the editor’s CONTENTS view OCTOBER 2011 Volume 123 No. 7 LARRY D. SMITH FEATURES A Call To The Conservative 3 Holiness Movement God’s Optimistic Grace 21 A CALL TO OUR MOVEMENT by Matt Palm ledging deep concern “for the future of the Holiness DEPARTMENTS Movement, and especially of the Conservative Holi- Pness Movement of which we are part,” GBS’s Bible The Editor’s View 2 and theology faculty has issued an imperative “Call” fea- News From The Hilltop 8 tured in this issue of God’s Revivalist. Its message is so cru- Revivalist Family 8 cial, as we believe, that it deserves the pages that it takes to Letters To The Editor 13 publish it. On a monthly basis, moreover, we intend to Dear Phil 14 reprint each of the subdivisions that comprise the “Call,” to- World Pulse 15 gether with appropriate commentary and application. Student Focus 15 Both GBS and the Revivalist predate the CHM by many Called Unto Holiness 16 decades, but we have served it continuously since its forma- tion a half-century ago. We believe that we are serving it again Revivalist Pulpit 17 by raising issues that are tied directly to our prosperity and, Alumni News 20 perhaps, even to our survival. For who can doubt that we are The World To Win 23 facing an identity crisis that not only questions the validity of Thoughts For The Quiet Hour 23 our past but also threatens the promise of our future? On one hand, there is increasing uncertainty among us about the lifestyle disciplines that played so decisive a role STAFF in our formation. In part, this is because we have failed to train our youth in the Scriptural imperatives that validate Shane Muir, assistant graphic designer those disciplines. It also comes in reaction to the abuses Kevin Moser, art director, managing editor and extremes that sometimes have marked our witness. Jon Plank, assistant graphic designer, webmaster Doubtless, we’re also witnessing the usual pattern of “his- torical drift”—fueled by increasing affluence and the desire Larry D. Smith, editor for social respectability—that seems to impact most reli- gious structures. Compounding this problem is a narrow- God’s Revivalist and Bible Advocate (ISSN 0745-0788) is published monthly except for ness in understanding and a lopsidedness in development combined issues in January-February and June-July-August for $12.00 per year ($28.00, Canada; $45.00, other countries) by the Revivalist Press of God’s Bible that have moved us painfully away from the careful balance School, College and Missionary Training Home, 1810 Young Street, Cincinnati, Ohio that is our heritage as Christians of Wesleyan descent. 45202. Periodical postage paid at Cincinnati, Ohio, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to God’s Revivalist and Bible Advocate, 1810 In this “Call” sent out from the historic “Mount of Young Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Blessings,” we make no claim either to spiritual superiority God’s Revivalist and Bible Advocate, the official organ of God’s Bible School, is a maga- or to infallible perception. But every word that we have zine founded by Martin Wells Knapp in July of 1888. We seek to proclaim the good news of salvation; to stir a revival spirit among Christians; to stimulate Christian growth and written is offered humbly in prayerful and urgent hope that responsible Christian living; to present the happenings and interests of God’s Bible it will encourage reflection, renewal, and reform. Ours is School. Please obtain permission before reprinting any articles from God’s Revivalist and Bible clearly a conservative voice, urging uncompromising alle- Advocate. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcomed, but not returned. giance to the valid principles of our origin. But it is also a God’s Bible School and College seeks to glorify God and to serve His Church by pro- contemporary one, clearly appealing “to our entire move- viding higher education centered in Holy Scripture and shaped by Wesleyan convic- tion, thus preparing faithful servants to proclaim Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holi- ment to unite with us joyfully in this commitment, pledging ness throughout the world. uncompromising faithfulness to God’s Word and to creative God’s Bible School and College does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national or ethnic origin, or against otherwise qualified handicapped persons in its relevance in our ministry.” admission of students or employment of its faculty and staff. Contact us by telephone at (513) 721-7944 (Revivalist Press, ext. 1351); by fax at (513) 763-6649; by email at [email protected] or [email protected]. Visit us online at www.gbs.edu or www.godsrevivalist.com. GOD’S REVIVALIST and BIBLE ADVOCATE cover photo ©2011 iStockphoto 02 A CALL TO THE CONSERVATIVE HOLINESS MOVEMENT by the President and Faculty of the Division of Ministerial Education, God’s Bible School and College, Cincinnati, Ohio INTRODUCTION. Deeply concerned for the future of the Holiness Movement, and especially of the Conservative Holiness Movement of which we are a part, we issue this call for the full and vigorous recovery of our heritage as Christians of Wesleyan conviction. We share the distress of those who A renewed warn of “historical drift,” spiritual apathy, and surrender to the depraved commitment to secular culture that surrounds us. We submit that a renewed commit- the essential ment to the essential principles of scriptural Christianity which we have principles of received in classical Methodist belief, piety, and mission will prepare scriptural and strengthen us for the challenges that confront us. We appeal, there- Christianity fore, to our entire movement to unite with us joyfully in this commit- will prepare ment, pledging uncompromising faithfulness to God’s Word and to cre- and strengthen ative relevance in our ministry. Upon the original foundations of our us for the movement, therefore, we must build determined, effective, and contem- challenges that porary witness to God’s unchanging summons to holy hearts and holy lives. confront us. Implicit in this recovery are the following specific themes: I. A CALL TO BIBLICAL FIDELITY proved by it, must not be required of any man as an article of belief or be thought As Wesleyans we affirm that the Holy requisite or necessary to salvation.” Scriptures, as the inspired and inerrant Yet we have often focused on issues and Word of God, are the basis of authority in made demands which we cannot legitimately the Church, normative for all our faith and establish from the Scriptures. As a result, trivial practice. We declare with the English notions and speculations at times have marred Reformers, “Holy Scripture contains every- our witness. We call, therefore, for renewed sub- thing that is necessary for salvation, so that mission to the absolute authority of the Bible, whatever is not stated in it, or cannot be not as a revered icon, but as the touchstone for OCTOBER 2011 03 both our personal lives and our public procla- in all times and places. It is founded by Our mation. For in every age, the Church must sub- Lord and established upon Himself, and we mit itself unconditionally to the Word of God, claim His infallible promise that the gates of interpreting it in harmony with itself, in keeping hell shall never withstand it. As we live out our with the best insights of historical and literary faithfulness to Him, we must also live in faith- study, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and fulness to the Church, which is His body and with respect for the historic understanding of bride, living and dying in its communion. We devout Christian scholarship. affirm the traditional Protestant insistence that the visible Church is the congregation of the II. A CALL TO HISTORIC ROOTS faithful in which the “pure Word of God is AND CONTINUITY preached and the sacraments duly adminis- tered according to Christ’s ordinance.” We gladly affirm our allegiance to the clas- Too often, however, we have adopted a sical Christianity of the centuries, confessing its narrow and individualistic approach to our faith, sharing its historic witness, living out its Christian Faith. Sometimes we have so em- godly discipline, and claiming all of its treasures phasized personal spiritual relationship that as our own. We give God praise for our legacy we have forgotten that relationship must be of evangelical Christianity magnificently set realized, strengthened, and advanced within forth in the heroic lives of ancient the company of God’s people. At other Christians, the faithful witnesses of times, we have imagined that we were the the Middle Ages, the stalwart testi- Church, or at least that the Holiness Too often we mony of the Reformers, the biblical Movement was its most significant compo- proclamation of the Wesleys, and nent rather than only a tiny segment of its have smugly the earnest piety of the early fellowship. We call, therefore, for renewed Holiness Movement. We rejoice in understanding of the biblical doctrine of the disconnected the lives and ministry of earnest fol- Church as “the pillar and ground of the lowers of Our Lord from every truth,” reverence for its orthodox confes- ourselves from branch of orthodox Christianity. sions, submission to its holy discipline, and our Christian But too often we have smugly faithfulness to its common life. As a coalition disconnected ourselves from our of holiness believers within its communion, past; and in so Christian past; and in so doing we we gladly but humbly offer our gifts to the have become theologically shallow, universal Church—gifts which center in our doing we have spiritually weak, and blind to the historic focus on holiness of heart and life.