIAM. (R) 12609 29th PI. W, Everett, WA 98204 KEENA, EARL. (C) 2160 D St, Oroville, CA 95966 ♦MILLER, WALLY i CARROLL. (C) 1270 N.E. 27th, Bend, OR 97701 KEETO, MARSHALL (R) P.O. Box 158, Mentmore, NM 87319 MILLHUFF, CHUCK. (C) Box 160, Olathe, KS 66061 •KENYON, PAUL. (R) 6326 Norburn Way, Lansing, Ml 48911 MILLS, CARLTON A. (C) 24 Bow St, Danvers, MA 01923 H ______•KIDDER, KERMIT. (R) 516 Flamingo Dr, Lakeland, FL 33803 vMITCHUM, CLARENCE. 1225 Rockport Rd, Apt. 342B, Boonville, ♦HAINES, GARY. (C) c/o Evangelism Ministries’ KING, DENNIS. (R) 111 Hillcrest Dr, Newburgh, IN 47630 IN 47601 HALL, CARL N. (C) P.O. Box 7086, Clearwater, FL 33518 vKNIGHT, JOHN L 4000 N. Thompkins, Bethany, OK 73008 VMIZ MAUDIE MINISTRIES. 5117 Haleville, Memphis, TN 38116 HALL, DAVID. (R) 3220 N. Wildan, Springfield, MO 65803 KOHR, CHARLES A. (C) Rte. 2, Box 360, Brookville, PA 15825 •MOATS, MARILYN. (R) 617 W. Oak St, Carmi, IL 62821 HAMBLIN, MERLE E. (R) 2616 Fairfield Ave, Kalamazoo, Ml 49004 vKRATZER, RAYMOND C. 4305 Snow Mountain Rd, Yakima, WA vMODESITT, BRUCE. 1114 Henley St, Decherd, TN 37324 •HANKINS, GEORGE W. (C) 3 E. Buttonwood St, Wenonah, NJ 98908 MONCK, JIM. (C) 920 Madrone Ave, Chico, CA 95926 08090 •KRAUTER, DARREN. (R) 6216 N. Sheldon, Apt 1908, Tampa, FL MONROE, JOHN. (R) Rte. 1, Box 389. McLoud, OK 74851 •HANSON, BRIAN. (C) 5505-A Thompkins Ct, Virginia Beach, VA 33615 MOORE, NORMAN. (C) P.O. Box 1510, Vista, CA 92083 23464 MOORE, RUDOLPH. (C) P.O. Box 56, Fortville, IN 46040 vHARCOURT, HAROLD C. 1301 Newbury Dr, Norman, OK 73071 MORLEY, FRANK. (C) 4080 Pedley Rd, No. 151, Riverside, CA 92509 HARRISON, ROBERT. (R) 7215 Acacia, Leander, TX 78641 MORRIS, CLYDE. (C) 101 Bryant Lake Rd, Cross Lanes, WV 25313 HARTMAN, LEWIS. (R) 3643 Rockville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46222 L ______MORRIS, JAMES. (R) 4028 Crede Dr, Charleston, WV 25302 HARTZLER, MARVIN. (R) 3531 E. 21st St, Casper, WY 82609 LAING, GERALD. (C) 11436 East St, Vicksburg, Ml 49097 MOSER, THOMAS W. (R) 555 Barts Church Rd, Hanover PA 17331 VHASTIE, LEO. 16208 Speaker St, Belton, MO 64012 •LaSALLE, JAN (MRS. RAY). (C) P.O. Box 350, Fort Scott, KS 66701 •MOSGROVE, REED. (R) 753617th Ln. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33702 HAWKINS, RAY (R) 1615 Kickapoo, Pueblo, CO 81001 LaSALLE, RAY. (C) P.O. Box 350, Fort Scott, KS 66701 ♦MOSS, KEITH LYNN. (R) 12750 Preston, R.R. 1, Britton, Ml 49229 HAYES, ALVIN B. (R) 15812 W. 129th St, Olathe, KS 66062 LAWSON, WAYNE. (C) c/o Evangelism Ministries' MOSS, UDELL t DORIS. (C) 1980 S. Florissant Rd, Florissant, MO HAYNES, CHARLES & MYRT. (C) P.O. Box 3563 Cleveland, TN 37320 LAXSON, KIP. (R) 55 Hart St, Apt. 10, Nashville. TN 37210 63031 HEATON, K. D. (C) 14 Martinsburg Rd, Apt. A, Mount Vernon, OH •LAXSON, WALLY & GINGER. (C) Rte. 3, Box 118, Athens, AL 35611 ♦MUNCIE, BOB & JANE. (C) Rte. 1, Box 17, Cory, IN 47846 43050 •LAYCOCK, ERIC L (R) 146 Wendover Dr, Hamilton, ON L9C 5X5 ♦MURPHY, MARK. (R) 410 S. Clay St, Sturgis, Ml 49091 HECKATHORN, JIM. (R) 713 Lake Lowell Ave, Nampa, ID 83651 CANADA ♦MYERS, HAROLD & MRS. (C) 575 Ferris N.W, Grand Rapids, Ml ♦HELMS, MIKE & GLORIA. (C) c/o Evangelism Ministries' LEAF, JOHN D. (R) Rte. 1, Box 300, Dover, OH 44622 49504 vHENDERSHOT, HARVEY. (R) Rte. 4, Lakeview Dr, Mount Juliet, TN ♦LECKRONE, LARRY. (C) 403 E. Main, Morenci, Ml 49256 MYERS, JACK M. (R) P.O. Box 111134, Nashville, TN 37222 37122 LEIDY, ARNOLD G. (R) P.O. Box 124, Moriarly, NM 87035 vHENDERSON, LATTIE. 3006 Liberty Rd, Greensboro, NC 27406 LEIGH, GILBERT. (R) 5004 W. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60651 VHESTER, JAMES R. 1 Red Oak Ct, Mansfield, TX 76063 VLEONARD, J. C. 150 Valley View Dr, Johnstown, OH 43031 N ______HICKE, S. F (R) 4923 Forest Ct, Oak Forest, IL 60452 vLESTER, FRED R. 7404 Ed Rice, Mesa, AZ 85208 NAJARIAN, BERGE & DORIS. (R) P.O. Box 100308, Nashville. TN HICKS, JOHN DAVID. (C) 240 Daniels St, McMinnville, OR 97128 LIDDELL, R L (C) 3530 W. Allen Rd, Howell, Ml 48843 37210 ♦HIGGINS, CHARLES & MARJORIE. (C) 2344 Tulare, Visalia, CA VLISTON, CLARENCE. P.O. Box 23576, Tucson, AZ 85734 VNASH, FORREST. 725 W. Cedar, Olathe, KS 66061 93278 vLITTLE, HAROLD. 9907 White Oak, No. 114, Northridge, CA 91325 NASH, JACK W. (R) 8840 Oakdale Ave, Northridge, CA 91324 HILL, BEN E (C) Bible Expositor, Box 528, Colona, IL 61241 LOHR, DONALD. (C) P.O. Box 7056, Charleston, WV 25356 •NAYLOR, EDWARD. (R) 6 Rubydale Gardens, Weston, ON M 9L1B3 HINES, RAYMOND L (R) Box 114, Nocatee, FL 33864 •LORENZEN, LINDA. (R) Rte. 3, Box 231A, Blanchester, OH 45107 CANADA vHINKLE, FRED C. Rte. 1, Box 102, Tishomingo, OK 73460 LOUGHRIDGE, WILLIAM. (R) Rte. 2, Box 38, Wistei; OK 74966 •NEFF, LARRY & PAT. (C) 625 N. Water St, Owosso, Ml 48867 •HISE, RON. (R) 2035 Hancock, Demotte, IN 46310 LOVE, ROBERT. (R) 6425 Nanette, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 VNEES, L. GUY. 181 Lawrence Ln, Kalispell, MT 59901 HOECKLE, WESLEY W. (R) 642 Vaky, Corpus Christi, TX 78404 •LOVING, BECKY. (R) 1101 S. Park Rd, Texarkana, TX 75503 NEWBY, PAUL. (R) 607 Orange Ave, Ocoee, FL 32761 HOLDER, SYBIL. (R) 249 Winthrop St, Brooklyn, NY 11225 VLOWN, ALBERT J. 23 Elmview, Airedale Park, Steeton, Keighley, NEWTON, DANIEL (R) P.O. Box 323, Fairland, IN 46126 HOLLOWFELL, JERRY. (R) P.O. Box 2, Paris, TX 75460 Yorkshire, England •NOFFSINGER, JIMMIE & BOBBIE. (R) 6324 W. 101 PI, Overland HOLSINGER, MARK. (C) 9231 Aero Dr, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 LYBARGER, EVERETT. (C) P.O. Box 1534, Conway, AR 72032 Park, KS 66212

32S 0 ______s ______TRIPP, HOWARD. (C) 3263 Fountain Ave., No. 66, Chattanooga, TN vOLIVER, L S. 5115 N. Carefree Cir., Colorado Springs, CO 80917 SCHMELZENBACH, DENNIS R. (R) 1713 N. Glade Ave, Bethany, OK 37412 ONEY, HOBERT, (R) 3832 Chah Dr., Zephyrhills, FL 34248 73008 TRISSEL MARY A. Rte. 3, Box 359L Wildwood, FL 32785 OVERTON, BILL k DOT. (C) Family Evangelists and Chalk Artist c/o SCHWOB, WAYNE. (R) 1823 E. Jackson Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46516 TRISSELL PAUL J. (R) 117 Avenida del Fuego. Belen, NM 87002 Evangelism Ministries' •SCRIVNER, VICKIE. (R) c/o Evangelism Ministries' TUCKER, RALPH W. (R) R.R. 1, Box 55, Woodbine, IA 51579 OWENS, DENNY G. 6802 N.W. 45th, Bethany, OK 73008 VSELF ERWIN A. 11397 Main St, Vicksburg, Ml 49097 TURNER, BEVERLY. (R) 709 Holbrook, Lebanon, OH 45036 ♦OYLER, CALVIN k VIRGINIA. (C) P.O. Box 727, Wellsville, KS 66092 v SELFRIDGE, CARL Rte. 3, Box 662, Joplin, MO 64801 •SEMRAN, KIM k CINDY. (R) 7939 La Plaisance St. Monroe, Ml 48161 u______SEXTON, JACK A (R) 2615 Ontario St., Cincinnati, OH 45231 vULMET, ALECK. 63 Hope Dr, Bella Vista, AR 72712 SEYMOUR, J. KEVIN. (R) 812 N. Clinton, Apt. 68, Olathe, KS 66061 P ______•SHADE, HAZEL (R) P.O. Box 24368, Huber Heights, OH 45424 PALMER, JAMES E (C) R.R. 6, Box 171, New Castle, IN 47362 SHANK, JOHN H. (R) 2204 Braeburn E. Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46219 V ______PALMER, NORMAN. (R) 200 W. Branigan Rd, Franklin, IN 46131 •SHARP ALBERT. (C) 7110 N.W. 46th St, Bethany, OK 73008 WARCE, PAUL H. 621 Second Ave. N.W, Waverly, IA 50677 PARKER, H. RUSSELL (R) P.O. Box 17, Newberry, IN 47449 ♦SHARR CHARLES. (R) 11147 E. Indian Lake Dr, Vicksburg, Ml •VERTREES, MARK S. (R) Rte. 1, Box 152, Cunningham, TN 37052 •PARKER, JOHN. (R) 4004 N.W. 62nd Terr, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 49097 •PASSMORE, DOROTHY. (C) c/o Evangelism Ministries' SHARP, ROBERT. (R) Rte. 2, Rock Falls, IL 61071 VPASSMORE A. A. c/o Evangelism Ministries' •SHEPHERD, WILEY (R) 1324 Gen. MacArthur Dr, Brentwood, TN PATTERSON, ROBERT i FRANCES. (R) 373 Richlandtown Pk„ 37027 w______Quakertown, PA 18951 •SHIRLEY, DWIGHT. (C) 38092 Butcher Rd, Leetonia. OH 44431 •WADE, E BRUCE. (R) 3029 Sharpview Ln, Dallas, TX 75228 PAUL, CHARLES. (C) Rte. 11, Box 238-C, C ro s s * , TN 38555 SHORT, EMORY. (R) P.O. Box 549, Parker, AZ 85344 •WALKER, BRIAN k DEBI. (R) P.O. Box 276, Redmond. WA 98073 PAYNE, DAVID. (R) 2710 Maroon Bells Ave, Colorado Springs, CO •SIMMONS, IRVIN. (R) 3216 N. Peniel, Bethany, OK 73008 v WALKER, LAWRENCE. 114 8th St. N.E., New Philadelphia. OH 80918 vSMITH, CHARLES HASTINGS. Box 937, Bethany. OK 73008 44663 PEAL DONALD. (C) P.O. Box 518, Rowlett TX 75088 SMITH, DOYLE. (C) Rte. 2, Box 1050, Wrightsville, GA 31096 vWALLACE, J. C. P.O. Box 2183, Plant City, FL 33566 ♦PENDLETON, JOHN. (R) 1116 S.W. 72nd, Oklahoma City, OK 73139 ♦SMITH, DUANE. (C) C/O Evangelism Ministries' •WALTERS, DAVID. (R) 171 S. Madison, Bradley, IL 60915 PERDUE, NELSON. (C) 3732 E. Rte. 245, Cable, OH 43009 SMITH, GEORGE E. (R) 201 Lafayette Ave, No. 315, Petoskey, Ml WALTON, JAMES. (R) 203 E. Bond. Patoka, IL 62875 ♦PFEIFER, DON, EVANGELISTIC TEAM. (C) P.O. Box 93, Washing­ 49770 •WARD, DAVID. (R) 7137 Castlecrest Dr, Dayton, OH 45424 ton Court House, OH 43160 •SMITH, JERRY k BETH. (R) 1326 Apt. B, Cyanamid, Milton, FL vWARD, LLOYD k GERTRUDE. 1001 Averly St, Fort Myers, FL PFEIFER, MARK. (R) 910 Briar Ave, Washington Court House, OH 32570 33907 43160 ♦SMITH, LARRY (C) 547 Kiely Blvd., No. 4. San Jose. CA 95117 WARNER, C. LEROY. (C) Rte. 1, Box 396-116, Paradise Palms Tri Ct, PHILPOT, LARRY (R) 117 Kay Dr, Middletown, OH 45042 VSMITH, OTTIS E., JR. 60 Grant St, Tidioute, PA 16351 Dover, FL 33527 PHIPPS, TILLIE. (R) 301 S. Lamar Blvd., Oxford, MS 38655 SNYDER, BILL G. (R) 9935 Columbus-Cincinnati Rd, South VWATKINS, FRANK. P.O. Box 715, Banning, CA 92220 ♦PICKERING ROLAND. (R) Box 160102, Altamonte Springs, FL Charleston, OH 45368 WATKINS, JOSEPH E„ JR. (R) 30692-A Independence, Redlands, CA 32716-0102 •SOUTH, J. W. k MRS. (C) 4804 Manor, Little Rock, AR 72204 92374 •PIERCE, CATHERINE. (C) 1427 Meitzler St. Danville. IL 61832 SOUTHERLAND, SAMUEL (R) 4404 Clinton Ave, Jacksonville. FL VWATSON, LOY. 2018 Country Club, Enid, OK 73701 PITTENGER, TWYLA. (R) 413 N. Bowman St, Mansfield, OH 44903 32207 WEBB, SHARON. (R) P.O. Box 61, Waco, KY 40385 POSEY, WARREN. (C) 433 Monroe St, Fortville, IN 46040 SPARKS, JONATHAN D. (R) 11323 S. W. 165th Terr, Miami, FL 33157 WECKLE, ROBERT. (R) 655 S. Wilson Ave, Bartow, FL 33830 POTTER, HAROLD J. (R) 2926 Randa Blvd., Sarasota, FL 33580 SPEARS, DANNY. (R) Rte. 5. Box 400, Conway. AR 72032 •WELCH, MRS. DARLENE. (R) 8302 Laverne Dr, Louisville, KY 40299 ♦POWELL FRANK. (C) 13579 Colter Rd, Caldwell, ID 83605 •SPEER, BROCK. (C) 5318 Anchorage Dr, Nashville, TN 37204 WELCH, FRANCES M. (R) 10338 Carreta Ct, Santee, CA 92071 V PRICE, JACK L PO. Box 395, Waxhaw, NC 28173 SPRAGUE, VERNON, EVANGELISTIC FAMILY (C) c/o Evangelism WELCH, W. B. (C) 5328 Edith St, Charleston Heights, SC 29405 ♦PRICE, JOHN. (C) Rte. 4, Box 326-1, Muldrow, OK 74948 Ministries ♦WELLS, GENE. (R) Rte. 1. Box 174B, T h o m p so n *. IL 62890 vPRICE, ROSS. 1540 Hiawatha Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80915 SPURLOCK, WILLIAM. (R) 809 S. Waldron Ave, Avon Park, FL 33825 WELLS, LINARD. (C) P.O. Box 531527, Grand Prairie, TX 75053 •PRINTUR JUANITA. (R) 1207 Scott Ave, Fort Wayne, IN 46807 STANIFORTH, KEN. (C) 808 E. Main, Apt A, Santa Paula, CA 93060 WESLEY, E. RUTH. (R) Rte. 1, Box 143, Springport IN 47386 PURSLEY, PHILIP. (R) 334 S. Fork Terrace Rd, Glasgow, KY 42141 ♦STANTON, TED k DONNA. (R) P.O Box 722, Sarasota, FL 34230 WESLEY, RON E. (R) 216 Stanford St, Science Hill, KY 42553 v PUTNAM, ROBERT. 319 Humphrey St, Dracut MA 01826 STARK, EDDIE. (C) 6906 N.W. 36th, Bethany, OK 73008 VWEST, EDNA. 130 S. Front St, A pt 1512, Sunbury, PA 17801 •PYLES, RICK. (R) 607 Moulton PI, Portsmouth, OH 45662 STEELE, HERBERT. (R) 107 Klassen Ln, Watsonville, CA 95076 WHEELER,49008 FREDERICK E (R) 3814 Barnard Ave, Kalamazoo. Ml STEINERT, EDWARD J. (R) R.R. 2, Stardust Hills, Box 218-593, Cloverdale, IN 46120 WHEELOCK, GEORGE E. (R) P.O. Box 126, Petersburg, IL 62675 STEVENSON, GEORGE. (C) 4021 Pebble Dr. S.E., Roanoke, VA 24014 •WHITE, JANIE. (C) Rte. 2, Box 775, Hawkins, TX 75765 STEWART, ORVILLE. (R) R.R. 2, Box 658A, Hawesville, KY 42348 •WHITWORTH, MARCUS k DONNA. (C) 1513 W. Santa Fe, Olathe, Q______•STONE, LOIS. (R) 618 N. Lockwood, Chicago, IL 60644 KS 66061 WILCOX, WALTER. (C) Rte. 3, O'Leary, PE I. COB 1V0 CANADA V QUALLS, PAUL M. 5441 Lake Jessamine Or, Oriando, FL 32809 ♦STONE, PAUL. (R) Lakeland Manor, Shell Lake, Wl 54871 STREET, DAVID. (C) Rte. 1, Ramsey. IN 47166 •WILKINSON, MARGARET. (R) 2840 18th St, Columbus. IN 47201 STRICKLAND, R. L ■DICK.” (C) 1141 Woodhaven Ct, Springfield, OH ♦WILLERSON, BILLY. (R) 1113 Cambell Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 45503 23456 SULLIVAN, DAVID R (R) P.O. Box 1836, Ashland, KY 41105-1836 VWILLIAMS, E VERBAL 43 Briar Path, Brampton, ON L6T 2A3 •SUMWALT, JOSEPH k VIRGINIA. (R) Box 8, Warren. IN 46792 CANADA R ______SURBROOK, WILLIAM B. (R) 1249 E. 26th Ave, Columbus, OH 43211 •WILLIAMS, EILEEN. (R) 21 Robert E. Lee Ln., West Chester, OH RADEBAUGH, B. D. (R) 1608 S. College, Tulsa, OK 74104 SWANSON, ROBERT L (C) 1102 Glenwood Dr, Yukon, OK 73099 45069 vRAKER, W. C. 710 E. Ave. L Lewistown, IL 61542 WILLIAMS, LAWRENCE. (C) 6715 N.W. 30th Terr, Bethany, OK 73008 REED, DOROTHY. (R) P.O. Box 814, Hannibal, MO 63401 WILLIAMS, R. T, JR. (R) 28 Sterling Cir, Johnson City, TN 37604 REED, SHERMAN R. (R) 1232 Oakwood Trail, Indianapolis, IN 46260 WILSON, ARNO (R) 3919 State Rte. 46, West Harrison, IN 47060 REID, WILLIAM D. (R) 1531 12th St, Tell City, IN 47586 T ______WILSON, CLAUDE. (R) 6719 Base Rd, Columbus. IN 47203 RENEGAR, WALLACE R. (R| 6105 Westpark Dr, Oklahoma City, OK •TACKETT, GAYLE. (R) 4832 Taylorsville Rd, Dayton, OH 45424 •WILON, CHARLES. (R) 909 S.W. 45th, Oklahoma City, OK 73109 73142 TAYLOR EVANGELISTIC TEAM, BOBBY L (R) Rte. 1,477-B32, South WILSON, RONALD. (R) 421 College Hill Ave, Oskaloosa. IA 52577 RICHARDS, JERRY. (R) 612 N. Grant, Chanute, KS 66730 Shore, KY 41175 ♦WISEHART, LENNY k JOY. (C) 12017 E. Mexico, Aurora, CO 80012 •RICHARDS, LARRY k PHYLLIS (COULTER). (C) 2310 Appleton Dr, TAYLOR, CLIFF. (C) E. 619 32nd Ave, Spokane, WA 99203 •WISNER, ALMA. (R) lakeridge Condo 708, 1776 Sixth S t N.W, Indianapolis, IN 46227 V TAYLOR, EMMETT. (R) 937 Bradley Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73127 Winter Haven, FL 33881 RICHARDSON, KEN. (C) 1621 31st St, A, Moline, IL 61265 vTAYLOR, MENDELL. 1716 N. Glade, Bethany, OK 73008 vWITHROW, JAMES. 126Vi 6th Ave, South Charleston, WV 25303 vRICHARDSON. PAUL E. 5930 Sunrise Vista, No. 175, Citrus TAYLOR, ROBERT W. (C) Learn to Live International, Box 669, Wright WOFFORD, DAVID L (R) 118 Fairdale Rd, Albertville, AL 35950 Heights, CA 95610 Brothers Branch, Dayton, OH 45409 WOLFGANG, DONALD D. (R) P.O. Box 541, West Branch, Ml 48661 RICKEY, HOWARD. (C) 1827 Stone Rd, Xenia, OH 45385 TAYLOR, RON. (C) Rte. 1, Box 265, Johnson Rd, Chickamauga, GA WOMACK, PAUL W. (R) 2831 Harrison, Quincy, IL 62301 ROBERTSON, IAN. (R) 236 E. Walnut, No. H, Monrovia, CA 91016 30707 WOMACK, ROBERT. (R) 14 Dunham, Texarkana, TX 75503 ROBISON, ROBERT. (R) Heaters, WV 26627 •THOMPSON, ROBERT k TERESA. (R) P.O. Box 21467, Chat­ WOODWARD, FAMILY EVANGELISM S. OREN. (C) c/o Evangelism ROSE, WAYNE. (R) 16007 W. 136th Terr, Olathe, KS 66062 tanooga, TN 37421 Ministries' ROSSITER, LARRY. (R) 9867 Shellbark Ln, Cincinnati, OH 45231 ♦THORNTON, REV. k MRS. WALLACE. (C) Rte. 4. Box 49-B, WOOTEN, D. J. (C) P.O. Box 262, Cambridge, MD 21613 ROTH, RON. (C) 2645 E. Cozy, Springfield, MO 65804 Somerset, KY 42501 WRIGHT, E. GUY. (C) 1531 Cranbrook Dr, Charleston, WV 25311 ROTZ, DARRELL E. (R) 3620 Hampton Rd, Pasadena, CA 91107 vTHRASHER, OREN O. 2414 High Pines Or, Louisville, KY 40214 WYLIE, CHARLES R. (C) P.O. Box 298, Aubrey, TX 76227 ♦ROYSE, C. E. (C) 2105 Taylor Ave, Racine, Wl 53403 •TINSLEY, MARVIN k DENISE. (C) Rte. 1. Box 215A, Waldron, IN vWYRICK, DENNIS. 603 Reed Dr, Frankfort, KY 40601 vRUSHFORD, GILBERT k VERA. 3483 Broadmoor Blvd., San 46182 Bernardino, CA 92404 VTOLBERT, WILLIAM A. P.O. Box 85-7935, Port S t Lucie, FL 33485 RUSSELL DOUGLAS J. (R) 3644116th Ave, Edmonton, AB T5W 0W6 ♦TOOLEY, JIM. (C) 2108 Burlington Rd, Rte. 4, Oskaloosa, IA 52577 Y ______CANADA •TRAMMEL JERRY. (R) 21 Stanwood Loop, North Little Rock, AR •YATES, GREG. (C) 505 E. Alabama, Casey, IL 62420 VRUSSELL J. REYNDAL. 3809 San Ramon Dr, Arlington, TX 73013 72118 •YOUNG, LOWELL. 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tness w ith a Risk,” a set of THEN Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiim acts designed in a “ table PMIC format, can help even the ! ^ eyer mind imid person be a Christian I _ we pencil... tness. Testimonies are ed in words that would be ar to those who have no background. This is a tool ided for opening a door HOME rough which a gospel IS iS E m "nation may follow. They © ant to be handed out, left WHERE :aurant tables, in motel or THE ^Congratulations j| rooms, waiting room HEART grocery counters, etc. It is © YOU I that this testimony may WIN! : a hunger for more. The _*■••» W e 1 f the card leaves sufficient lO O K At »T c space for stamping the WAV THE ie and location of your 1Jl s r church. We d o n ’t m i j T°

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to identify the essential theological It is a “definite experience of God’s work of grace. Grider boldly de­ elements of entire sanctification and grace through the ministry of the clares that anyone who denies en­ determine if Wesleyan-holiness Holy Spirit, which is available for the tire sanctification as being received scholars agreed on these elements. Christian who has already been instantaneously is actually support­ In order to evaluate current scholar­ “born of the Spirit.”7 Dayton also ing some non-Wesleyan doctrinal ship, only books and articles written notes that promises of God ad­ orientation.11 It is a crisis experi­ from 1970 to the present are cited in dressed to believers exist that refer ence, even as regeneration is a crisis this article. specifically to receiving the Holy experience. This position does not My intention for this study is not Spirit. These promises to believers deny a process of growth preceding indicate that this experience is sub­ to evaluate the exegetical and theo­ this crisis, but most Wesleyans be­ sequent to regeneration.8 logical support for entire sanctifica­ lieve that Scripture affirms a single tion. Instead, I want to present the B. Conditions: Consecration and complete act subsequent to regen­ theological distinctives of this doc­ Faith eration called entire sanctification.12 trine that I have been able to identify The two things that are generally B. Cleansing from Indwelling Sin in current holiness literature. I will at­ stated by Wesleyans to be condi­ The cleansing of indwelling sin is tempt to illustrate the degree to tions for entire sanctification are which Wesleyan-holiness scholars consecration and faith. Consecra­ the very purpose of entire sanctifica­ provide a consensus definition of tion is the believer yielding or tion. This indwelling sin, or the car­ entire sanctification. presenting himself totally to God for nal nature, is the sin nature that has sacrifice or service (Rom. 12:1-2). resulted from the fall of man and has I. ENTIRE SANCTIFICATIO N This includes a surrendering of pos­ been inherited from one generation INVOLVES ALL THE PERSONS sessions, talents, loved ones, and to the next. This sin nature must be OF THE TRINITY the future. It is a commitment of un­ “crucified” if victorious Christian liv­ First, Wesleyan scholars agree limited obedience. God fully owns ing is to be experienced.13 that entire sanctification involves all the consecrated believer. Consecra­ Stanger outlines several reasons the Persons of the Trinity. Entire tion is both active and passive; it why Wesleyans emphasize that two sanctification is a definite act of means “Thy will be done” in me as definite works of grace are needed. God, secured by the blood of Jesus well as through me.9 First, Wesleyans believe that sin is Christ through His sacrificial death Faith is also a condition for entire twofold, both outward acts and in­ on the Cross. The Holy Spirit serves sanctification. God, through His ward nature needing redemption. as the Divine Agent of the Trinity, ad­ Spirit, will not do in the Christian’s Initial salvation provides justification ministering the grace of God in the life that which he does not accept by for the sins that have been commit­ work of regeneration and entire faith. The faith that justifies and ted and regeneration, which pro­ sanctification. The Holy Spirit inhab­ sanctifies is the belief that God has vides for a new life of righteous con­ its those who are entirely sanctified, spoken through His Word, the Bible, duct; but this only deals with directing and assisting in discipling and that His Word is true. Faith also outward sins. The inward sin nature the human personality. This is why is an attitude of complete con­ is cleansed in entire sanctification. entire sanctification is commonly re­ fidence in God’s faithfulness to keep Only after a person is regenerated ferred to as the Spirit-filled life.6 the promises of His Word. Faith is does he sense the inward struggle not the agent of change, the Spirit is with the inherited sin nature. At the II. ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION IS the Agent. Faith is the attitude of the point of initial salvation neither is he AVAILABLE TO ALL BELIEVERS believer that allows him to receive the aware of this inward problem, nor is A. Subsequent to Regeneration Spirit’s work of entire sanctification.10 he able to do anything more than Wesleyan scholars agree that en­ confess his outward sins. The sinner tire sanctification is available subse­ III. ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION IS is not capable of total consecration quent to regeneration. F. B. Stanger, A SECOND WORK OF GRACE to God.14 Sanctification begins ini­ former president of Asbury Theo­ A. Instantaneous— A Crisis Just as tially at conversion, or regeneration, logical Seminary, affirms that this in Regeneration and is followed by growth until the experience is available for the Chris­ Wesleyan scholars agree that en­ crisis of entire sanctification, when tian, not for the unregenerate sinner. tire sanctification is God’s second the sin nature is cleansed. Following

33 this crisis of inward Holy Spirit grants this inner assur­ tion is only a point in cleansing, there is a ance, but great diversity is found in the larger life process continual process of describing how and when this wit­ of holiness. The Wes­ growth aided by the ness is accomplished. Grider sug­ leyan message af­ indwelling Holy Spirit.15 gests that an immediate witness is firms the act of God in One source of con­ supported by Scripture and logic.20 entire sanctification fusion and debate is Taylor, however, states that w e can­ as well as the process the emphasis that im­ not dictate to God the manner in of grace that pre­ plies that the sin nature is a material­ which the witness of the Spirit cedes and continues the act.24 Re­ like substance that can be eradi­ should be accomplished. He defines garding the relationship between cri­ cated from the heart at the moment this witness as a “divinely imparted sis and process, Metz states: of entire sanctification.16 The term inner assurance.” This inner witness To regard entire sanctification eradication has also brought this may take several forms: as a crisis does not minimize the emphasis of the sin nature as a This assurance may take the revolutionary nature of regen­ material- like substance into folk form of a flood of ecstasy, a sense eration. Nor does a second crisis theology. Turner states that the term of cleanness, a profound inner nullify the possibility of further peace, or an outpouring of love— eradication is not a bad one if it is growth in grace. Sanctification as tempered by the use of other ana­ or a combination of these. In any a crisis conserves the work of re­ logies that help avoid its materialistic case the distress is gone, the generation, magnifies the power connotations. One such analogy is struggling is over, the doubts are of God, and makes possible the that of light and darkness. When the settled, and the mind is at rest.21 greatest spiritual growth.25 Holy Spirit comes into the heart of a Taylor offers a valuable warning to Entire sanctification is not the end believer, sin is expelled just as dark­ all. We should never use another or goal; it is just a crisis point in the ness is expelled from a room by person’s experience of the witness believer’s journey that prepares for turning on a light.17 J. B. Chapman of the Spirit as the only form or greater growth. In fact, continual used another analogy recommend­ model with which to receive per­ growth must be the mark of the ed by Turner, the sin nature as an sonal assurance of entire sanctifica­ Spirit-filled believer.26 illness: tion. The direct witness of the Spirit We hold that sin as a condition is valid but it must be verified by the A. The Concept of “Perfect Love” or state is like a virus in the blood, indirect witness of a changed life.22 Perfect love was a favorite term and is not in any way essential to Due to the influence of Pen- used by Wesley to describe one of one’s life, is not inseparably tecostalism, there may be some the results of entire sanctification. bound up with life, and is, in fact, a question as to whether speaking in Perfect love does not imply per­ menace to life and a hindrance to tongues might be a necessary evi­ fection in performance or a per­ the functioning of life in both the dence of entire sanctification. Tradi­ fection inconsistent with finite hu­ body and the spirit. This virus can tionally, Wesleyan scholars have manity; rather, it implies a heart therefore be removed, the blood never associated this physical man­ cleansed from the sin nature and stream can be purged, and the ifestation as an evidence for the filled with the Holy Spirit. Perfect person can still live; in fact, can infilling of the Spirit. Modern-day love is an “unmixed love,” an un­ live more abundantly in both body tongues-speaking has no associ­ divided love. It is an unselfish con­ and spirit than before. This doc­ ation with the Holiness Movement, cern to please God and care for the trine of sin lays foundation for a though many early Pentecostals needs of others. This love is a gift of doctrine of sanctification that is came out of the Holiness Move­ God’s grace that makes it possible both consistent and practical.18 ment. “This practice has never had to love God with all the heart, soul, Wesleyans agree that at initial sal­ any place or part in the standard mind, and strength, and to love oth­ vation our own acts of sin are for­ Wesleyan-holiness movement in ers as oneself (see Deut. 30:6; Matt. given, but the sin nature remains. America, as it did not in the English 22:36-39). This love consists of per­ Therefore, a significant component Wesleyan revival of the 18th cen­ fect motivation within the obvious of the second work of grace is a real tury.”23 limitations of human finiteness and cleansing from the indwelling sin na­ the limited resources of health, time, ture.19 IV. ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION and money. The believer, motivated PREPARES THE BELIEVER FOR by perfect love, may be frustrated C. Assurance— The Witness of the CONTINUED GROWTH Holy Spirit when he is humanly unable to per­ John Wesley emphasized the wit­ Whether or not the process that fectly express that love.27 ness of the Spirit precedes and follows the crisis of B. The Concept of both for justifica­ entire sanctification should be called “Em pow erm ent tion and entire “progressive sanctification,” “growth for Life and Ser­ sanctification. Wes­ in grace,” “abiding in Christ,” “living vice” leyans have gener­ in the Spirit,” or some other term, the Jesus stated that ally agreed that the fact remains that entire sanctifica­ the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of lose this spiritual condition. Entire Christian who is His followers would sanctification must be maintained cleansed of the sin bring empowerment by faith and obedience to the re­ nature. He is pure as — “But you will re­ vealed will of God. However, the en­ a result of the ceive power when the tirely sanctified believer is much cleansing of the Holy Holy Spirit comes on more likely to remain free from will­ S pirit’s infilling you; and you will be fully sinning against God.32 presence, but he must continue to my witnesses” (Acts B. It Does Not Dehumanize Per­ 1:8,™ NIV; cf. Luke 24:49). The Wes­ mature throughout his life. Entire sons or Eliminate Problems leyan view of empowerment in­ sanctification does not end spiritual There are natural physical and growth, rather it prepares the cludes moral purity, or power for mental limitations that remain in the holy living, and power for service, individual for the greatest possible entirely sanctified person, for this spiritual growth.36 especially that of effective wit­ experience does not dehumanize nessing.28 Dayton further reveals D. It Does Not Bring About Eccen­ the individual. As Arnett explains, “It that Wesley’s concept of power was tricity or Asceticism is not a perfection of knowledge, simply that the Holy Spirit in the life Holiness and entire sanctification judgment, memory, power or ser­ of the believer enabled him to do is not an unbalanced eccentric vice.’’33 There is no escape from whatever God required of him.29 spiritual experience that requires temptation in this life, even for those legalistic or ascetic standards of V. SEVERAL ELEMENTS THAT who are entirely sanctified. Nor is behavior. The Spirit-filled life is not ARE NOT TO BE IDENTIFIED WITH there freedom from ignorance or one of fanaticism, exclusiveness, or ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION mistakes. Wesleyans hold that other eccentric behavior. It is not Misconceptions introduced by those filled with the Spirit in entire measured simply in terms of folk theology often necessitate an sanctification will still fall short of the outward standards of appear­ explanation of what should not be perfect will of God due to limitations ance.37 associated with entire sanctification, of our fallen human state. The Chris­ Some people seem to think either in belief or practice. Criticism, tian perfection that Wesley and his — at least they act that way conflict, and disappointment often theological descendants speak of is — that the more off-centered, result when the expectations of folk a perfection that allows for “a thou­ unbalanced, and abnormal they theology take the place of sound sand infirmities." Sin, as Wesleyans are, the more deeply spiritual biblical theology. The purpose of define it, is a voluntary tra n s ­ they are. ... Jesus had the Holy this section is to present those ele­ gression of the known will of God. Spirit without measure, and He ments that Wesleyan scholars agree There is freedom from intentional was the most balanced person­ should not be identified with the sin (voluntary transgression) for ality who ever lived.38 doctrine of entire sanctification. those who are entirely sanctified, VI. SUMMARY AND A. It Does Not Bring Absolute but unintentional “mark missing” CONCLUSION Perfection cannot be avoided.”34 Noble sug­ The term Christian perfection has gests the following concerning the A. Wesleyan Scholars Are in Gen­ long caused confusion regarding entirely sanctified person: eral Agreement the work of entire sanctification. The Christian who is wholly This study of Wesleyan scholar­ However, it should be noted that sanctified, that is, filled with the ship since 1970 reveals that nomen­ Wesleyans do not imply any kind of Spirit, still has an emotional life clature has remained a problem, and sinless, absolute, or mortal per­ and a motivation based in his some theological tensions have ex­ fection.30 Stanger further clarifies physiological drives: hunger, sex, isted. However, a general consensus the point: physical fear, aggression, and so can be found among Wesleyan It does not restore Adamic on. He is still engaged in ethical scholars regarding the essential perfection— the perfection which choices and personal and moral theological elements of the doctrine is reserved for heavenly beings. It development.35 of entire sanctification. The follow­ is not philosophical perfection C. It Does Not Bring Instant Maturity ing elements do not represent all which strives for a perfect human Entire sanctification does not that Wesleyan-holiness scholars existence. It is not resurrection­ change the temperament, remove have stated concerning entire sanc­ like perfection of which Christians personality flaws, or bring instant tification during recent years. In­ will partake after they experience maturity. If a Christian is extroverted stead, this listing reflects the ele­ the resurrection of the body.31 or introverted, he will remain so after ments that are more or less Also, Wesleyans entire sanctification. All of the non- common to all: do not teach that ethical and nonspiritual aspects of 1. It is an act of the entirely sanc­ personality will remain, though they God. tified believer can­ will be effected by the presence of 2. It is secured not willfully sin the Holy Spirit. Likewise, maturity by the blood © against God and will not be instantly bestowed on the Continued on p. 56 “IF HE WON’T, I WON’T!” by Cledah Scutt Olathe, Kans.

one of us wanted to touch the Through my years as a partner in from my complaints regarding the document lying on the table the district superintendency, I have pastor’s long working hours and de­ before us. We tried not to see it, butdesperately tried to help in other manding schedule. one by one we were drawn to it untilsimilar cases. Counseling with pas­ I remembered concluding that it was the focal point of our atten­tors’ wives, I have seen and heard even though some of his time each tion. We groped for words to dispelthe signals of approaching danger. day might be spent in and out of the the long, awkward silence. Sorrow,They often begin, “He is so busy he parsonage, my husband was work- 1 embarrassment, and fear forced us todoesn’t have time for me,” or “He ing and could not carry an equal load stumbleN over thoughts that we dared d o e s n ’t h elp at h o m e ,” or “ H e of our home chores. As the mother not express. Words had been spoken, doesn’t treat me as he treats oth- of small children, this was not an but nothing had been said that could ers. easy lesson to learn, but it was a change the inevitable outcome. I wondered if I had experienced very important conclusion to reach. The pastor began to speak. He re­ similar emotions during the early My husband could not give his best called the long, wearying hours of years of our ministry together. Look­ attention to ministry if my demands preparation for the ministry. He re­ ing into the reddened eyes of this constantly placed him in conflict membered the anticipation and then pastoral couple, I reflected. Had I with his ministry priorities. We often the moment when he was clutched seen these emotions from a differ­ found it necessary to talk through in the handshake of the general su­ ent perspective, or was I merely a these priorities for the sake of my perintendent as he was ordained. different personality type? Where understanding, as well as his. Thrill and exhilaration lifted him to a had our wisdom come from in those I also remembered the time I de­ higher level of emotion than he could early years of ministerial stress? termined to allow my husband the describe. He stared at the paper, Had some kind of discipline been leisure of shedding his “ministerial soiled by the shame of his guilt, on born out of logic or was it sheer, bearing” at home. I realized that he the table. dogged determination to maintain could not wear the clerical role in­ This was a highly respected and our relationship? Both my husband cessantly. Even though I needed him loved pastor and wife! He had re­ and I were careful to preserve the to be my pastor, I knew that I must ceived top honors on the district at precious opportunity that was ours let him be his human, fragile self in the previous assembly. How could in the ministry, and in these dark mo­ our home. I reminded myself that I this horrible, shattering incident of ments of grim experience, I tried to had fallen in love with his human­ infidelity have taken place? remember some of the specific deci­ ness. And sometimes, when I felt My district superintendent- sions I had contributed that might like screaming for attention, I had to husband and I sat quietly listening to have strengthened our home and stop, listen, and understand. both sides of the story being related ministry. The trembling voice of the pas­ through tears of remorse: “He got I remembered the day I decided tor’s wife returned me to the gloom so busy and tired; he had no time at that I would do everything I could to of the moment. “When I felt that he home; he didn’t talk to me anymore; make our home a pleasant, peace­ didn’t listen and care,” she said, “I he got short-tempered with us; he ful, and fun place to be. I would became resentful. I began to tell my- j wasn’t affectionate; he, he, he!” make my pastor-husband anxious self, ‘If he won’t, / won’t!’ I purposely And then “She was so caught up to come home for a good dinner, did small things to make him know I in everyone else; she didn’t seem to served at a specific time. I would was ignoring him (like the under­ think I wanted attention; she never help him relax, whether for 30 shirts). But soon I realized he wasn’t trusted me; she stopped turning my minutes or for the evening. I would communicating. He would take long undershirts right side out, she, she, guard our children from possible re­ drives or just sit and stare. He was in she\" sentments that might be formed a different world.” After a period of suffering, strug­ to my own experience. I remem­ would give first, even if it meant re­ gling, depression, and deterioration bered temptations toward those ceiving nothing in return. of the marriage, the pastor con­ same attitudes, suggested to me by Life changed for me that day. The fessed adulterous conduct to his the enemy of our souls. “You de­ parsonage was never again a bur­ wife. The “other woman,” he said, serve better," he said. I remembered den. While I recognize that there is listened. “She was interested. She the day when, on my knees before probably no such thing as a com­ boosted my ego. ... She needed God, I had said, “Lord, You didn’t get pletely “normal” life-style in the par­ me.” It was as though he felt his what You deserved. You gave with sonage, the quality of life was differ­ wife’s inattentiveness justified find­ no thought of return. You were dis­ ent in ours from that moment on. My ing comfort elsewhere. Now he was graced and neglected; and You still work in the home became my minis­ faced with the consequences of his loved in spite of it all.” I had to sur­ try, and my home my sanctuary. The self-deception. render the selfishness that kept say­ change in me affected the spirit of “If he won’t, I won’t!” It is such a ing, “If he won’t, / won’t,” and commit our home, and I found my husband natural statement, yet it is a trap myself to saying, “Even if he doesn’t, giving greater attention to my needs many pastors’ wives have fallen into. I will!” I determined that I would stop than ever before. With my resent­ Resentments, so expressed, are thinking about receiving; I would find ments cleansed, I found that there destructive— spiritually, emotionally, joy in giving. I would give my hus­ was room for our marriage to grow. and even physically. The attitude band attention, even if he was too Although I was giving with no erects an impassable barrier that will busy to give me attention. I would thought of return, I discovered that never yield to reasonable solutions. give him love, even if he was too pre­ the more I gave, the more I received. Again, my thoughts were drawn occupied to show affection. And I *

TAKE TIM E

by Mark Wilson Assistant Pastor, Sunnymead Wesleyan Church Moreno Valley, Calif.

“You’ve spent time with every­ meetings, and counseling sessions. children had all grown up before he body else in the church this week; Every night of the week is taken by noticed. The hands of time cannot when are you going to spend some the church, and the parsonage fam­ be turned back. with me?” my wife, Cathy, asked at ily suffers greatly. My commitment to Cathy and to the end of a typically busy day. The Why do pastors become involved my son, Adam, is now stronger than stark realization of my foolishness in such a rat race at the expense of ever before. I have decided to make slapped me in the face. In the midst their homes? Perhaps they are try­ the time for them! The other day I of reaching out to parishioners, I had ing to live up to their congregations’ received a phone call from a pastor neglected the most important one! unrealistic expectations. It is impos­ asking me to attend a ministers’ Isn’t it funny how quickly we can sible to be “all things to all men” (1 meeting. It was scheduled for my set aside the important things in life Cor. 9:22) and still have the needed day off. When I told him it was my in order to address the many triv­ time at home. Maybe the pastor day off and therefore I could not at­ ialities that clamor for our attention? bases his self-worth on his business tend, he replied, “Well, what’s more The old saying is true: That which is important, the Lord’s work or your and willingness to sacrifice. Family important is seldom urgent. day off?” Poor man! He didn’t realize health seems a high price to pay for Pastors are busy people. I have that taking time to be with my wife the father’s ego trip. noticed that often the ones who and son is the Lord’s work. have the most zeal are also the ones I spoke with a retired minister I am not making excuses for la­ who are guilty of neglecting their some time ago. With tears in his ziness. The Lord knows that He al­ spouses and children. Besides eyes he bemoaned the fact that he ready has too many “slothful stew­ spending the entire day at the office, had spent most of his time in minis­ ards” in His vineyard. It is possible, these pastors find themselves en­ try and very little with his children. however, for a pastor to spend too trenched in Bible studies, prayer Things that seemed to be the most much time at church and not enough meetings, business meetings, board important had now faded away. His time at home. $

37 JOHN WESLEY AND “THE PRESENT SCARCITY OF PROVISIONS”

by Bob Black Professor; Central Wesleyan College Central, S.C.

he early 1770s saw a serious These enclosures drove families out . . . Because the persons that depression in the British econ­ and prices up, giving impetus to the used to employ them cannot af­ omy. Crop failures led to widespreadgrowth and abuses of the bur­ ford to do it any longer. . . . They unemployment and eventually to ri­geoning Industrial Revolution. Since cannot, as they have no vent for ots. It was a turbulent time, andpolitical rights rested on property their goods; food being so dear, Wesley’s Journal records his obser­ownership, they also made second- that the generality of people are vations of the effect on the commonclass citizens of the poor. hardly able to buy anything else. man, especially in the harsh winter John Wesley addressed the But why is food so dear?6 Tof 1772-73. matter in a December 1772 letter to With that question he came “to par­ At Norwich he found an “abun­ Lloyd’s Evening Post, which w as ticulars.” dance of people were out of work, published as a tract a month later. In Distilling consumed almost half and, consequently, in the utmost this widely circulated pamphlet titled the wheat produced in England each want (such a general decay of trade Thoughts on the Present Scarcity of year, by Wesley’s reckoning, and having hardly been known in the Provisions, Wesley placed the ques­ robbed the market of grain other­ memory of man).”1 At Colchester tion bluntly: wise available for a commoner’s ta­ most of the Methodist society “were Why are thousands of people ble. Bred horses w ere on the in­ hard beset with poverty. So indeed starving, perishing for want, in ev­ crease, an extravagance for the rich they were ever since I knew them; ery part of the nation? The fact I that England could not afford, since but they are now in greater want know; I have seen it with my eyes, excessive amounts of grain were di­ than ever, through scarcity of busi­ in every corner of the land.4 verted to their use, and land for­ ness.”2 At least the poor of London He was acquainted with some who merly given over to raising animals were healthy, he noted; “so wisely could afford to eat only one inade­ for meat was now devoted to the does God order all things that the quate meal every other day, and oth­ breeding of horses. Consolidation of poor may not utterly be destroyed ers who took bones from dogs to farm holdings was another problem, by hunger and sickness together.”3 boil for the broth.5 He had seen what “perhaps as mischievous a monop­ Complicating the economic pic­ the depression was doing to people, oly as was ever introduced into ture was the policy of enclosure, un­ and he was concerned. these kingdoms.” In their pursuit of der which small holdings were con­ Wesley never stopped with “con­ luxury, the wealthy wasted valuable solidated in central ownership, using cern,” however; nor did he simply of­ commodities and forced up rents, the latest in the 18th-century equiv­ fer charity. He went past the effect which in turn fueled higher prices. alent of agribusiness techniques to to deal with the cause— or, in this And taxes were oppressive. The create bigger, more specialized case, the causes. only thing untaxed in England was farms. Land that had once provided Now, why is this? W hy have all its very air, Wesley declared, and he homes and income for hundreds of these nothing to eat? Because wondered aloud how long it would small farmers was swallowed up by they have nothing to do. The plain be before “the ingenious States­ the wealthy gentry, and the open reason why they have no meat is, men” figured out a way to levy an English countryside was trans­ because they have no work. assessment on even that!7 formed into a maze of fence rows. But why have they no work? He followed this appraisal with 38 proposed remedies, and his solu­ Scarcity lies not in its answers but in well-being of the common man. tions were sweeping. its approach. John Wesley was not content to 1. Prohibit distilling. Wesley saw the economic crisis in leave the economy to the econo­ 2. Tax carriage horses in England a moral light, which was the way he mists. When he saw moral issues at and all horses exported to saw almost everything. Since his stake, he applied his comprehensive France in an effort to reduce Christianity was not neatly com­ gospel of holiness— social as well the number of horses being partmentalized in a pietistic pigeon­ as personal— and worked for the bred. hole, he applied it to the problem at change. 3. Control the size of farms. hand. His sense of social responsi­ After all, as he reminded his M eth­ 4. Restrain luxury, “which is the bility easily encompassed England’s odists, God had called them to do grand and general source of entire economy. Wesley the reviv­ two things, not one— “to reform the want.” alist was also Wesley the reformer, nation, and to spread scriptural holi­ 5. Reduce the national debt by and he was calling for economic re­ ness across the land.” one-half and abolish useless form in the name of Christ. For that On second thought, perhaps that government pensions for the reason, if for no other, the morality of is one thing after all. purpose of lowering taxes.8 Present Scarcity deserved attention. It was a comprehensive plan deal­ There is another significant rea­ NOTES 1. The Works of John Wesley, 3rd ed. (Kansas ing with unemployment, taxes, son, however. Wesley was advo­ City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1978), 3:481. prices, rent, monopolies, the na­ cating reform by law, not satisfied 2. Ibid., 482. 3. Ibid., 486. tional debt, exportation, and im­ with working for society’s reformation 4. Ibid. 11:53. portation.9 one person at a time through personal 5. Ibid., 53-54. Most economists agree that his conversions alone. He was committed 6. Ibid., 54. 7. Ibid., 54-57. plan would not have worked, how­ to conversions, of course; he knew 8. Ibid., 57-59. ever, and his theories are roundly and preached new life in Christ, with 9. C. Robert Haywood, “Was John Wesley a Polit­ all the changes that produced in char­ ical Economist?" Church History 44 (September disregarded. “In a word, the Rever­ 1964): 314-15. end John Wesley was not an econo­ acter and conduct. But he was also 10. Ibid., 318. Still, Kathleen MacArthur argues mist,” one wrote.10 But Wesley’s ready to call in Parliament— in this that “no apologies need to be made for Wesley’s economic sense... (He) was not without real insight economic acumen is not the chief is­ case, to eliminate poverty at the root into economic problems from his own point of view." sue. The importance of Present and secure the rights and economic Economic Ethics, 112.

THE PREACHER’S EXCHANGE

WANTED: A copy of the Goodspeed translation of the Bible. Contact Luther Nelson, 1029 Tucker St., Williamsport, PA 17701; (717) 322-3547. WANTED: Christian Proficiency, by Martin Thorton. Contact M. W. Ben­ son, 2931 W. 24th Ave., Emporia, KS 66801; (316) 343-6033. FOR SALE: Several out-of-print holi­ ness classics and other gems. I am liq­ uidating my library. For a complete list of titles and prices, send an SASE (500 postage required) to William H. Doan, 40 Clark St., Henderson, KY 42420. FO R S A L E : Old copies of the Preacher’s Magazine, dating from 1926 to 1929. Nineteen copies in all, for sale at $2.00 each. Contact Frank Noel, 770 E. Franklyn, Bradley, IL 60915; (815) 939-2841 or 933-7353. A WESLEYAN THEOLOGY OF SALVATION AND SOCIAL LIBERATION

by Timothy L. Smith Professor of History Johns Hopkins University (A paper presented to the Caribbean Nazarene Regional Conference)

any argue that Christianity does not offer a solu­ New Testament. Moses warned all Israel of that exploi­ tion to the social problems of the modern age. tation in the Book of Deuteronomy, the prophet Amos They insist that Christian reformers, acting on biblicalmade ringing declarations against it, and Isaiah, Jere­ principles, must accept an alliance with systems miah, of and Ezekiel promised that the Messianic Age thought based on human experience, whether Marxist,would deliver all of us from it. Rastafarian, or Voodoo. That is not true, at least forThis scriptural analysis, furthermore, deplores the Wesleyans. Granted, the Bible is not primarily a book tendencyon of both those who have much of this world’s social or economic policy, and “liberty” means some­goods and those who have little to defer any righting of thingM quite different to Christians and Jews than it does the balance until the Second Coming. Our religion’s ethi­ to the secular world. But any person who suggests that cal judgment upon exploitation as it is practiced now God’s Word does not reveal divine care and concern in forbids this deferral of doing right until that great day. this present world for the poor and oppressed is libeling The gospel is set to deliver us from all sin, now, including the God of love whom we call Father, Son, and Holy any willing participation in social or economic evil. In my Spirit. country, a burst of millenarianism in both North and The gospel of salvation and social liberation that we South 150 years ago undergirded an appeal that human proclaim rests, first of all, upon a scriptural analysis of slavery be accepted as a necessary evil in the present the condition of the poor. Poverty and the oppression age. When Jesus appeared, these persons professed to and injustice that both the Bible and human experience believe, the proper time to strike the chains of bondage tell us often accompany it stem from the rebellion of from persons of color would come. By contrast, those human beings against God. That rebellion is shared by who believed we must join our efforts to the unseen men and women, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, ones of the Holy Spirit to prepare a Kingdom for the whether they are white, black, or brown, and without King stood against slavery, at last violently, it turned out. regard to their places of origin on this planet. W e all were And the bloodiest war in human history until that date there in the Fall. W e are akin in sin. And w e all may come left a heritage of bitterness that even now has not fully together at the Cross, be joined together as living mem­ gone away. If those whose social hopes were in Christ bers of Christ’s Body, and be empowered by the Holy had followed His methods of love and forgiveness to­ Spirit to build new lives of love and holiness for our­ ward evildoers, they would have raised taxes to buy the selves, and a kingdom of God for all humankind. Negroes their freedom and brought reconciliation to our Moreover, the Word of God teaches that the oppres­ land. So, today, in the Caribbean; we must contend with sion and exploitation of the poor is a persistent tempta­ the powers of darkness in high places, but with weap­ tion to all those who have wealth or power. On this the ons that are Christian, not carnal. And always we must Hebrew Scriptures are plainly in full agreement with the put our hopes in the God of kindliness and mercy. 40 Secondly, Wesleyan religion, like that of the Early tion theology gives hope to the oppressed needs careful Church, preaches the biblical promises to the poor. reiteration. Its substance can be summarized in five Those promises are both individual and social, temporal points, an honorable number in Christian thought. and eternal. When Jesus appeared after His baptism at 1. Temporal as well as eternal hope rests, in our view, the synagogue in His home city, Nazareth, He asked for upon the experience of sanctification. That experience, the scroll of Isaiah’s prophecy and said that the passage as Wesley never tired of saying, begins in the new birth, in Isaiah 61 was now fulfilled before their very eyes or regeneration, and continues daily as the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18-21). teaches us from the Scripture how to walk in Christlike- When George Whitefield and John Wesley set out to ness. It comes to a second climax, a “second blessing, revive primitive Christianity in 18th-century England, properly so-called,” in the experience of cleansing from they kept before them both the Christian ideology (that all that is properly called sin. But far from stopping there, Christ’s kingdom was to spread over the whole earth) as Wesley was wont to say, loving God with all our and the Christian ethic (that pure and undefiled religion hearts enables us daily to deal with our human short­ was to care for the widows and orphans and keep one­ comings, face up to our prejudices and long-held errors self unspotted from the world). of judgment, and continually reexamine our ethical lives Wesley’s first church building in London, the Old in the light of the glory that shines from the face of Jesus Foundery, was located outside the walls of the city, Christ. The result, of course, is power to live in ever- among the barrios, the shantytowns where the poor increasing holiness. To be daily delivered from the ener­ people lived. So was the beautiful chapel he later built vating effects of evil makes us better and more useful three blocks away. His habit in moments of great spiri­ employees, more efficient in the use of our time, and tual blessing was to celebrate liberation from the love of triumphant over all those things that keep poor individu­ money by calling for the collection plates to be passed als from making the most of their lives. Such Christian to enable the congregation to buy wool and flax to give liberation makes us better in our studies, in social rela­ to poor widows to spin. When he decided he should be tionships, in fellowship with other Christians, and in all married, as Frank Baker’s recent complete edition of aspects of our economic life. Alcohol, tobacco, mar­ Wesley’s correspondence makes plain, he chose Grace ijuana, cocaine, and even the excessive use of harmless Murray, a godly but poor person. She had proved her drugs like caffeine and sugar pose no threat to the well­ mettle both socially and spiritually, among the unem­ being of such a redeemed person. ployed working people of Newcastle upon Tyne. The 2. Christian prophets, whether laypersons or minis­ long correspondence revealing John Wesley’s deep sor­ ters, must recognize and challenge social or structural row and forgiving love of those who fetched her away injustice wherever it appears. The poor are not op­ from him because she was an impoverished commoner pressed simply by their sins but by an exploitative soci­ reveals the completeness of Wesley’s identification with ety. To face up to social wrong— unfair wages, desper­ the poor. ate housing conditions, the reign of ignorance and The same expression of perfect love characterized deference to the idols of race or class or nationalism— is the Church of the Nazarene's founding generation. The the obligation of every Christian. In both word and action oldest congregation in what became the Pentecostal we must resist evil, but always in loving willingness to Church of the Nazarene was organized at Providence, turn the other cheek, go a second mile, and give our R.l. It was founded after the Methodist pastor and cloak to the one that demands our coat. bishop refused to extend recognition to the mission to 3. Another facet of Wesleyan liberation thought is de­ poor people that Fred Hillary and others had carried on. liverance from the terrible consequences of violence. J. O. McClurkan, founder of Trevecca College and leader The peaceableness of Jesus is as much our joy and of the congregations in Tennessee that later became duty to imitate as His courageous opposition to social Nazarene but were then called the Pentecostal Mission, sin. In Samaria long ago, beside a well, He spoke with spent his lifetime lifting broken and poor people in East both firmness and compassion to an immoral divorcee Nashville from the degradation and despair that sin had of a despised race. And He spoke the same way to the helped fasten upon them. Little wonder that when Phin- money changers in the house of the Lord. This righ­ eas Bresee and other moderately well-off Methodists teousness and compassion, not a rope woven hastily of went “out under the stars” to found the California wing little cords, were the real symbols of His authority that of the Nazarene denomination, he announced and car­ day. ried on throughout his lifetime a church that would min­ 4. We are taught and enabled to rely upon the Holy ister daily to both the bodies and souls of persons cap­ Spirit’s refusal to compromise in any way with discrimi­ tive to sin. nation on account of race or sex or national origin; with It is so, today in Haiti, thanks in part to the role of injustice done by those who for the moment hold politi­ missionaries and national leaders. Nazarene Compas­ cal, economic, or military power over other persons; or sionate Ministries, spreading from those who have re­ with the covetousness, the greed, of both rich and poor. sponded to needs in this land and those of our other Deliverance of the oppressed from such evils is God’s brothers and sisters in the Caribbean, are crying, “Jus­ will, however slowly and incompletely we His creatures, tice," all over the world. The promise of salvation we including Christians, have managed to follow that will. preach to the poor is both social and spiritual. In the 5. We Wesleyans, finally, hold that after all the good Body of Christ it is not right to withhold anything that is that we can do is done, life in this world will still often be wholesome and liberating from a person in need. unfair. Job discovered this fact long ago. The real argu- Finally, the ways in which the Wesleyan form of salva­ Continued on p. 57 HOLINESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUSTICE Toward Concept Fulfillment

by Richard J. Stellway Head of the Department of Sociology Northwest Nazarene College, Nampa, Idaho (A paper prepared for the third annual meeting of the Association of Nazarene Sociologists of Religion, Kansas City)

few years ago I was invited to attend a meeting variably gotten their radical ideas from the Soviet Union. called by the director of the proposed Billy Gra­ When you teach people that they are children of God ham Center for World Evangelism. The director had justand that they are made in His image, Young reminded returned from a similar meeting in Latin America, whereus, that is revolutionary!1 (The U. S. used this concept to he had discussed the concept of evangelism with justify a our own revolution— see our Declaration of Inde­ number of Latin American theologians. It was apparentpendence.) from his remarks that their concept and his were quite different. For one thing, they maintained that the com­HOW WILL WE RESPOND TO THE “INCREDIBLE” municationA of the gospel requires a concrete incarnate NOTIONS OF OTHER CHRISTIANS? witness, not merely a verbal announcement. They also Upon hearing the strange ideas of some of our inter­ maintained that the proclamation of the gospel should national church members, our first response might be be understood as a form of social action. Finally, they simply to dismiss them as ignorance befitting new and were laboring under the impression that discipleship not-so-experienced Christians. We may possibly write should be conceived in an ethical context. them off as merely another annoying form of syn- ; It was clear from this director’s remarks that these cretism. (“If only these people could separate authentic ideas were not only very different from his own but that Christianity from the trappings of culture,” we might he believed them to be quite unacceptable. “You know,” say.) he said to me after the meeting, “many hospitals have What appears to us to be strange and possibly unor- j been built in the name of spreading the gospel. Yet often thodox ideas may in fact emanate from ignorance and scarcely a handful of patients have responded to the even syncretism. Before jumping to these conclusions, care they received by accepting Christ.” (I didn’t stop to however, we would do well to reflect on one man’s ex-1 inquire whether he thought Jesus should have healed perience. Ron Frase is chaplain at Whitworth College. the 10 lepers; only 1 returned, you recall, and he was a During his presentation at a conference in Pasadena, Samaritan. Perhaps I should have. His response would Calif., Ron reflected on his years of experience in Latin have been interesting.) America. Preparing for his ministry there, he had at­ A similar situation confronts our church as it embarks tended all of the best schools— Wheaton College, on the fragile experiment to devise a truly international Princeton Seminary, Fuller, and so on— and in the pro­ denomination. Unless we have totally succeeded in re­ cess, he had devised answers to all of life’s pressing producing Christians abroad in our own image, we are questions. After he had his theology all packaged and bound to discover some Nazarenes out there who have systematized, he departed for Brazil. To his dismay, he come up with some “incredible” ideas as they’ve put the discovered that people there were not interested in his concept of holiness into the context of their own culture answers. They wanted to know what Christianity had to and circumstance. say about human rights, whether a Christian can be a I was particularly reminded of this possibility last Marxist, and whether revolution was compatible with month while listening to a presentation by Andrew the gospel. “Sadly,” he confessed, “I had to face the fact Young, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and now that I had spent most of my post-high school years mayor of Atlanta. Young observed that we do a grave studying answers to questions no one was asking.” (I injustice to our missionaries and our Christian schools find his comment reminiscent of Tom Skinner’s book, If when we insist that third world revolutionaries have in­ Christ Is the Answer; What Is the Question?) The poor, threatened, humiliated, and hopeless Chris­ of God. They go on to link the concepts of righteous­ tians of the first, second, and third worlds have some ness and justice to holiness. Righteousness, they main­ important things to tell us. My concern is that we hear tain, refers to God’s standard; a standard that emanates and heed the questions they and their spokesmen are from and manifests this nature. Justice, in turn, refers to raising in a context of religious persecution, flagrant hu­ the administration of this standard.5 The suggestion man rights violations, political and military corruption, seems clear enough; justice has something to do with sickness, hunger, and malnutrition. Moreover we need holiness, and holiness as a concept contains some con­ to wrestle with— even agonize over— how our theology cern with justice. However, by acknowledging a con­ of holiness relates to these realities. nection here, we have only barely begun the process of concept fulfillment as defined by Richardson. We must CONTEXTUALIZATION FOR A NEW DAY proceed to examine just what justice is and what its In their effort to convey Christianity within the context administration involves. And we must link up the results of non-Christian cultures, contextualization has become of our inquiry with the concept that comprehends it, ho­ a byword for missiologists. A less-than-profound illus­ liness. tration of this concept comes from Eugene Nida. He This latter task, linking the fuller implications of justice recounts the problem a Bible translator was having try­ administration with holiness, may necessarily require ing to communicate the concept of sanctification to a further elaboration of the holiness concept itself. To tribal group in the Mexican interior. After considerable comprehend the fuller implications of God’s nature, it is struggle, he hit upon a word that these Indians used to helpful to reflect on the nature and activity of His incar­ describe a garment that had been washed and re­ nate Son. As we consider the epitomizing of God’s na­ mained clean.2 ture in the person of Jesus, what do we attend to? Jerry According to Chuck Kraft of Fuller Seminary, con­ Hull, a sociologist at Northwest Nazarene College, sug­ textualization in the fullest sense involves fitting Chris­ gests that our conventional approach has been to focus tian concepts within the worldview of the culture of con­ on the spiritual aspects of His message and to view His cern.3 A concept that is central to the Nazarene healing of the sick and feeding of the hungry in terms of theological worldview is holiness. If third world peoples a symbolic reference to His concern for the spiritual wel­ (the poor, disadvantaged, and exploited people of all na­ fare of mankind. But what might a third world Christian tions) and their spokesmen are to meaningfully convey abstract about God’s nature upon reading the same the reality of their circumstances and the substance of scripture? Hull suggests that they might be more in­ their concerns to those of us more fortunate Wesleyans, clined to consider His concern for meeting the material it will probably have to be via our concept of holiness. If needs of the masses while giving special heed to the this is true, then it is most important for us to ask, “What “disrespectful" way in which He challenged the wealthy potential does our concept of holiness have for compre­ and upset the religious hierarchy of the day. They would hending issues of structural evil, collective sin, and so­ also surely find Mary’s Magnificat to be particularly re­ cial injustice confronting third world peoples today?" In vealing of God’s nature: short, what potential does Christian holiness have for My soul magnifies the Lord ... comprehending and productively dealing with justice is­ He has put down the mighty from their thrones, sues? and exalted those of low degree; The way this concept has been dealt with in the past he has filled the hungry with good things, has left little room for dealing with such issues. While we and the rich he has sent empty away. have preached that God is love, we have neglected the (Luke 1:46, 52-53, RSV) fact that He is also justice. While we have proclaimed As John Howard Yoder suggests in his book, The Pol­ holiness, matters of structural evil and social sin have itics of Jesus they would likely see the theme of Jubilee either been written off as irrelevant or redefined as justice— cropping up in such places as in Jesus’ inau­ matters emanating from personal sin. We have become gural sermon (Luke 4:18-19), His model prayer (particu­ so accustomed to the comforts of our first world yacht larly the passage referring to forgiving our debts as we that we scarcely notice the struggling, sinking masses forgive our debtors), and His parable of the ungrateful who are desperately paddling in the murky sea of injus­ man who, after being forgiven a debt by his Lord, tice on which we float, struggling to somehow stay alive harshly demanded full payment from his own debtor— for a few more hours. When on occasion they do catch as positive proof that a concern for justice is integral to our attention, our all-too-frequent response is to hand comprehending God’s nature. The prophet Jeremiah put them a copy of our Manual’s statement on holiness. it quite simply: To know God is to do justice (Jer. 22:16). While this is my fear, my hope and faith is that our passion for holiness will force us to consider and con­ HOW DO WE DO THEOLOGY? structively relate to the justice issues of our day. But by How do we avoid missing the fuller implications of what means will this take place? God's holiness within the context of our contemporary world? Sensing that the theologians of the North Atlan­ CONCEPT FULFILLMENT tic have remained oblivious to the realities of much of Don Richardson employs the term concept fulfillment their world, people such as Orlando Costas, Bill Pannell, to refer to tapping a concept’s latent but pregnant po­ Vinay Kumar Samuel, Robert McAfee Brown, and a host tential.4 W hat is the untapped potential of our concept of of other theologians are now suggesting that a new way holiness? In their Introduction to Christian Theology, of doing theology is in order. Orlando Costas outlines Wiley and Culbertson define holiness as the very nature three key ingredients of a new approach: 1. A Different Starting Point: The Poor is that theology must both issue from engagement and This starting point is not as new as it might first ap­ lead to renewed engagement. In this sense theology is pear. Robert McAfee Brown cites two passages from not done via a logico-deductive process of bystander Barth’s writings to illustrate this point: reflection. Neither is it done via a logico-inductive pro­ God always takes His stand unconditionally and cedure in which grass roots experience becomes the passionately on this side and on this side alone: only teacher. Rather, it incorporates both approaches. against the lofty and on behalf of the lowly; against Action forces me to look at my theory again. Yet by those who already enjoy right and privilege and on reexamining my theory, I am compelled to reappraise behalf of those who are denied it and deprived of it. my action. The Church is witness of the fact that the Son of This means of doing theology, like the first, is not en­ man came to seek and to save the lost. And this im­ tirely new. The self-reports of many a respected re­ plies that... the Church must concentrate first on the ligious figure manifest this process. At some point they lower and lowest levels of human society. The poor, dared to launch out on the light that they had. But by the socially and economically weak and threatened, engaging in a continual process of theorizing, acting, will always be the object of its primary and particular reflecting, retheorizing, and action revising, they have concern, and it will always insist on the State’s special developed a maturity of insight and a genuine integra­ responsibility for these weaker members of society. tion of head and heart knowledge while leaving behind That it will bestow its love upon them ... [is] the them a theology for successive generations to pursue. most important thing; but it must not concentrate on I suspect that the Holiness Movement has gone this and neglect the other thing to which it is commit­ through a somewhat similar process over the years. I ted by its political responsibility; the effort to achieve seldom hear the pulpit pronouncements on holiness to­ such a fashioning of the law as will make it impossible day that I recall hearing so often during my early years. for “equality before the law” to become a cloak under This is sometimes seen as an indication that we have which strong and weak, independent and dependent, somehow backslidden from an original commitment. rich and poor, employers and employees, in fact re­ But could it be that as w e have acted on the implications ceive different treatment at its hands: the weak being of these former pronouncements, we have revised our unduly restricted, the strong unduly protected.6 “theory,” and that what has emerged over the years is a While there is some evidence of a concern for the more contextually relevant theology of holiness? Fur­ circumstances confronting the poor within the writings thermore, as we continue to engage in this process, of the so-called theologians of the North Atlantic, such a could it be that it will carry us further in the direction of concern can scarcely be considered a starting point for concept fulfillment? most theologians writing in the holiness tradition. If we 3. A Different Set of Tools: The Social Sciences are to come to grips with the social and political forces Tradition causes us to look to philosophy to provide impacting the poor and exploited peoples of the the tools for crafting our theology. Having grown up with world— those to whom God has manifested a special this tradition, it seems logical to include heavy doses of concern— a reorientation to our way of thinking must philosophy in our seminary curricula and to incorporate occur. Basic to such a reorientation is a fundamental the philosophy major into the religion departments of change in, or expansion of, what sociologists refer to as our colleges. When we need assistance in dealing with our reference group. In our achievement-oriented soci­ some social issue or another, we call upon the philos­ ety, it has become conventional to compare our circum­ ophers for assistance. When the resident pastor is un­ stances with those who have more than we do. How­ able to fill the pulpit, we may even invite a philosopher to ever in doing so, we invariably feel overworked, take his place. underpaid, underrecognized, and, through a little trans- Theologians have grown so comfortable with philos­ valuational logic, just a bit pious and self-righteous. In ophers that the latter are surely assured a legitimate The Upside-Down Kingdom, sociologist Donald Kraybill place in the church in the foreseeable future. But what challenges us to fix our gaze downward rather than up­ about social scientists? Do they not have something im­ ward. As we revise our focus, our whole outlook portant to contribute as well? Could it be that their tools changes. We begin to understand that to feel over­ might provide valuable insights into the nature of histor­ worked and underpaid is a form of self-indulgence— a ical, social, political, and economic forces conditioning luxury which, in light of the magnitude of human need, the circumstances under which men think, feel, and act? we can ill afford. Furthermore, we begin to take the con­ Could their insights be of use in addressing holiness ditions plaguing these masses seriously. It is possible theology to the issues confronting our contemporary that as we identify with their plight we may for the first world? J time become genuinely indignant over the injustices that NOTES victimize them! 1. For a provocative exposure to the way the context of Nicaragua during the Sandinista revolt affected the interpretation of Scripture, see The Gospel in Soien- 2. A Different Mode of Engagement: Praxis tiname, Vol. IV, by Ernesto Cardinal (Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1982). This increasingly popular term, means some­ 2. Eugene Nida, Customs and Cultures: Anthropology for Christian Mission praxis, (Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library, 1981), 221. thing more than mere practice. Robert McAfee Brown 3. Charles Kraft, Christianity in Culture: A Study in Dynamic Biblical Theology defines it as an ongoing two-way exchange between in Cross-cultural Perspective (Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1979), 362. action and theory. But Brown is quick to point out that 4. Don Richardson, "Concept Fulfillment" in Ralph D. Winter and Stephen C. Hawthorne, eds., Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader not just any action will do ... only action of a transform­ (Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library, 1981), 416. ing nature. The early Christians described in Acts 17:6 fit 5. H. Orton Wiley and Paul T. Culbertson, Introduction to Christian Theology the model well. They were referred to as those who (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1946), 107. 6. Robert McAfee Brown, Theology in a New Key (Philadelphia: Westminster “have turned the world upside down.”7 Press, 1978), 142. The underlying premise of this mode of engagement 7. Ibid., 71 WHATEVER HAPPENED TO OUR WOMEN PREACHERS? by David Ackerman Spokane, Wash.

t is evident that there is a lack of the race who conducted women, in woman ordained in the United women in the preaching ministry connection with members of the States, in 1853. Brown, a Congrega­ today. It has not always been this opposite sex, through a full course tionalism graduated from Oberlin way. Women have proclaimed God’s of liberal education, and conferred College three years previously and truth throughout Scripture from Es­ upon her the high degrees which was “deeply indebted” to Asa Ma­ ther in the Old Testament to Phoebe had hitherto been the exclusive pre­ han’s leadership. Luther Lee, a Wes­ in the New. Within the last 150 rogatives [sic] of men.3 leyan Methodist, preached Brown’s years, women have had a prominent Sarah Anders says, “Education ordination sermon, “Woman’s Right roleI in the preaching ministry. enabled some individual women to to Preach the Gospel,” using the Beginning in England in the 18th pioneer in public life, decades before Galatians passage as his text. He century, John Wesley gave a handful they would be organized to effect said, of women the opportunity to preach. national changes."4 The better edu­ Females have a God-given right In the early 19th century, during the cated that women became, the to preach the gospel. I take it revivals of Charles G. Finney, more they began to see the in­ upon myself as my portion of the women gained freedom to preach in humanity of men toward other men effort on this occasion, to defend America. Finney’s revivalism paved and women. The war to free slaves and substantiate the above prop­ the way for the practice of full ordi­ led to a war to free women. Dayton osition. To make any distinction in nation of women. Church historian gives several reasons for this con­ the Church of Jesus Christ ... Donald Dayton says, “The most nection: purely on the ground of sex, is vir­ controversial of Finney’s new mea­ The basic egalitarianism of tually to strike this text from the sures in his revivals was his encour­ evangelicalism that supported ab­ sacred volume, for it affirms that agement of women to speak and olitionism was also extended to in Christ there is no difference be­ pray in public and mixed meetings.”1 women. Those who had mustered tween males and females, that Even when he was opposed by the courage to attack one social they are all one in regard to the church officials and congregations, institution found it easier to attack gospel of the grace of God.6 Finney stood his ground and gave another. Women who mastered As time went by, more women be­ women opportunity to speak in pub­ the antislavery argument found came involved in several facets of lic. In most cases, this public speak­ unexpected parallels to their own ministry, including work in rescue ing was not full-fledged preaching, situation. But probably most im­ missions and soup kitchens. They but it gave women more power to portant for the Evangelicals were seemed to have a natural sense of speak than they had ever had. the parallel problems in the inter­ compassion, perhaps because they This tradition carried on into Ober- pretation of Scripture.5 themselves felt oppressed. Seeing lin College. Asa Mahan, the first As the Scriptures were explored the opportunity and need for minis­ president of Oberlin, had close ties to find answers to the slavery issue, try, they began going to the places with Finney and was undoubtedly in­ passages were also found that liber­ men were neglecting. This led to fluenced by him. Dayton says, ated women. Gal. 3:28 was one key women’s involvement in missions. “Oberlin was the first coeducational passage: “There is neither Jew nor Timothy L. Smith sums up the situ­ college in the world. Later feminists Greek, there is neither bond nor ation thus: found it still a little stodgy, but a very free, there is neither male nor fe­ Practically all of the group had high percentage of the leaders of male: for ye are all one in Christ at first believed that their “call” the women’s rights movement were Jesus.” Passages that had kept was to foreign missionary work, graduates of Oberlin.”2 Asa Mahan women quiet in churches for ages at that time the only public minis­ was so proud of this heritage that he were no longer valid in light of the try in which women were actually suggested this epitaph be put on his newly discovered universal truths. welcome. All insisted that “provi­ tombstone: These views led to the ordination dential” circumstances had thrust The first man, in the history of of Antoinette Brown, the first them out into the ministry, first as 45 “home missionaries” and rescue pensation and identify patriarchal women included. Because of her in­ workers, then as evangelists and, patterns with the old. Thus those fluence, the Salvation Army was in some cases, pastors.7 theologies that are the most opti­ built upon the premise of equality of Sandra L. Myres makes the dis­ mistic about the change that is pos­ women, which it still advocates to­ tinction: “Men directed and adminis­ sible in human life are the most day.17 tered the local churches as well as likely to accept feminist principles Women preachers were influential denominational organizations, but ... the perfectionist theologies ten­ in the early holiness churches. Ac­ women were in charge of an increas­ ded to see the subordination of cording to Melvin Dieter, “The new ing number of auxiliary groups.”8 The women as part of the sinful state holiness churches, which were or­ auxiliary groups they became in­ out of which redemption was being ganized out of the movement in the volved in included Sunday Schools effected ... the subordination of closing decades of the century, and home/foreign mission societies. women ... was merely descriptive were among the first to grant full They also helped build churches and of the sinful state in which we find ministerial rights to women.18 By the schools and entertained traveling ourselves and without any nor­ mid-1880s the Mennonite Brethren ministers.9 Lyle E. Schaller makes mative value.13 church gave full privilege to women this important observation: One person who had a great im­ ministers. Since its beginning, the The greater the sensitivity of a pact on the Holiness Movement was Church of the Nazarene has given denomination to the oppressed Phoebe Palmer. It was largely be­ women full opportunity to preach. and the downtrodden, and the cause of her influence that many de­ H. C. Morrison said of the Church of larger the proportion of the mem­ nominations in the movement were the Nazarene at the turn of the cen­ bership that is drawn from among committed to the ordination of tury, “Women are ordained to those at the bottom of the social women.14 Phoebe Palmer’s influ­ preach, and may sit in yearly con­ class scale, the greater the proba­ ence started when she began hold­ ventions as delegates.”19 One in bility that that denomination has a ing testimony and prayer meetings eight churches in the United Mis­ long history of accepting women in conjunction with her husband’s sionary church were started by as ministers.10 preaching campaigns, where women.20 As many as 20 to 25 per- j Another reason why women be­ women were encouraged to pursue cent of the preachers and leaders in came involved in ministry comes gospel work. These meetings be­ the Church of God (Anderson, Ind.) from the theology of the Holiness came known as the “Tuesday Meet­ were women. Also, the Pentecostal Movement and “the essential nature ings,” and by 1886 there were 238 in churches supported women in the of the place of public testimony in operation. Smith says, “These in­ ministry.21 As many as 20 percent of the holiness experience which gave timate little gatherings brought to­ early Nazarene preachers and as many an otherwise timid woman the gether the most earnest Christians many as 30 percent of Pilgrim Holi­ authority and the power to speak of all evangelical sects under the ness preachers were women.22 out “as the Holy Spirit led her."11 leadership of women.”15 One of It has not remained this way for C. B. Jernigan tells how, even in the Palmer’s most famous books is The most holiness churches. Since midst of opposition, many women Promise of the Father. Harold Raser World War I, the number of women began to get “into the experience of sums up some of the impact of this preachers has declined. Floyd Cun­ entire sanctification” and would book, saying, “She argues at length ningham gives several possible rea­ shout and testify at every oppor­ for women’s right to minister in the sons for this. The first reason he tunity they could.12 Church. ... The book appeared in a gives is the rise of fundamentalism A closer look at this theology is day when women were not generally in the church. The church began to important. Two of the major biblical given important places of ministry in look at the Bible legalistically. This passages in support of wom en in American churches and most cer­ new scriptural outlook resulted in a the ministry are Gal. 3:28, which we tainly not allowed to be ordained.”16 In new emphasis on rules and laws. have looked at, and Acts 2:17, a broader terms, the book shook many John R. Rice, in his book Bobbed quote from Joel, which reads, “In the traditional foundations of the subordi­ Hair, Bossy Wives, and Women last days, God says, I will pour out nation of women. Preachers, gives the attitude of my Spirit on all people. Your sons Phoebe Palmer influenced Cath­ many during the period between and daughters will prophesy” (NIV). erine Booth, cofounder of the Salva­ world wars. Rice uses New Testa­ These verses appear to break down tion Army. Catherine’s husband, Wil- ment passages such as 1 Tim. any barriers that there might have liam Booth, was a preacher. 2:11-15 and 1 Corinthians 14 to been between men and women. In Catherine often went on campaigns prove that women should not addition, the holiness message is a with him, and soon she herself be­ preach but should, in fact, keep si­ message of the possibility of free­ gan preaching. It is said that she lent in the church.23 dom from indwelling sin by the bap­ was a better preacher than her hus­ Cunningham’s second reason for tism of the Holy Spirit. Dayton’s band. Thousands flocked to attend the decline of women preachers is summary of the correlation between her revival services, sometimes ad­ also a result of fundamentalism, holiness theology and feminist the­ vertised: “Come Hear a Woman dealing with the absolute ethic ver­ ology is worth noting. Preach.” Her sermons were based sus interim ethic. The interim ethic Feminist theologies generally on the Pentecost account in Acts 2, places a woman in the traditional emphasize the extent of the new by which she argued that the Spirit role, subject to her husband and si­ that is created in the Christian dis­ was poured out on all p eo p le, lent in the church. Rice’s view falls into the interim category. People be­ women from entering the preaching is rich with godly women who toiled gan focusing on specific passages ministry. First, there is the problem as preachers. Our theology is one of in the New Testament that seem to of ecclesiastical politics. There ap­ freedom, yet we keep many from belittle women. On the other hand, pears to be a “club mentality” fulfilling God’s call on their lives. A the absolute ethic is based on the among male ministers. The “broth­ restructuring of attitudes and prac­ universal principles found in such erhood” is represented by the typi­ tice must occur. $ passages as Gal. 3:28 and grants cal white male married to a lovely, NOTES women equality with men. The shift obedient wife with three children. 1. Donald W. Dayton, Discovering an Evangelical Heritage (New York: Harper and Row, 1976), 88. of the 19th century was toward the Women have a hard time fitting into 2. Donald W. and Lucille Sider Dayton, "Women absolute ethic, but the shift in the this club and are often excluded. Preachers and Evangelical and Holiness Roots," Preacher's Magazine, SON 1979, 19. 20th has been back toward the in­ Though the official standing of the 3. See n. 1. terim ethic.24 church is friendly toward women 4. Hollis, Mace, Mace, and Anders, Christian Free­ Ruth Graham, wife of evangelist preachers, the people of the church dom for Women and Other Human Beings (Nash­ ville: Broadman Press, 1975), 18. Billy Graham, sums up the view of are not. Seth Cook Rees writes, 5. Dayton, Discovering an Evangelical Heritage, many, saying, Nothing but jealousy, prejudice, 89. I personally am “agin it” bigotry, and a stingy love for boss- 6. Donald W. Dayton, ed., Holiness Tracts De­ fending the Ministry of Women (New York and Lon­ [women preaching]. For one ing in men have prevented don: Garland Publishing, 1985), 5. thing, I do not feel that we have women’s public recognition by the 7. Timothy L. Smith, Called unto Holiness, The Story of the Nazarenes: The Formative Years, vol. 1, much of a shortage of men. For Church. No church that is ac­ (Kansas City: Nazarene Publishing House, 1962), another thing, I believe that it basi­ quainted with the Holy Ghost will 156. cally goes against the principles object to the public ministry of 8. Sandra L. Myres, Western Women and the Frontier Experience, /S00-/9J5(Albuquerque, N. Mex.: Univer­ of Scripture. ... I think if you wom en.28 sity of New Mexico Press, 1982), 203. study you will find that the finest A recent article in the Christian 9. Ibid., 203, 204. cooks in the world are men . . . Century states: 10. Lyle E. Schaller, Women as Pastors (Nashville: Abingdon, 1982), 13. the finest couturiers, by and large, Women are dropping out of the 11. Melvin Dieter, The Holiness Revival of the are men; the greatest politicians parish ministry more frequently Nineteenth Century (Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1980), 42, referring to A. M. Kiergan's Histor­ are men; most of our greatest than their male counterparts. ... ical Sketches of the Revival of True Holiness and writers are men; most of our A primary reason for the drop-out Local Church Polity from 1865 to 1916 (n.p.: Pub­ greatest athletes are men. You rate was the reluctance of parish­ lished by the Board of Publication of the Church Ad­ vocate and Good Way [1972]), 44. name it, men are superior in all but ioners and church staff people to 12. C. B. Jernigan, Pioneer Days of the Holiness two areas: women make the best acknowledge authority when it is Movement in the Southwest (Kansas City: Pen­ wives and women make the best vested in women.29 tecostal Nazarene Publishing House, 1919), 146. 13. Dayton, Holiness Tracts, viii. mothers.25 The problem is that district super­ 14. Dayton and Dayton, 20. Many denominations have fewer intendents and local churches are 15. Timothy L. Smith, Revivalism and Social Re­ form (New York: Harper and Row, 1957), 124. women preachers today than at the not looking for women preachers. 16. Harold E. Raser, "Phoebe Palmer: Ambassa­ turn of the century. At that time, at Women are forced to enter other dor of Holiness," Preacher's Magazine, SON 1983, least 20 percent of the ministers in fields of ministry. 23. 17. Dayton and Dayton, 20. the Church of the Nazarene were A second cause keeping women 18. Dieter, 43. women. In 1973, only 6 percent from entering the pastoral ministry is 19. Ibid. were women.26 Once firmly commit­ the decline in interest among 20. Ibid., 83. 21. Dayton and Dayton, 98. ted to women in the ministry, the women wanting to enter the minis­ 22. Dayton, Discovering an Evangelical Heritage, Nazarenes are now letting this com­ try. Though education is available, 98. 23. John C. Rice, Bobbed Hair: Bossy Wives, and mitment fall to the wayside. Not all the number of women studying for Women Preachers (Wheaton, III.: Sword of the Lord churches, however, are marked with the pastoral ministry is dropping. Publishing, 1941), 39-46. a decline in female ministers. The Women either transfer to denomina­ 24. Floyd Cunningham, interview, Northwest Naz­ arene College, Nampa, Idaho, May 25, 1988. United Methodist church, for exam­ tions that welcome women preach­ 25. Ruth Graham, comment in "Others Say ...” ple, is experiencing an upswing of ers or they switch to religious educa­ column, Christianity Today, June 6, 1975, 32. women preachers. Nancy Van Sco- tion or missiology majors. 26. Dayton, Discovering an Evangelical Heritage, 98. yoc even says, “In some churches In summary, it is a sad reality that 27. Nancy J. Van Scoyoc, ed., Women, Change, more women hold leadership posi­ the number of women preachers is and the Church (Nashville: Abingdon, 1980), 62. 28. Dieter, 43-44. tions than men.”27 declining in holiness churches. Our 29. “Women as Parish Clergy,” Christian Century, Several things are keeping heritage in the Holiness Movement Jan. 23, 1985, 72. Pontius' Puddle

DOES YOOq PREFER TO S'NCr |M 0 UNISOM OR POOR-PART < V M w a r M J r Jm m r p t O W W '— ...... ------( NATURAL CHURCH GROWTH by Louie E. Bustle South America Regional Director Church of the Nazarene

uring World War II, missionaries were run out of pendence is never good, not even dependence upon the China, and the church was forced to go under­ district. ground. Some of the greatest persecution in the history For the church to grow today, we must continue to of Christianity fell upon the Chinese church. One woulddevelop and plant new churches. New churches give naturally think that the church would die and disappear.possibilities for new leadership and new pastors. This However, instead of dwindling, the church has actually new blood has a tendency of challenging and inspiring flourished. The fastest church growth in the world today the church at all levels. There is something about new is found in China. Many of the major cities have turned entities that keeps sharpening our vision. D New churches can be started in homes, in rented to Christ until in some, approximately 10 percent of the buildings, almost anywhere until their congregations population is Christian. can purchase their places of worship. The problem is The church in China has found the answer in natural that many times we are afraid to try new ideas. church growth. Great temples and expensive Sunday One of the great problems that we face in the church School facilities are not necessities. Chinese believers today is that we feel that every pastor must receive a do not have the modern conveniences that we in most full-time salary. We also feel that it is the parent church’s places of the world feel we must have. Most have re­ or the district’s responsibility to provide either the rent or treated to worship in houses and to secret places. Re­ the property and build the building. strictions as to whom they can even invite hinders evan­ We have lost the biblical pattern of church growth. gelism. However, the church is growing naturally. There is a great need for the church to return to this Have we let Satan fool us into thinking that the church biblical base. Some ideas that we could develop are: is a building? Do we think that the church is completely 1. The greatest day for the church is when it is in dependent upon money? Have we built a system that limits church growth as we become dependent upon professional pastors and nice facilities? Do we think, The more money, the more the growth? Christ surely wanted to win the world. That is the rea­ son He gave His disciples the Great Commission. How­ ever, the Church today cannot win the world until we change our mentality! Satan wants us to deviate from the biblical plan that Paul used. He has tricked us into building a non- reproducible system of church growth. We cannot start new churches unless we have great amounts of dollars. We cannot run our programs unless we have more money. God is challenging the church today. We need a radi­ Louie E. cal change of mentality. Could it be that God really Bustle wants church growth that does not depend upon money? A work can be small in the beginning. De­ 48 revival. When the Holy Spirit has control of us, the dy­ but also help to build the mother church. Once there is a namics of the power of God become more evident. Phin- good group of believers, they can rent their own build­ eas F. Bresee declared that he never called evangelists ing, and then begin to save money for property and a to give revival to the church, only to raise the tide of permanent building. revival. We have become accustomed to going through 10. Even new churches can call pastors to start other the motions of church services. How we need the power churches. Sometimes we have the idea that only the of God upon every service of the church! Every church large churches can sponsor new churches. However, I service should be special. have seen young churches have a greater ministry in this 2. The church’s vision must be renewed. We have area than many large churches. been calloused to the fact that man is lost without 11. Even laypeople can pastor and start new Christ. A renewed vision of the need to win the world churches. Let us not underestimate the power and the willingness of the laity. must be imprinted upon the mind of every believer. 3. The desire to sacrifice for the kingdom of God has been diverted to a love for pleasure and ease. How many times have I heard a Christian worker say that a certain sacrifice would be an imposition upon his family. How familiar the phrase, “No, I cannot do that, I have What do you say to a growth other plans.” Many have gone on spiritual vacations and left the building of the church to others. rate of 156 percent? 4. The church today needs God-called pastors who are willing to preach the gospel at any cost. The ministry is not a call to ease and a better life, though the Bible teaches that the pastor is worthy to receive remuner­ ation for his work. The call of God is to the will of God. 5. The minister’s responsibility is to challenge and in­ 12. One problem is that w e desire to control all as­ spire the church to greater heights and greater responsi­ pects of church growth. The statement “Control kills bilities. Satisfaction with a superficial ministry is un­ church growth” does not mean there should be no su­ pardonable. pervision or administration. However, many of our ad­ 6. Let the church expand its teaching ministry to in­ ministrators have strangled church growth in the sense spire every pastor to train a new pastor every year. One that they control every aspect of the outreach. District of the ways of doing that is to have extension theological superintendents should receive reports of these new education classes on every district, probably several works. However, they should be giving direction and in­ places on every district. Anyone who is interested in the spiring our local pastors to begin new churches. That ministry should be enrolled in these classes. Let us train means giving liberty to the pastor, turning them loose to them and send them out to start new churches and to build the Kingdom. Could we not develop a system of develop new ministries around the world. praying one for another as we are challenged to begin 7. If the church will develop the biblical idea of the new churches? Is it not the responsibility of adminis­ mother church starting daughter churches, we would tration to give advice and guidance and also to lay the have a greater impact upon the world. We could start responsibility of building the Kingdom back on the local talking about each church starting a new church instead church? of leaving that responsibility for the district superinten­ The Church of the Nazarene in South America has dent. This could be done with little money. How much grown at the rate of 156 percent in the last five years. Is does it cost to start a new church? It doesn’t cost it difficult to keep up with training and administrating a money. All God needs are people who are willing to do it. church that is growing so rapidly? Yes, it is difficult. The new group's tithe will provide for the financial However, I would rather have that problem than to be needs. able to take all the time I need to train a few new leaders. 8. Some years ago the church began to emphasize I find that it is also the responsibility of the Holy Spirit the full-time pastor. This is ideal for us even today. How­ to train and help our people. Of course, we want them to ever, if w e are going to have fast church growth, w e can’t be guided in the area of doctrine and administration of wait for churches to afford pastoral salaries, nor can the the church. However, we do not want them to be stifled, district be responsible for them indefinitely. If we de­ nor to slow down the growth of the Church of Jesus velop the idea that every local church pays their pastor Christ. what they can and make the pastor responsible for the It is my prayer that God will help us find the dynamic balance of his support, we can start more churches, of natural church growth. Could it be that God is talking giving us more growth. to you about being that kind of person who could be 9. House churches, started as satellite groups of a used to develop natural church growth in your area? mother church, not only help to start new congregations * “Every Believer Is a Minister”

WE PLANTED OUR CHURCH AT A GARAGE SALE

by David Wesley Pastor, Seeds of Abraham, Kansas City rene Theological Seminary. At Florie’s house, 10 family members whom Florie had invited waited. Beverly gave her testimony, presented God’s plan for salvation, and invited any who wished to accept Christ as their per­ sonal Savior. Seven did just that! They asked the visitors to come again the next week so that they could begin a weekly Bible study. For the next few months, Beverly led the Bible study in Florie’s living room. Then a seminary couple, Ben and Lisa, joined the group. Ben began leading the Bible study while Lisa led the children in their own study in the kitchen. As the group grew, the leaders began looking for ways to accommodate the people. Meanwhile, I was midway through my seminary train­ ing. My wife, Glynda, and I were feeling God’s call into some kind of cross-cultural ministry. We were praying for His direction. Then Ben and Lisa accepted a pas­ Florie Abraham (back row, third from I.) and an early gathering in her torate in California. Looking for someone else to direct home. the study, Beverly told us about it, wanting to know if we had any ideas about who might want to direct the study. e planted an urban, Black-American church at a It was as though the Lord himself was saying, “Here is suburban, White-American garage sale. the open door you’ve been praying for, David. Will you It all started in the outskirts of Kansas City, when a walk through it?” young couple decided to collect their uncollectibles and The next week, Glynda and I visited the Bible study. sell them. As they prepared for the sale, they prayed that By this time, Florie’s house was overflowing with 20-30 they would meet someone who needed the Lord. people. We were immediately drawn to these new Chris­ Among the people who visited the sale, rummaging tians. And we agreed to work with them. through boxes of bargains, was Scarlet. She was a Wmiddle-aged woman who prepared meals for a hospital in the area. The young couple struck up a conversation with Scarlet, inviting her to church. The following Sunday, Scarlet and her 19-year-old son visited the church. From the moment the first greeter shook her hand, she felt welcome. “The greeters and the other members of the church,” she said, “made me feel like I was already part of their church family.” * She returned the next Sunday, and the next, and the | next. It wasn’t long after Scarlet started attending the f church that tragedy struck: Her son drowned in a swim­ ming accident. The people of the church immediately reached out in compassion to this grieving mother. They | offered her flowers and gentle words and shared her jj tears. They also offered Jesus, whom she accepted as I her Savior. Scarlet began working through the church’s Bible study series designed for new Christians. And she be­ While the adults study Scripture in the living room, the children go to gan telling people about her new faith. One of the peo- the kitchen to learn about Jesus. i pie she told was Florie Abraham, a Black woman who also worked in the hospital kitchen. Scarlet showed Flo- Within a couple of months, summer was on us. We I rie one of the Bible study leaflets she was using. decided to reach out to the neighborhood. With the help Florie confided to Scarlet that her family was being of some Christian college students, we conducted a torn apart by some serious problems and that perhaps “Sunshine Club.” For two hours every Tuesday for six a Bible study like this would pull them back together. weeks, we met in an empty lot. Scores of children came I She asked Scarlet if she would come to her house and and played, sang, watched puppets, and listened to Bi­ I share the Bible study with her family. ble stories. We registered the children’s names and later A few nights later, Scarlet arrived with Beverly Bur­ visited their families, inviting them to our Bible study. We gess and a couple of evangelism students from Naza­ discovered that nearly 50 families in the area not only had no church home but also were interested in know­ Why this name? For one thing, the ministry began in ing more about our Bible study. the home of Florie Abraham. But the promises of God, One of these people was JoAnn. We visited her once which our people are learning about, go back to a time a week for six weeks. Each time, we made sure she long before the Abrahams of Wabash Street. knew she was welcome to come to the Bible study. But About 2,000 years before Christ, God said to Abra­ she never came. And every week, our group prayed for ham, “I will establish ... an everlasting covenant be­ her. tween me and you and your descendants ... to be your One Monday evening, JoAnn called me. She was hav­ God” (Gen. 17:7, NIV). The apostle Paul explained that ing trouble with alcohol and said she needed to make a this promise and invitation was made to “all Abraham’s change in her life. Could I help? I told her I would be over offspring— not only to those who are of the law [the the next day. Jews], but also to those who are of the faith of Abra­ Tuesday, Florie, a seminary student, and I went to Jo- ham. He is the father of us all” (Rom. 4:16, NIV). Ann’s home. Florie told JoAnn how God had changed The people who call themselves Seeds of Abraham her life and how He had given her a satisfaction she had have a burden for the thousands of unchurched people never found in alcohol, drugs, or sex. As Florie con­ who live in inner Kansas City. Many of these neighbors tinued her testimony, it became of ours have never heard the Good clear that God was speaking though News of salvation. Some only occa­ her. W e could see the spiritual hun­ SEED sionally go to church. Others are ger on JoAnn’s face. I asked her if Muslim. All need Christ. she wanted to invite Jesus into her Seeds of Abraham’s adopted life. Tears spilled onto her face as motto reads, “Every Believer Is a she nodded. Minister.” As this New Testament fel­ After we prayed, JoAnn asked if lowship grows, they continue to look we could begin a Bible study in her for ways to reach their community. home. “I’ve used my house for Satan We’re now negotiating the purchase for so long, I would like to use it for of a three-story house in the neigh­ God in some way,” she said. She in­ borhood. Renovated, this would vited us to come back the next week house afterschool tutoring for to begin the study and to help her neighborhood children and teens, a tell her family and friends what God youth center, a worship center for had done for her. So we did just that. one of our cell groups, adult educa­ That group has decided to continue tion, and lay pastoral training. We’re meeting each Tuesday evening. planning tw o new cell groups, and Meanwhile, the other group, we’re tentatively planning a basket­ meeting on Wednesday evenings, ball camp for young people this has grown to the point that we can’t summer. JoAnn has successfully fit them all in Florie’s house. There OF ABRAHAM completed an alcohol recovery pro­ are now 60-80 of us! The adults still ------gram and is now training to be a lay meet in homes, but because there pastor. are so many of us, we don’t always meet in the same Seeds of Abraham wasn’t drawn up in a planning house each week. This eases the burden on the hosts. meeting of district officers. Its location wasn’t deter­ The children and teens currently meet in buildings that mined by the proximity of neighboring churches. But Nazarene Headquarters has allowed us to use, free of God opened a door for ministry, and He opened our charge. The children meet in one build- hearts to people who hungered for Him ing, the teens in another. I don’t know where all this will lead. I don’t know if we f When we started this ministry in Flo- will ever be an organized church. But this one thing I do 1 / rie’s house, we called it the Wabash Bi- know: Because of a seed planted at a garage sale, the ble Study (Florie’s house is on Wabash gospel is being spread throughout the inner city commu­ Street). But now we have Bible study nity in which my wife, my son, and I live. People who have groups of varying ages meeting in never met Jesus Christ are other places. So we asked the adults being introduced to Him. And about a name for the group. Seeds of because of this, they will Abraham, they decided. never be the same. $ < 7 & The Biblical Basis for CHRISTIAN CONFRONTATION with the DEMONIC by Terry Read Assistant Professor of Missiology Nazarene Theological Seminary

ne of the most striking charac­ mons are acknowledged, some of teristics of our Lord’s ministry these problems will not be on earth is the confidence and au­solved.3 thority He demonstrated while deal­The minister or missionary in ing with the demonic. It is instructivetraining today will need to develop a to note that neither Jesus nor theChristian confidence based upon apostle Paul sought out oppor­biblical principles. This type of prep­ tunities to confront the demonic. Yetaration has largely been neglected. Oboth encountered fierce opposition A former missionary to West Africa to their ministry through the demon- writes: “I look back on my own mis­ possessed.1 sionary experience in a tribal village The Western world is shot in West Africa with a combination of through with the occult: Horo­ scopes, covens on university cam­ regret and incredulity, that I at­ puses, numerous reports of the out­ tempted ministry there with almost break of the demonic (even in no understanding of either the bibli­ church services), the New Age cal teaching on demons nor of the Movement,2 and other man­ reality of the demonic world to the ifestations inform us that we are people with whom I lived and face-to-face with a worldwide move­ worked.”4 ment, a resurgence of the “forces of Those brave enough to discuss evil” (Eph. 6:12, NIV). Merrill Unger the demonic today generally fall into concludes: two widely divergent groups: Those The scope and power of mod­ who find the demonic everywhere, ern occultism staggers the imag­ and those who find it nowhere. ination. Millions are unwittingly “Both extremes are un-biblical, and oppressed and enslaved by the most of us have sought a place of occult. No wonder mental and safety in simply avoiding the subject. emotional problems increase at Unfortunately, there is no place of an alarming rate. Unless the real­ safety in this conflict, only places of ity and purpose of Satan and de- ineffectiveness.”5 POWER ENCOUNTER DEFINED triumphing over them by the cross” session is to distort and destroy the Power encounter is the term given (Col. 2:15, NIV). image of God in man.”11 The fact to the confrontation between the A demonstration of power linked that demons enter into men and with the faithful preaching of the control them in what we call “demon ministers of God and the forces of gospel often results in significant possession” with several resultant Satan. “It is not simply a point of church growth. dysfunctional elements, is spelled contact— it is a point of attack.”6 The In the Philippines a number of out by the following: (a) He had su­ classic illustration from the Old Testa­ people in a small fishing village perhuman power. Dr. Ralph Earle in­ ment is found in Josh. 24:14-15. challenged a Christian layman, “If dicates that verse 3 has three nega­ Joshua appeals to the Israelites: you can cast out the devil from tives for emphasis: “And not even “Choose for yourselves this day the woman, we will truly believe with a chain no longer no one was whom you will serve, whether the and embrace immediately the able to bind him.”12 Further every gods your forefathers served be­ faith in Jesus Christ!” As unlikely word in the text testifies to his pa­ yond the River, or the gods of the a candidate as he was from our thetic condition, (b) He lived among Amorites, in whose land you are liv­ point of view, he accepted the the subterranean caves, which ing. But as for me and my house­ challenge and set a date that served as tombs for the poorest of hold, we will serve the Lord” (v. 15, would allow him time to prepare the poor, (c) He would be seen peri­ NIV). This demonstration of power himself in prayer. At the appointed odically, shrieking as he was tor- * encounter was very public! hour the confrontation took place, mented by the evil spirits, and would In the New Testament, a similar the demon was cast out, and the public demonstration led to a riot in woman was restored to total free­ Ephesus. “A number who had prac­ dom. “The following day, those ticed sorcery brought their scrolls who had issued the challenge Satan is furious in his together and burned them publicly" made good their promise.” This obsession to over­ (Acts 19:19, NIV). It is recorded im­ demonstration of the power of mediately afterward that “the word God has resulted in the only throw Christ’s rule. of the Lord spread widely and grew known people movement among in power” (v. 20, NIV). Opposition Muslims in the Philippines.9 soon came to those who were now CHRIST DELIVERING THE in “the Way” (v. 23, NIV), and the cut his own flesh with sharp stones GADARENE DEMONIAC goldsmiths (those who stood to gain (v. 5). There is a self-destructive, sui­ or lose the most, depending on the (Mark 5:1-20 and parallel passages cidal tendency in demon possession outcome of the issue) led the oppo­ Matt. 8:28-34 and Luke 8:26-39) that sets it apart as a special case. sition. Alan Tippet notes: “Be it Jesus and the disciples move into (d) Luke tells us that he wore no noted that this demonstration was Gentile territory, having crossed the clothes (8:27). both an act of commitment and an Sea of Galilee. This region is called Is there a difference between the act of rejection, a spiritual encoun­ the region of the Gerasenes, Gad- demon-possessed and the non­ ter.”7 arenes, or even Gergesenes in dif­ converted? Yes, there is a differ­ The conflict between the kingdom ferent manuscripts. P. L. Hammer ence. A nonconverted person may of God and the kingdom of Satan tells us that this account is the most live respectably. His conduct, rela­ came to a head during the earthly important New Testament reference tions with his fellows, work on the ministry of our Lord. “Whenever He to demoniacs. job, and treatment of his family may came into personal contact with de­ Mark and Luke refer to a single all be above reproach. He has not monic possession He cast out the demoniac; Matthew refers to two. yet invited Christ into his life. The sit­ demon and set the victim free.”8 The periscope especially serves uation of the demoniac is very much Power encounter is further illu­ to show the power of Christ over different. The spiral of behavior in minated by the “strong man” pas­ all uncleanness and demonic his life was constantly downward, sage. “How can anyone enter a might. In the Orient knowing the including self-destructive tenden- ; strong man’s house and carry off his name of a person meant power cies. That suicidal tendencies were a possessions unless he first ties up over him, but for the demons such part of the influence of the demons the strong man? Then he can rob his recognition of Jesus was their is seen by what happens next. What house” (Matt. 12:29, NIV). John tells doom. Thus a demoniac is made the demons could not do to the de­ us that “the reason the Son of God to testify to Jesus as the Son of moniac, Jesus allowed them to do in appeared was to destroy the devil’s God.10 the swine, “and they were drowned work” (1 John 3:8, NIV). Paul adds 1. The account of the Gadarene in the sea” (v. 13, NASB). this victorious note: “And having dis­ demoniac “indicates more graph­ 2. In this incident, the features armed the powers and authorities, ically than any other in the Gospels, presented prove to us that “the pur­ he made a public spectacle of them, that the function of demonic pos­ pose of demonic possession is to distort and destroy the divine like­ 1. To deny the existence of de­ that we may present everyone ness of man.’’13 In the parallel pas­ mons in the world today is to ride perfect in Christ” (NIV). sage (Luke 8:26-39), Geldenhuys roughshod over the evidence from 6. Victory is possible only tells us that the demons have both Old and New Testaments, the through a confrontation, a conflict. brought this man down to the level history of Christian missions, and Mankind is caught in the midst of a of an animal.14 He wanders about contemporary mission work any­ warfare. Satan is furious in his naked, a menace to all who pass by. where in the world. “People who obsession to overthrow the rule of The demoniac is not good publicity deny the activity of demons in con­ Christ. He has a missionary vision for the kingdom of Satan, for he is temporary life betray their ignorance also— full-scale warfare against the reduced to the level of the brute. It is of significant portions of the Bible.”16 Church (see Rev. 12:17 and 13:6). only after the demons leave that we 2. If we do not prepare to deal But our victory in Christ is assured: begin to see signs of normalcy in his meaningfully and confidently in the “In the world you have tribulation, life (Luke 8:35). authority and power of Jesus, we but take courage; I have overcome 3. There is full recognition of the will bypass the opportunity of minis­ the world” (John 16:33, NASB). superior power of Jesus here. Note: tering to one of the neediest seg­ Martin Luther spoke of the battle (a) the demoniac runs and kneels ments of our society. In most cases, in his classic hymn “A Mighty For­ before Jesus; (b) the demoniac begs the victim of demon possession is tress Is Our God:” Jesus not to torment him. “Behold no longer able to help himself. And though this world, with devils the tormentor anticipating, dreading, 3. Not all of the relationships be­ filled, and entreating exemption from tor­ tween demons and men will result in Should threaten to undo us, ment.”15 demon possession. These relation­ We will not fear, for God hath 4. Jesus demands to know the ships fall along a “continuum of in­ willed demon’s name. A fuller view of the fluence ranging from temptation and His truth to triumph through us. complicated situation of this victim harassment to actual control in the The prince of darkness grim— gradually emerges. Not one, but more classical concept of demon We tremble not for him. thousands (a legion was 6,000 Ro­ possession.”17 The Christian may His rage we can endure, man soldiers) of demons inhabited suffer from oppression from de­ For, lo, his doom is sure; this tormented soul. The tragedy of mons, but not actual possession. One little word shall fell him. ^ the person steeped in spiritism any­ where is the fact that he is totally This seems to be the point of the parable of the “strong man” (Matt. unable to help himself, unless there NOTES is a Christlike intervention, a power 12:29). 1. Four accounts are to be found in Mark's Gos­ 4. Prayer is the believer’s re­ pel: 1:21-28; 5:1-20; 7:24-30; 9:14-29; and three ac­ encounter in his life, where a higher counts from Paul’s ministry as recorded in Acts: power confronts and replaces a source against Satan and the in­ 13:6-12; 16:16-21; and 19:11 -17. 2. See Time, Dec. 7,1987,62-72; see also “News lesser power. vasion of demons (Eph. 6:10-20). In of Religion,” Herald o f Holiness, Nov. 15, 1987. 5. There is a restoration to whole­ Luke 22:31-32, Jesus tells Peter: 3. Merrill F. Unger, Demons in the World Today (Wheaton, III.: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 18. ness. The man is now clothed, in his “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to 4. Timothy Warner, “Teaching Power Encounter,” right mind, sitting at the feet of sift you as wheat. But I have prayed Evangelical Missions Quarterly, January 1986, 67. 5. Ibid., 68. Jesus, and desires to accompany for you, Simon” (NIV). In Eph. 6. Harvie M. Conn, “Conversion and Culture” in Him. Those who placed material 6:18-19, Paul reminds us of the im­ Down to Earth, J. R. W. Stott and R. Coote, eds. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., possessions ahead of the welfare of portance of praying for one another: 1980), 157. a human soul “began to entreat Him “And pray in the Spirit on all occa­ 7. Alan Tippet, “Evangelization Among Animists,” in Let the Earth Hear His Voice, J. D. Douglas, ed. to depart from their region” (v. 17, sions with all kinds of prayers and (Minneapolis: World Wide Publications, 1975), 848. NASB). The newly freed begins to requests. With this in mind, be alert 8. J. Herbert Kane, Christian Missions in Biblical Perspective (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, witness all over the Decapolis. and always keep on praying for all 1976), 268. the saints. Pray also for me” (NIV). 9. Timothy Warner, “Encounter with Demon 6. There is not one instance Power,” Trinity World Forum, 1981, 6(2), 4. recorded in Scripture where we are 5. Our concern in this whole 10. P. L. Hammer, “Demoniac,” in The Interpreter's matter of power encounter ought to Dictionary of the Bible, George A. Buttrick, ed. (New told that Jesus physically touched York and Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962), 824. the demon-possessed. In curing the be for the individual, the victim op­ 11. William L Lane, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, physically ill, Jesus often touched pressed by the demonic. This was 1984), 180. the person; not so with His deliv­ Jesus’ emphasis. We can never lose 12. Ralph Earle, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1957), erance of demoniacs. sight of the individual even in the 70. midst of a pitched battle, namely a 13. Lane, 182. THE SUMMING UP power encounter. Paul reminds us of 14. Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gos­ pel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans Pub­ Several conclusions for Christian this priority in Col. 1:28: “We pro­ lishing Co., 1968), 255. 15. Earle, 171. workers may be drawn from this claim him, admonishing and teach­ 16. Unger, 17. study: ing everyone with all wisdom, so 17. Warner, EMQ, 69. Coming to Terms Continued from p. 35

of Jesus Christ through His kind because the heart is tification, but several challenges re- j atoning death on the Cross. filled with perfect love. main. As pastors and leaders within 3. It is the work of the Holy 10. It prepares the believer for the Wesleyan-holiness tradition, we : Spirit as the Divine Agent of continued growth, ministry, not only have an obligation to under­ the Trinity. and service for God because stand the theological elements of 4. It is available to all believers the Holy Spirit empowers the entire sanctification that I have subsequent to regeneration. believer. listed, we also must investigate the 5. It is conditioned by consecra­ 11. It does not bring an absolute biblical validity of this doctrinal state­ tion and faith. perfection. ment. Finally, if the Wesleyan- I 6. It is instantaneous, a crisis, 12. It does not dehumanize or holiness doctrine of entire sanctifi­ just as in regeneration. eliminate problems. cation is found to be true to 7. It provides cleansing from the 13. It does not bring instant ma­ Scripture, it must be communicated sin nature that remains in the turity. to those under our care. The minis­ believer after regeneration. 14. It does not bring about ec­ try of the Holy Spirit in entire sanc­ 8. It is accompanied by a sense centric or ascetic behavior. tification must not be neglected of assurance through the wit­ B. The Remaining Challenges because of past confusion in termi­ ness of the Holy Spirit. I have attempted to clarify the nology or current theological de­ 9. It prepares the believer for distinctives of current Wesleyan- bate. Every pastor must be diligent continued growth in holiness thought regarding the ele­ in proclaiming all that God has pro­ relationship to God and man- ments of the doctrine of entire sanc- vided for those He loves.39 $

NOTES

1. J. Kenneth Grider, Entire Sanctification: The Dayton, “Entire Sanctification," 564; Grider, Entire Grider, Entire Sanctification, 31; Taylor, Theological Distinctive Doctrine of Wesleyanism (Kansas City: Sanctification, 115-18; Taylor, Theological Formu­ Formulation, 204-5; Wynkoop, Theology of Love, Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1980), 7. lation, 174-82. 355. 2. W. I Purkiser; Exploring Christian Holiness, vol. 11. J. Kenneth Grider, "Entire Sanctification: 28. Arnett, “Entire Sanctification," 30; Metz, Bibli­ 1, The Biblical Foundations (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Instantaneous— Yes; Gradual— No,” Preacher's cal Holiness, 181-84; Taylor, Theological Formu­ Press of Kansas City, 1983), 7. Magazine 55 (June/July/August 1980): 43. lation, 160-61. 3. Thomas A. Langford, "Holiness Theology," in 12. Agnew, Transformed Christians, 188; Dayton, 29. Dayton, "Entire Sanctification,” 536. Practical Divinity: Theology in the Wesleyan Tradition “Entire Sanctification,” 552; Metz, Biblical Holiness, 30. Arnett, “Entire Sanctification,” 31; Turner, (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1983), 133. 112; Wynkoop, Theology of Love, 337, 351 -52. Christian Holiness, 79. 4. Clarence L. Bence, “Not Worth Contending 13. Agnew, Transformed Christians, 187-88; Ar­ 31. Stanger, “Sanctified,” 7-8. For,” The Preacher's Magazine 57 (December/ nett, “Entire Sanctification," 30; Metz, Biblical Holi­ 32. Arnett, “Entire Sanctification,” 30; Grider, En­ January/February 1981 /82): 57-58. ness, 171; Stanger, "Sanctified," 10. tire Sanctification, 119-20. 5. Grider, Entire Sanctification, 34-42. 14. Frank Bateman Stanger, “The Wesleyan Doc­ 33. Arnett, “Entire Sanctification," 31. 6. William M. Arnett, “Entire Sanctification," As- trine of Scriptural Holiness,” Asbury Seminarian 39 34. M etz, Biblical Holiness, 232-33; Stanger, bury Seminarian 30 (October 1975): 30; Wilber T. (July 1984): 21-22. “Sanctified,” 8; Taylor, Theological Formulation, 205. Dayton, “Entire Sanctification,” in A Contemporary 15. Agnew, Transformed Christians, 188-90; 35. T A. Noble, “Humanity and Full Salvation,” Wesleyan Theology, vol. 1, ed. Charles W. Carter Charles W. Carter, The Person and Ministry of the Preacher’s Magazine 56 (December/January/Feb­ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, Fran­ Holy Spirit: A Wesleyan Perspective (Grand Rapids: ruary 1980-81): 37. cis Asbury Press, 1983), 563; W. T. Purkiser, Richard Baker, 1974), 186; Metz, Biblical Holiness, 111-13. 36. Grider, Entire Sanctification, 111; Metz, Bibli­ S. Taylor and Willard H. Taylor; God, Man, and Salva­ 16. Melvin E. Dieter, “The Wesleyan Perspective,” cal Holiness, 233, 238-39; Stanger, "Sanctified,” 9; tion (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, chap. 1 in Five Views on Sanctification, Melvin E. Turner, Christian Holiness, 85-88. 1977), 491; Frank Bateman Stanger, "What Does It Dieter et al. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing 37. Stanger, “Sanctified,” 9; Turner, Christian Holi­ Mean to Be Sanctified?” Asbury Seminarian 33 (April House, Academie Books, 1987), 41-42. ness, 79. 1978): 6, 10-11. 17. George Allen Turner, Christian Holiness: In 38. Stanger, "Sanctified,” 9. 7. Stanger, “Sanctified," 6. Scripture, in History, and in Life (Kansas City: Bea­ 39. Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City has under­ 8. Arnett, “Entire Sanctification," 30; Dayton, “En­ con Hill Press of Kansas City, 1977), 85. taken two major projects that provide tremendous tire Sanctification,” 543; Donald S. Metz, Studies in 18. Grider, Entire Sanctification, 22-23. resources for further study. They have recently pub­ Biblical Holiness (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of 19. Ibid., 23; Metz, Biblical Holiness, 250; Turner, lished a three-volume, in-depth study titled Exploring Kansas City, 1971), 111, 171. Christian Holiness, 17-18. Christian Holiness: another series, Great Holiness 9. Dayton, "Entire Sanctification,” 564; Grider, En­ 20. Grider, Entire Sanctification, 118-19. Classics, is a six-volume collection, of which volumes tire Sanctification, 115; Richard S. Taylor, Exploring 21. Taylor, Theological Formulation, 182. 2, 3, 5, and 6 are now available. A source for con­ Christian Holiness, vol. 3, The Theological Formu­ 22. Ibid., 182-83. tinued investigation is the Wesleyan Theological lation (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 23. Carter; Holy Spirit, 189. Journal. This publication is sent to the members of 1985), 171; Mildred Bangs Wynkoop, A Theology of 24. Dayton, “Entire Sanctification,” 541. the Wesleyan Theological Society. The journal is the Love: The Dynamic of Wesleyanism (Kansas City: 25. Metz, Biblical Holiness, 111. platform used by many Wesleyan scholars to ad­ Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1972), 337, 347. 26. Arnett, “Entire Sanctification," 30; Dayton, dress current issues within the Holiness Movement. 10. Milton S. Agnew, Transformed Christians: “Entire Sanctification," 541, 563; Metz, Biblical Holi­ Membership information can be obtained from Dr. New Testament Messages on Holy Living (Kansas ness, 171; Wynkoop, Theology of Love, 353, 357. William M. Arnett, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wil- City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1974), 189; 27. Dayton, “Entire Sanctification,” 532-34; more, KY 40390. Monday Morning Devotions Continued from p. 7 given— and must be received in the to the world’s way of thinking and them. This grace is free; it is a gift. only way love can be received, with behaving. Ours, too, much of the Do you need grace today? How gratitude and love. time. The grace word is that God’s much do you need? How many Such words give a person pause. love and His kindness are given to would you like? If it is a gift that is We know them and use them all the us when we don’t deserve them, freely given, then take some! Take time, but they are radically opposed can’t earn them, are not worthy of several! “Here’s my cup, Lord.”

‘Better a bit of subterfuge than a lot of questions,’ I say— but not to the folks, of course. They would only misunderstand. ‘Keep it positive,’ I always say. When I first went to Sixth, the C.S. told me that it was in the spiritual doldrums. ‘Haven’t paid their assessments,’ he said. That’s always a sure sign of spiritual trouble. Best way out of the doldrums is to act as if you aren’t in them.’ So we borrowed money and spent big. Got into live-wire worship packages— mod music with lots of sound tracks and stuff, and a big visiting star now and then, put Continued from p. 1 together a ‘with-it’ staff, preached upbeat, paid assess­ ments, and did a lot of PR. Obviously, it didn’t really that’s life. You can see, of course, that neither M and S work, but that’s not my fault. All that just wasn’t their nor the board, nor really Pastor Smerdley, is personally style or mine. The board and I bought bad advice. And responsible for Curggie’s release. If you must fix blame, you know what it’s like if you don’t do what C.S. tells you which I wouldn't do, it’s either Pastor Pre-Smerdley or to do. But The System puts the heat on him, too, I just The System.” guess. At least I was loyal.” Soon it was time to go, so I put my hand on Uncle M As I turned to leave, I said, softly, “So in your opinion, and S’s shoulder and said, “So you’re convinced that nothing nor anyone in particular is responsible for Curg­ nothing nor anyone in particular is responsible for Curg- gie’s dismissal?” gie Smith’s release from duty?” “Nothing nor anyone in particular,” he repeated, grate­ “Nothing and no one in particular,” he said, as if being ful that I had understood. granted absolution. Such was my education last Wednesday. I went to Now, Uncle had given me a new angle. Off I went to prayer meeting that evening chastened and much wiser. chat up ex-Pastor Pre-Smerdley, who now preaches two How could I ever have put Danny, a mere dog, on so towns west of here. “Ah,” said ex-P P-S, “really, the is­ high a pedestal? I do devoutly hope that I may be for­ sue in my term at Sixth was partly spiritual and partly given. institutional, but we dared not say that publicly lest it rile Too bad about Curggie, though. the folks and embarrass the conference superintendent.

Salvation and Liberation Continued from p. 41 ment in that book was not between Job and his Redeemer standing in the latter day upon the earth and miserable comforters or Job and his wife, but between the assurance that with our own eyes we shall see Him the man on the ash heap and God. His wife, indeed, and not another. He is Lord. The King is coming. Mar- realized that fact and said in so many words that if there anatha. was trouble between Job and God, she believed in her Christians stand in wonder and thanksgiving before husband, and God was wrong. His Heavenly Father, this vision. It is not an opiate, not simply pie in the sky. It however, taught Job that despite the general rule that is, at bottom, a far wiser estimate of human realities than good persons are better off even in this life than if they either Marxism or the social gospel or professedly Cath­ had been bad, those who love God with all their hearts olic liberation theology ever thought of. It combines in sometimes suffer unbearably. At such times, as all the the Christian’s gaze faith, hope, and love. That love will race knows, their only recourse is a vision of our eternal outlast both faith and hope. It is eternal. $ SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS j

TO BEGIN AGAIN Truth/Concept/Doctrine Illustrated: their doom on the coast. “Men laugh Sir Edward Burne-Jones, a 19th- cen­ Our spiritual growth and maturity while being attracted,” he wrote, “and at tury painter, was an invalid at the end of comes from learning from God’s Word, last are held fast.” his life, confined to his chair. obedience to His will, and from practical Source The day before Burne-Jones’s death, experience—living the Christian life. Kenneth Maxwell, “The Right Stuff, a young artist eagerly asked him if he Supporting Scriptures 15th-Century Style,” The Wilson Quar­ might see some of his paintings. The 2 Tim. 3:14-17; 2 Cor. 4:17 terly, Jan. 1, 1985, 9:56-57. famous master expressed his regret — Submitted by Truth/Concept/Doctine Illustrated that he was unable to escort the young Mark Mohnkern Sin may be deceptively attractive, but artist through the studio but bade him once in its clutches, it holds fast, bring­ show himself around as long as he ing men to destruction. wished. When the student returned, he paid SPIRITUAL STIMULATION Supporting Scriptures Burne-Jones one of his highest compli­ According to the botanists, trees 1 Cor. 15:33; Heb. 3:13 (with Rom. ments he had received: “Sir, I enjoyed need the powerful March winds to flex 6:23) looking at your paintings. And now I am their trunks and their main branches. — Submitted by going home to begin again.” The flexing draws the sap up the trunk Dan Powers Source and out the limbs to nourish budding The Minister’s Manual, ed. Charles L. leaves. Perhaps the gales of life serve the Wallis, Harper and Row, New York same purpose for us. A blustery period Truth/Concept/Doctrine Illustrated: in our lives is often the prelude to a new DIVINE PROVIDENCE No matter what level of spiritual matu­ spring of life and health, success, and Young John Fletcher was intrigued by rity we reach, when we compare our­ happiness when we keep steadfast in selves to Christ’s example, we can only the report of a ship making ready to set faith and look for the good in spite of sail for the New World. Its quest was resolve to make our present level our appearances. beginning. Day by day, we must commit gold. An adventuresome youth, Fletcher Source met with the ship’s captain and made to be imitators of Christ. Nazarene Theological Seminary’s arrangements to come aboard and Supporting Scriptures Daily Announcer, March 27, 1985 make the voyage with the crew. Eph. 5:1; 1 Pet. 2:21 Truth/Concept/Doctrine Illustrated: One morning prior to the trip, John — Submitted by Struggle builds character; trials pro­ called his servant for some tea. Entering James E. Parker, Jr. duce fruit in our lives. the room with the scalding beverage, the servant tripped, spilling the tea on Supporting Scriptures Fletcher’s leg. Before the burns could PARADOX Rom. 8:28; James 1:2-4, 12 heal, the ship left port, slipping over the — Submitted by horizon toward the New World. A young bank clerk was promoted to Joe Colaizzi John was greatly disappointed. It the vice presidency. Feeling ill-equipped seemed the end of his grandest hopes for his new position, he asked the and dreams, a tragedy. Yet as it turned bank’s president, “Sir, what is the secret out, the real tragedy was the ship’s. For to success in my new position?” after she sailed, she was never heard The president replied, “Right deci­ DECEPTION from again. sions.” Distant seas held naught but terror “And what, sir, is the secret of making Source for 15th-century mariners. Strange but Basil Miller, “Our God Is Able,” The right decisions?” natural phenomena were endued with American Pulpit Series, Book 1. New “Experience,” the older man quickly supernatural power. One of these natu­ York: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press responded. ral phenomena was the powerful under­ “But what is the secret of gaining ex­ currents found off the African coast. Truth/Concept/Doctrine Illustrated perience?” Ships caught in these undercurrents Our Heavenly Father cares for and The president gave him a knowing were drawn to destruction against the watches over us. smile and replied, “Wrong decisions!” rocky shore. Supporting Scriptures Source Pietro D’Ahano explained this phe­ Dan. 3:17; Jer. 31:10; 1 Pet. 3:17 Pulpit Helps, October 1981; also Daily nomenon thusly: Magnetic mountains — Submitted by Walk, July 1981 on the African continent pulled ships to Phil Kizzee THE MEASURE OF LOVE Truth/Concept/Doctrine Illustrated must have the faith and courage to be­ A professed Christian was seriously We can hurt our relationship with God lieve that, however strangely the ill. With the prospect of death looming by praying only in moments of need for threads may seem to run, however cru­ before him, he became troubled about “pennies” instead of seeking to please elly the needle may stab us, it is God’s the little love he felt in his heart for God. Him and to truly be His children. Seek hand at work, the Master Craftsman. A friend in whom he confided answered, the vase instead of the penny. Source “When I go home from here, I expect to Supporting Scriptures Paul S. Rees, If God Be for Us, Wm. take my baby on my knee, look into her Matt. 6:7-15; Luke 11:9-13; John 15:7 B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand eyes, listen to her prattle, and, tired as I — Submitted by Rapids am, that will rest me. I love that child Samuel C. Harris Truth/Concept/Doctrine Illustrated with unutterable tenderness—but she God takes the tangled threads of our loves me little. If my body were racked THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING lives and transforms us into His children. with pain, it would not interrupt her play. Also, we can’t know the mind of God. If I died, she would forget me before An ambitious farmer, unhappy with Sometimes when He works in our lives, long. She has been a constant expense, his yield, bought a new hybrid seed we can’t see the finished masterpiece yet has never returned a penny to me. I corn. His resulting crop was so abun­ He wants to make of our lives—we can am not rich, but there’s not enough dant that his astonished neighbors only see the random strings, the “back money on earth to buy her from me. asked him to sell them a portion of the of the tapestry.” How is it? Does she love me, or do I love new seed. But the farmer, afraid that he Supporting Scriptures her? Do I withhold my love from her until would lose his profitable advantage, re­ 1 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 8:28; also 1 Cor. she loves me? Am I waiting for her to do fused. 13:12 something worthy of my love before ex­ The second year the new seed did — Submitted by tending it?" not produce as good a crop. The third Russell Hosey Tears streamed down the sick man’s year, the crop was still worse. Finally, it dawned on the farmer that his prize OPPORTUNITY LOST face as he exclaimed, “Oh, I see! It is not corn was being pollinated by the inferior my love for God, but God’s love for me grade of corn his neighbors were still Medieval legend tells of a beautiful that I should be thinking of. And I do love young maiden. One evening, as twilight Him now as I have never loved Him be­ using. was falling, she rowed out in a skiff on a fore.” Source lake that lay before her father’s castle. C. R. Gibson, quoted in the April 1986 Source As the twilight deepened, the maiden Unknown Reader’s Digest fell asleep. While she slept, the string of Truth/Concept/Doctrine Illustrated her pearl necklace broke. One by one, Truth/Concept/Doctrine Illustrated Our love for God is secondary to His Greed doesn’t pay. the precious gems dropped into the still love for us. Supporting Scriptures waters of the lake. When the maiden Prov. 1:18-19; Eccles. 5:13; Luke woke, she found that her pearls were Supporting Scriptures 12:15-21 lost forever. 1 John 4:10 — Submitted by How many of us have allowed our­ — Submitted by Charles Williams selves to slip easily along while we Chun Sup Chung slumbered, unaware of or unheeding WE ONLY SEE THE BACK the golden opportunities that were slip­ THE COST OF FREEDOM In a salon of Marshall Field’s in Chi­ ping away? A child stuck his hand in an ex­ cago, magnificent tapestries are on dis­ Source pensive, rare Chinese vase and couldn’t play. I was curious about one, whose Frank W. Scott, The Preacher’s Com­ get it back out. Frightened, he began to rare beauty of design and marvelous plete Homiletic Commentary on the cry. Summoned by the commotion, his skill in execution made it particularly im­ Gospel of St. John, Baker Book House, parents began trying to pry boy and Grand Rapids. vase apart. But all their efforts were to pressive. Stepping over and turning up no avail. Finally, in desperation, the boy’s the corner, I found the price tag— Truth/Concept/Doctrine Illustrated father took a poker from the fireplace. In $6,000. We must make the most of our oppor­ an instant, the vase was transformed But I found something else, too. I dis­ tunities to do good and to improve our­ from an exquisite, rare work of art to a covered that this expensive tapestry selves spiritually. miserable heap of fragments. And then had two sides. And if Marshall Field’s Supporting Scriptures it became apparent why the child was had hung the wrong side out, it would Matt. 25:26-27; John 12:35 so helplessly stuck. His little fist was not have brought $6.00, let alone — Submitted by tightly clenched around a single penny $6,000. The back side appeared to be Q James E. Parker, Jr. he had discovered at the bottom of the utterly devoid of design. Threads ran vase. In his childish ignorance, he would crazily in all directions. It looked like the not let go of his treasure, even at the work of a nitwit. Yet those threads, price of his freedom. worked by the masterly hand of the art­ Source ist, had produced the exquisite picture Helmut Thielicke, “The Meaning of on the other side. The point that confronts us is this: Prayer,” 20 Centuries of Great Preach­ x > ing, ed. Clyde E. Fant, Jr., and William M. Have we put our lives into the hands of Pinson, Jr., Word Books, Waco, Tex. the infinite Artist? We must! And we SERMON OUTLINES

TWO BAPTISMS 3. Jesus completely identified himself with man’s sin. NEGATIVE HOLINESS Matt. 3:11-17 D. Difference This Baptism Makes Introduction: E. Have You Received the Baptism Rom. 6:14-23 A. National Revival with John the with Water for Repentance? Baptist (vv. 1-6) Text: Rom. 6:18: “Being then made free II. THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY from sin, ye became the servants of 1. Suit of camel hair; locusts and SPIRIT wild honey A. For Cleansing righteousness.” 2. Preaching repentance; bap­ 1. Agent: Jesus; Subject: be­ I. Holiness Is Not Absolute Per­ tizing converts lievers; Medium: Spirit fection. B. Judgment of Israel (vv. 7-10) 2. Purity (fire) A. Absolute perfection is an attribute 1. Salvation does not come by 3. Separation (wheat and chaff) of God. birthright. B. Metaphorical Emphases 1. God has absolute perfection of 2. “Produce fruit in keeping with 1. Cleansing knowledge. repentance” (v. 8, NIV). a. Principle of inherited de­ 2. God has absolute perfection of PROPOSITION: There are two bap­ pravity love. tisms for the believer. b. Carnal mind—chaff (v. 12) 3. God has absolute perfection of I. THE BAPTISM WITH WATER (see H. Orton Wiley, Christan A. For Repentance presence. Theology, Beacon Hill Press 1. Agent: John; Subjects: repen­ of Kansas City) 4. God has absolute perfection of tant people; Medium: water 2. Death purity. 2. Water baptism presupposes re­ a. To the sinful claims of the B. Absolute perfection is not an attri­ pentance. sinful nature bute of man. 3. Having done with sin b. Sometimes spoken of as 1. Man has limited knowledge. 4. Forgiveness of sin crucifixion or death to self 2. Man has limited love. B. Metaphorical Emphases 3. Induction 3. Man has limited presence. 1. Cleansing a. Completion of the induction a. Washing of regeneration process 4. Man has limited purity. (John 3:5; Acts 22:16; Titus b. Enduement of power by the II. Holiness Is Not Adamic Perfection. 3:5) infilling of the Holy Spirit A. Adam was perfect. b. Cleaning from the guilt of whereby the entire person­ 1. In the garden. committed sin ality comes under the un­ 2. Death reserved and uncom­ 2. His fall from grace. a. To sin and sinful living promised direction of the B. Man under Adam’s curse. b. Implication of regeneration Spirit of Christ (W. T. Pur­ 1. Source of inbred sin—Adamic (Rom. 6:2-4; Gal. 5:24; Eph. kiser, Richard S. Taylor, and nature. 2:1-2) Willard H. Taylor in God, 2. Need to be relieved from curse 3. Induction Man, and Salvation, Beacon of Adamic nature. a. Immersion into a new kind of Hill Press of Kansas City) III. Holiness Is Not Angelic Perfection. life c. Full induction, or immersion, b. Life focused on Jesus Christ into the complete rule of the A. Angel’s role: heavenly servants. himself Spirit B. Man’s role: earthly servant. C. Reasons for Jesus’ Baptism C. Provided for Man by Jesus 1. Fulfill all righteousness IV. Holiness Is Not Freedom from 1. Heb. 13:12 Temptation. a. Consecrated to God and ap­ 2. Eph. 5:25, 27 proved by God 3. John 17:19 A. Adam and Eve in the Garden. b. All God’s righteous require­ D. Difference This Baptism Makes B. Jesus’ temptations. ments for the Messiah were E. Have You Received the Baptism 1. Rock changed to bread. met in Jesus. with the Holy Spirit for Cleans­ 2. Given all the world. c. Vv. 16-17—All three Per­ ing? sons of the Trinity are clearly CONCLUSION: There are two baptisms C. Man must obey God to overcome seen here. for the believer. Have you received the temptation. 2. John publicly announced the baptism with water for repentance? — Deri Keefer arrival of the Messiah and the Have you received the baptism with the inception of His ministry. Holy Spirit for cleansing? WHAT ARE YOU DOING B. Reward or Punishment b. Shut out for their negligence WITH WHAT YOU HAVE? 1. Reward 2. Talents (vv. 14-30) Matt. 25:14-30 a. Based on faithfulness, not a. Necessity of faithful, vigor­ Introduction ability. ous service 1. Illustrations b. Two things God requires of b. Cast out for doing nothing a. Moses everyone— goodness in 3. Sheep and Goats (vv. 31 -46) b. The little boy and his lunch character and faithfulness in a. Kindness and compassion c. Rich young ruler service. for those in need d. The widow’s offering c. Not adherence to a list of b. Punished for failing to notice 2. What are you doing with what rules; rather faithfulness in the many opportunities for you have? the performance of King­ showing kindness that had I. The Charge dom service. been given to them A. Opportunity d. Twofold reward B. What you do with what you have 1. “Talents” can be interpreted (1) increased responsibility has a direct bearing on judgment. three ways: (2) superlative joy 1. This is not salvation by works a. Money; $1,000 2. Punishment a. Eph. 2:8-9 (by grace through b. Abilities; mental gifts a. The unfaithful servant was faith) c. Opportunities; sphere of basically a good man. The b. Notice also 2:10 (created to duty problem was that he was do good works) 2. Opportunities for Kingdom ser­ not interested in the Lord’s 2. Testifying to great faith, which vice includes the money and cause but rather in saving being irresponsible with the op­ abilities concepts. his own skin. portunities given to us is the 3. You have been given oppor­ b. The man who is punished is precise problem of the un­ tunities to serve. the man who will not try. The faithful servant. a. The quantity of oppor­ impossible is not de­ 3. Matt. 16:24-27 (especially v. 27) tunities differs with each manded, but the un­ 4. James 2:18b—“Show me your person according to the will attempted will not be ex­ faith without deeds, and I will of the Master. But all of the cused. show you my faith by what I Master’s servants have c. Twofold punishment do.” been given opportunity to (1) loss of further oppor­ Conclusion: What are you doing with serve. tunity what you have? b. (2) loss of the Lord’s pres­ 1. Myron S. Augsburger, The Communicator's It may sound pious to say, “I Commentary: Matthew (Waco, Tex.: Word Books, can’t do anything for the ence 1982), 281. Lord; I don’t have any tal­ C. Application — Richard Knox ents,” but it just isn’t biblical. 1. Money B. Responsibility What are you doing with what 1. This parable is about responsi­ you have? bility. 2. Abilities a. The Master entrusted re­ What are you doing with what PERFECT UNITY sponsibility to His servants. you have? Eph. 4:12-15 b. The Master increased re­ 3. Opportunities Text: Eph. 4:13. “Till we all come in the sponsibility for faithfulness. What are you doing with what unity of the faith, and of the knowledge c. The Master judged inexcus­ you have? of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, able irresponsibility.1 4. Time unto the measure of the stature of the 2. He has entrusted His kingdom What are you doing with what fulness of Christ.” to us (v. 14b). you have? I. Unity Comes Through the Spirit. a. We are responsible to build 5. Health A. Requirement one—faith in Christ. the kingdom of God. What are you doing with what B. Requirement two—intimacy with b. If we don’t do it, it won’t get you have? Christ. done. 6. Church activities C. Obedience to Christ. 3. God is not concerned with What are you doing with what II. Unity Comes by Love. what has not been given to you. you have? A. In Christ. He is concerned about the op­ III. The Context B. In the church body. portunities, the responsibility, A. Preparation for the Second Com­ III. Unity Comes by Destruction of the charge He has given you. ing and Judgment Pride. II. The Choice Chap. 24—signs of the times; A. Meekness or self-control installed. A. You have a choice. watch and be ready B. Long-suffering or persistence in­ . 1. You may take what God has Chap. 25—3 parables; 3 areas of stalled. given you and use it in service preparation for the Second IV. Perfect Unity Ultimately Wins. for the Kingdom. Coming and Judgment A. It wins people. 2. You may take what God has 1. Virgins (vv. 1-13) B. It wins the world. given to you and hide it for a. The importance of up-to- C. It wins over Satan. yourself. date spiritual experience — Deri Keefer TODAY'S BOOKS for TODAY'S PREACHER

PREACHING ABOUT FAMILY RELA­ CHRIST AND THE DECREE: CHRIS- at Fuller Theological Seminary, is a TIONSHIPS, by Elizabeth Achtemeier TOLOGY AND PREDESTINATION IN clearly dedicated and erudite Calvinist. (Westminster Press), 1987 (PA066- REFORMED THEOLOGY FROM CAL­ —A. Elwood Sanner 424-0801; $8.95) VIN TO PERKINS, by Richard A. Muller, Northwest Nazarene College Are you looking for some new Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, pa­ thoughts and ideas in the field of family perback (PA080-106-2314; $12.95) THE EERDMANS ANALYTICAL CON­ relationships that are relevant scriptur- This “essay” (so described by the au­ CORDANCE to the REVISED STAN­ ally and sociologically? If so, you will thor) reviews and interprets an in-house DARD VERSION OF THE BIBLE, Rich­ profit from Elizabeth Achtemeier’s work debate among Reformed theologians. ard E. Whitaker, compiler, Wm. B. on preaching and the family. She has At issue is the question whether the Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988, hard­ distinguished herself in the text as one theologians who wrote during the cen­ back, 1,548 pages (PA080-282-403X; who is aware of family stress, pres­ tury following the great Reformers (Lu­ $49.95) ther and Calvin especially) were discon­ Here is a volume that can be of great sures, relationships, and the impact of tinuous or continuous with them. help to serious Bible preachers, particu­ preaching in meeting needs in these ar­ The author concludes that they were larly those who include the RSV in their eas. discontinuous in form but continuous in study. Whitaker provides for us an ana­ Achtemeier rightly distinguishes the content—discontinuous in their scho­ lytical concordance to the RSV. It will do task of the preacher as being a “respon­ lastic reasoning but continuous in their for the RSV everything that Strong's sible” interpreter of the Word of God. “orthodoxy.” and Robert Young’s analytical concor­ She states that to be a responsible inter­ At the core of the issue is the place­ dances do for the King James. Here are preter, the preacher must understand ment of the doctrine of predestination some of its features: the social context of his people’s lives. (the “Decree”). Did Calvin and his suc­ • The entries are listed by dictionary Her challenge to the preacher of today cessors make predestination a central form in alphabetical order followed by is that he would tackle the primary dogma (gathering all other loci around every context in which any form of the themes that relate to family life. it), did they relate it to the doctrine of word is found. The thesis of the book is that if the God (theology, in the exact sense), or to • All forms of a word (e.g., sing, sings, preacher will develop an ongoing pro­ the doctrines of salvation (soteriology)? singing, sang, sung) are found under the gram of family ministry, there will not be Muller finds that both the “master" same heading. the need to react in crises to the life of (Calvin) and his “disciples” placed pre­ • All uses of each word are given in the congregation. The author estab­ destination with the ordo salutis (the or­ one list, not divided into separate lists lishes her concerns about the silence in der of salvation), hence the title of the for each Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, or our pulpits over the plight of the family. book, Christ and the Decree. It is only Latin word. She proceeds on this thesis by stating by means of the “decree” that the in­ • Original-language words are num­ numerous statistics of social concern finite, eternal, holy God could reach fi­ bered and listed at the head of each en­ for the home and family. nite, mortal, sinful man. try, where the reader can easily find Achtemeier examines a number of This book is very difficult to read, not them. biblical passages as they relate to cur­ only because the central thesis is ob­ • Quotations of context for each rent family issues: human nature, mar­ scure and abstruse, but also because word have been chosen by biblical riage, sex, divorce, male and female the author, a skilled linguist, uses a great scholars, not simply by a computer. roles, children, and the elderly. She then many Latin terms and phrases, often to • Words not needed by most users of provides insight on how to construct the clinch his point, as well as frequent quo­ a concordance (e.g., and, the, of) have material in sermonic fashion. tations from German sources, some­ been excluded, thus reducing the size The last chapter is a brief but clear times as his punch line. The essay is of the concordance and making access challenge to honest sermon construc­ written by a very learned scholar for the to significant words much easier. tion. benefit of other very learned scholars. • Separate sections are included for I found the book easy to read, inter­ Wesleyans will find no comfort in proper names and for numbers. esting, and insightful. I have already these pages. Muller refers to Arminius • A generous system of cross- used ideas gleaned from the text in my or Arminianism six times, always crit­ references is used to aid the reader. preaching. Any preacher wanting to ically and only as a ploy to establish the • Indexes of Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, communicate on the family would be Reformed position. John Wesley, a and Latin words appear at the end of profited from reading the book, for Eliz­ sworn foe of Calvin’s view of predes­ the volume. abeth Achtemeier has provided us with tination, appears not even once, but Au­ The concordance makes use of the some good insight practically written. gustine, Calvin, et al., and even Karl very latest in programming and research — Dennis A. Brenner Barth, scores of times. The author, as­ techniques now being developed by Lansing, Mich. sociate professor of historical theology scholars in computer-assisted Bible 62 study at leading universities. The infor­ and presents it in a manner consistent provocative and intends to make a mation has been arranged for the great­ with Wesleyan thought. strong statement about the low level of est possible convenience and acces­ After an examination of Wesley as a joy that is normative for evangelical sibility, making this volume an easy- church growth strategist, a series of six Christians. He says, “Christianity has to-use reference tool for laypersons, “MegaStrategies” are presented. These become the grinding out of general doc­ pastors, students, and scholars alike. MegaStrategies are a product of vast trinal laws from collections of biblical This one volume can be more useful study of current church growth theory. facts.” If at times Piper strains to keep to the biblical preacher than some whole They are (1) identifying receptive peo­ his theme of “joy in God” supreme, his sets of commentaries. ple, (2) utilizing social networks, (3) mul­ main argument is well taken: Most of us tiplying recruiting units, (4) ministering to probably do settle for far less delight in — Lillith Hoffstedder people’s needs, (5) indigenizing the the Lord than we might have. church’s ministries, and (6) strategic This is not a “how to” handbook or a planning for a church’s future. “That’s weak treatise on avoiding the rigors of MASTERING YOUR EMOTIONS, by gold in them thar’ pages,” friends! Unlike discipline. Quite the contrary, it is a chal­ Adrian P. Rogers, 167 pages, Broadman many books in this field, the reader lenge to live the life of radical Chris­ Press, Nashville (PA080-545-0653; does not get bogged down in statistics, tianity, as Piper sees it. His contention is $9.95) nor is our intelligence insulted by being that “deep and disciplined exercise of soul” enables Christians to take up the encouraged to accept gimmicks. In­ Mr. Rogers treats the emotional side stead, we are given practical guidelines, Sword of the Spirit in victory “and wield of man in conjunction with his spiritual “strategies,” which will help any church it with joy and power”! Piper advocates man, relating to problems through such in the development and implementation a simple life-style: “No Christian Hedon­ areas as insecurity, depression, stress, of a plan for growth. ist desires to be rich,” but goes a step frustration, inferiority, guilt, loneliness, The insights gleaned from Wesley beyond Richard Foster when he says, fear, doubt, bewilderment, and bitter­ “It is more helpful to think of a ‘wartime’ permeate the book. Wesley drew life-style than merely a ‘simple’ life-style. ness. primarily on three of the above These areas are outlined well for ser­ Simplicity can be very inward directed mentioned MegaStrategies; reaching re­ and may benefit no one else. A wartime mon ideas. There is, however, the strong ceptive people, designing indigenous life-style implies that there is a great and Calvanistic slant of unconditional eternal ministries, and the multiplication of worthy cause for which to spend and be security and the non-cleansing of the units. However, the influence of Wesley spent.” carnal nature. Much of what he says can extended far beyond his methodology. But along with this call to discipline, be very helpful to the established Chris­ His belief that the Holy Spirit is at work Piper underscores the absolute neces­ tian. It does challenge the reader to in the life of every person reminds us sity of going past the self-seeking, and loudly proclaim the victory over the na­ that that same Spirit must be a vital part past the sense of duty, and past the ture of sin as a remedy to much of of any plan for growth from beginning to pain of sacrifice into the sheer joy of man’s spiritual struggle. The material is harvest. It is the Spirit at work in a per­ God. “Worship is nothing less than obe­ outlined well and could be excellently son that makes him receptive to the dience to the command of God, ‘Delight accented by the teaching of scriptural claims of the gospel. And it is that same yourself in the LORD!.....The great hin­ holiness. Spirit that gives us “church growth drance to worship is not that we are a —E. Wales Landford eyes” that we might know how and pleasure-seeking people, but that we Colorado Springs when to approach others with the gos­ are willing to settle for such pitiful plea­ pel. But perhaps more than anything sures.” Of evangelical worship services, else, it is the confidence that because he complains that “childlike wonder and TO SPREAD THE POWER: CHURCH He is at work within us, our work will not awe have died. The scenery and poetry GROWTH IN THE WESLEYAN SPIRIT, be done in vain, that we desperately and music of the majesty of God have need to recover today. dried up like a forgotten peach at the by George Hunter III, 1987, by Ab­ back of the refrigerator.” ingdon (PA068-742-2590; $9.95) Any pastor, teacher, student, or lay­ man interested in the growth of God’s The book has stoppers like “Our lives This is not just another book on kingdom should give serious consid­ depend on NOT working for God” and church growth! With the proliferation of eration to this book. “Not to pursue our joy every day in the church growth books today, finding one — Tim Barber Word of God is abandonment of the re­ that provides truly fresh insights is Greensburg, Ky. vealed will of God. It is sin” sprinkled tough. Yet Hunter’s book does just that. through its 281 pages. There is a strong John Wesley is used here as a primary Reformed doctrinal slant, as one might source, and an effort is made at expect from the author’s background. presenting a distinctively Wesleyan DESIRING GOD: MEDITATIONS OF A Senior pastor since 1980 in Bethlehem model for church growth. The genius of CHRISTIAN HEDONIST, by John Piper, Baptist Church in Minneapolis, John To Spread the Power is that the meth­ Portland, Oreg.: Multnomah Press, Piper taught the Bible at Bethel College ods of John Wesley and the study of 1986 (PA088-070-2214; $9.95) in St. Paul for six years, and holds de­ modern church growth theory com­ John Piper has written a challenging grees from Wheaton and Fuller, as well plement one another. The result is an book with a controversial subtitle. He as the University of Munich. up-to-date plan of church growth that risks instant disapproval by using the — Russell Metcalfe takes the best of modern-day theory word hedonist, but Piper is deliberately Quincy, Mass. PRIVILEGE AND PRICKLY DREAD

Heraclitus was right— things provide a useful (we hope even help­ change. A man cannot step into the ful) professional journal for minis­ same river twice, he said. Both the ters. As I have often said, “They did river and the person will have all the work, and I got all the credit.” changed before the second wading I want to say a public “thank you" trip occurs, even if he comes back also to M. A. Lunn, Robert Foster, before his socks get dry. A lot of riv­ Mark Moore, Bill Sullivan, Wilbur ers and men have changed since I Brannon and Cecil Paul. These men first signed on with the then “new” have provided funds, counsel, and Preacher’s Magazine n early 12 friendly supervision. They have years ago. I worked with editor Neil gone out of their way to provide a Wiseman at first, becoming the edi­ great deal of editorial freedom— and tor myself in 1980. But editors and you know how journalism types like magazines change just like rivers me treasure that. and men, and the time has come for Although two future issues lie in me to move on from this labor of the files— their destiny in the hands In the flow of things love. of the new editor, one on Assimi­ I want to thank our readers for lation and Retention of Church rivers and editors reading this magazine throughout Members, and another on Worship change the troubled decade of the ’80s. — this is officially my last issue and Thanks for your generous expres­ my last editorial. Through the years sions of support and appreciation. the planning, editing, and writing Thanks, too, to all of you who have have seemed more like recreation offered constructive criticism from than work. Serving the church as time to time. editor of the Preacher’s Magazine Thanks and kudos are in order for has been a privilege worth prizing. the brave souls who have worked Some things I won’t miss too with me on the editorial staff. Those much— deadlines that constantly who shared this adventure as assis­ hover like storm warnings on the ho­ tant editors include Stephen Miller, rizon, and that feeling of prickly Susan Downs, Nina Beegle, and dread that creeps up the back of Mark Marvin, my current capable your neck when a new edition ap­ helper. These persons worked as pears and you wonder if maybe this part-time assistant editors one at a time the Ark Rocker has gone too time helping a very part-time editor far. ... Wesley Tracy

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Volume 5 NOW READY! Volume 5 HOLINESS PREACHERS AND PREACHING Edited by WILLIAM E. McCUMBER Advisers: M a r k R. M o o r e /D e n n is K in l a w Sermons in this collection represent a time span from Wesley's day to the present. They were chosen to exemplify the aims of holiness preaching: to focus light upon the sub­ ject, and to persuade. The preachers are representative of their generations; their ser­ mons range in subject matter from proclaiming the doctrine to living the life. 408 pages. PA083-411-2892 . $ 2 1

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Volume 2 Volume 3 Volume 6 THE WESLEY CENTURY LEADING WESLEYAN THINKERS HOLINESS TEACHING TODAY Edited by T. CRICHTON MITCHELL Edited by RICHARD S. TAYLOR Edited by A. F. HARPER Advisers: A r lo N ew ell/D avid C ubie Advisers: D o n Ba s t ia n /J o h n A. Kn ig h t Advisers: M ilto n S. Agnew/Leslie Parrott Relates to the period from 1725-1825 dealing with John Eighteen influential Wesleyan scholars provide a theo­ Focuses on the classic writings from 20th-century ho Wesley and his roots, selected Wesley sermons and writ­ logical affirmation of the doctrine of Christian per­ ness exponents representing a variety of denomir ings, and Wesley's associates. 508 pages. fection. 436 pages. tional backgrounds. 412 pages. PA083-410-9107 ...... $21.95 PA083-411-0695 ...... $21.95 PA083-411-1748 ...... $21.

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