Friday, May 29, 2009

What does it mean to be a 'holiness people' in Australia in the 21st Century?

Let me start by stating that i believe 100% in the message of heart holiness and am committed to finding the best ways to communicate it to the 'next generation'.

My problem is this:
Our current models of communicating holiness to our people (at least in my australian experiences) are outdated, often unbiblical, wrapped up in language and old 'jargon' that many theology students struggle to articulate and understand and frankly, focus too much on the 'personal experience' and individual 'discovery' without communicating the social responsibilty(tell us what you really think caine!).

Is Holiness just about me and the Holy Spirit having a supernatural connection that gives me a 'clean' feeling and turn from sin? or does that very experience also require my social justice eyes to open up, my frustration at gossip and slander eyes to open up, my legalistic desires to fall away, my focus on Jesus to narrow and my awareness of the mission of God to broaden?

See, my problem is not with God or Holiness, my problem is we have often (not always) not fully and in my opinion correctly articulated what the Holy life looks like and looks like in a 21st century culture.
It is no longer about whether one has a tattoo or drinks a beer occasionally (i am sure this will fire some of you up!), it is no longer about whether we go to the movies or have fun dancing. It is no longer about these little things (yes i admit for some these could be issues for individuals to work through), because the mission of God is far greater than the 'issues'.

Holiness is not something we deserve or can demand, it is a way of life.
Is it wrapped up in an experience of the past? or a continual experience of what it means to be 'awakened' to the things of God and have his love 'flood us, forgive us, cleanse us'?
Is Holiness just for our own personal enjoyment? Is it the empowerment of our lives so we can serve Jesus and be his hands and feet?

What does it mean for us to be a holiness people in Australia?

We can no longer hide ourselves in our little denmoination called the church of the nazarene anymore. The banter of being the 'cream of the crop' is sinful and frankly an arrogant way of dissmissing the lack of impact into our churches local communities and thus the lack of growth in our churches (tell us what you really think caine!).

In my opinion, to be a holiness people in australia means to be SALT and LIGHT to the world around us, it means to work TOGETHER with other churches in the greater mission, it means releasing our people to DO the work God is calling them too and not judging them cause they have friends and collegues who are not 'Christian' or heaven forbid not 'Nazarene'. It means having these types of discussion on blogs, over coffee, at district assemblies, at meetings anyway we can. We are in this together and have an AMAZING message to communicate!

what are your thoughts? Let's journey together on this or am i ramling alone?
I want to know peoples passions and views about holiness and what it will look like in n21st century OZ.
Let us dream a new dream for what our 'holiness' denomination in Australia will look like in this 21st century society and stop trying to make it what it was and embrace what where God may be leading....

I have gone on enough. :)

The soap box is now free...who wants to step up?

4 comments:

  1. Well Caine, I only have 2 quick questions for you.

    Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power and are you washed in the blood of the lamb?

    Hopefully you see my point...

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  2. amen brother! I get it bro! :P

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  3. and now can you comment some more copland? what are some of your thoughts? Glen?

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  4. hey all. First time at giving this blog-thing a go (not sure what the Manual statement on blogging is:-)

    My thoughts: I am so grateful to have received the message of holiness from a young age. It is a radical optimism, which I reckon is a cool way to look at the Bible.
    yeah, a lot of work still needs to be done to get the look of holiness right in the eyes of the world/church. But that is an issue for every one of us to work through as best we can.

    We do have to get the foundation right: what pleases God and not me. I am not too sure how many Nazarenes ( or Chhristinas generally) really have died to themselves - Gal. 2: 20.
    That has to be our goal, and to live for Christ
    (a case of knowing it when we see or experience it?)

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