| Sorry that I haven't posted in a while. We had a crazy busy weekend (Joel's birthday, school work, church commitments, visiting fam, etc...). I will post pictures of those things later, but right now I thought I would share something that happened over the weekend and get your opinion. So Joel and I are in the car driving to see his family and, as usual got into an interesting discussion. Now, our discussions range from food to farts, religion, and end of life issues. You never know what we're going to talk about on a roadtrip. Well, during this roadtrip, we discussed religion. Since he is a seminary student and I am not, I tend to bring lots of questions his way, and very often too-especially with work issues. Anyway, I asked him the questions, "Are denominations good, bad, or ugly?" Then I asked, "What denomination do you think has the closest interpretation to the Bible?" As you can imagine, we both had interesting points to both questions. I think (and so does he) that denominations are good and bad. I will explain at a later date. As far as denominations and interpretations...well...maybe I won't go there now either. However, another thing that was brought up is the Wesleyan church. I grew up Wesleyan and although he grew up mennonite, he did go to IWU! We both like the Wesleyan church a lot. OK so I am making this really long, but the final question I thought I would post to you is this...you tell me what your thoughts are: Do you think a majority of the Wesleyan church views sanctification as a ONE TIME EVENT or do you think it is viewed as a LIFELONG PROCESS? I will leave you now with your thoughts... |
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Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Holiness Debate
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4 comments:
Both...I think the majority (or at least my "majority") see it as a "one time realization" and a "life long pursuit"...kinda like seeing the goal a mile ahead and recognizing your need/desire to be at the finish line, however you still have to take the journey there. This is why John Wesley felt that most people didn't "achieve" entire sanctification until they laid on their death bed. Wow...i'm tempted to write a lot more, but I don't really want to because I don't enjoy typing.
That's my perception of the "majority"...not necessarily my perception.
Eric and I have had this conversation recently too. I tend to think of salvation as a one time realization but sanctification is a lifelong pursuit. Some might ask, so then why pursue sanctification if I'm already saved? If our salvation experience is truly real in the sense that it reveals our distance from God and His passionate desire to have us in a right relationship with Him, then the lifelong journey of sanctification is a response to that moment of realization. Hmmm. Interesting.
I think most Wesleyans would say that is is both. I like to think of it this way: entire sanctification (event) is putting yourself on the altar, progressive (lifelong process) sanctification is the daily decision to not crawl back off. Not a perfect example I realize. I would say that it's been true in my own life though. My salvation experience came at a young age, but I also remember another later distinct time in my elementary years, where I felt I needed to go to the altar. I knew I was already saved, but the only way I could express why I was there was "I just want to do what God wants me to do." No specific issue in particular, but God was asking for entire surrender. But at that point, I still had a growing process. But in sanctification we agree to, as Keith Drury would say, "resist resisting" God. I still have to make daily decisions to be obedient, but when it comes down to it, I have agreed to resist resisting God.
My head hurts. Esther and I usually just talk about farting.
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