Christ Will Come Again

             It has been interesting, in recent days, to see the number of, not just “family oriented” movies, but the overtly “Christian” movies being shown in movie theaters.  God’s Not Dead and Heaven’s For Real are the two big examples, thus far.  We have had biblical themed Hollywood movies, as well.  There was Noah, which, while having a much bigger budget and all of the Hollywood special effects, took such creative license that it just ruined the movie in terms of being true to the biblical story.  I am much more hopeful for the movie about Moses and the Exodus scheduled to be released in December.
            Nevertheless, these latter two are different from the former two.  The latter two seek to tell a biblical story, i.e., at least a story based upon a story in the Bible.  However, they are not being produced in order to propagate either a Jewish or Christian faith.  They are being produced . . . to make money . . . and, perhaps, to make an artistic contribution.  This is different from the other two that I have mentioned.

You see, the former two may hope to make money, as well, but they come from and seek to express a particular understanding of the Christian faith.  They seek to be a means of evangelism, or at least a Christian apology.  More specifically they seek to express the Christian faith as understood in popular evangelical circles.

On October 3 we will see the release of yet another movie that seeks to be “evangelical.”  It seeks to promote a particular understanding of a certain aspect of the Christian faith that is popular in many American evangelical circles.  -  The problem is it is wholly unbiblical.  It is based on a misunderstanding of Scripture which first made its appearance in the 1800’s (which means it was wholly absent in Christian teaching for 1800 years!).

New 2014 Movie

The movie in question is Left Behind.  It is actually a remake of a movie that starred Kirk Cameron some fourteen years ago.  It is based on Tim LaHay’s popular Left Behind novel series.  But, to be clear, while the books and the movie, themselves, are works of fiction, they represent a very real (though mistaken) theology.  This time around, the movie has a bigger budget and a little more star power in the form of Nicolas Cage, which makes it even more unfortunate.

Original 2007 Movie

So what’s the problem with Left Behind?  It is the whole concept of a “secret rapture” where people (Christians and children) all of a sudden simply disappear without a trace leaving planes hurling toward the ground and cars careening off of cliffs.  -  What is wrong with that?  Well, there is not one verse in Scripture that teaches that . . . nowhere . . . not one.

            Oh, there are two passages (two only) that are referenced to support this understanding.  The first is 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 which says:

For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever.

The second comes from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24:36-44 which, in part, says:

. . . so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.  Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.  Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. . . .

          “Well, of course,” some might say, “there you have it in black and white” (or red, if you have a red letter edition).  But is that the case?  -  Take a closer look.  Neither passage says anything about people disappearing without a trace.  Neither passage says anything about this being some secret event, where people have no clue as to what happened.  Neither passage says anything about our going to heaven to live eternally with the Lord.  Neither passage says anything about leaving a world in chaos.  So what do they say and how are they to be understood?
            Let’s look at the Thessalonian passage, first.  What we find here is something that those in the Middle East would readily recognize.  It draws on the image of when a king comes to a city.  When a king is arriving at a city, before he ever actually enters the city, loud trumpets are sounded.  People go out of the city in order to meet the arriving king, and they then usher him in in great fanfare and glory.  In fact, as was pointed out by the Rev’d. Peter Doyle, a colleague of mine, the actual Greek verb used in the passage is used in two other places in the New Testament.  In both of those places it specifies this very action of going out in order to usher one into the city.  In other words, far from our disappearing without a trace, we are going out to usher our King, Jesus, back upon His return to rule and reign forever!  And, as is stated in the Book of the Revelation, every eye will see Him.

            What, then do we make of the meeting Him in the air/clouds and our being with Him forever?  We meet Him in the clouds, because Paul is emphasizing what was stated by the angels in the Book of Acts, viz., “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (1:11).  He is affirming what Jesus has said about His coming in the clouds, and what St. John wrote, “Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him . . .”   And, indeed, we will be with Him forever, for He has returned to dwell among us forever!

            How are we, then, to understand Jesus’ teaching in Matthew, then?  Well, it is helpful to read it in context.  -  If we start back in verse 29, we discover that this is in the context of Jesus’ second (and final coming), when “. . . all the tribes of the earth will . . . see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory” (vs. 30).  So, again, this is not a secret rapture, where no one knows what happened.

            In the immediate context, Jesus is explicitly stating that it will be like “the days of Noah”:

For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.  Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left . . .” (vs. 37-40).

 

In other words, it is the one who is taken that is the one who is in trouble!  They are the ones who are “swept away in judgment.”  The Rev’d. Joel Parsons, another one of my colleagues, lets us know that we want to be “left behind,” because to be taken is to be taken in divine judgment!  That is clear from the context of this verse.

            And folks, that was the understanding of these passages found in the entire Church until the 1830’s!  And, it remains the understanding of these passages in the vast majority of the Church, today.  The exception is in much of the American evangelical world which has been indoctrinated with this new (novel) position.

            So, if that is the case, then where in the world did this whole secret rapture idea come from?  -  Well, hold on to your seats!  -  It originated in Scotland with the purported vison of a fifteen-year-old girl named Margaret MacDonald.  She reported that her vision revealed this “two-staged” second coming.  In other words, Jesus came in the incarnation, He would “come” secretly to “rapture” the Church away, and then He would come yet again in glory to reign.  -  In no place does the Bible teach this.

            Nevertheless, her vision caught the attention of an evangelist named John Darby, who went looking for biblical support for this girl’s visions.  The “support” he found?  The two passages cited, above.  From this, Darby developed an entire system to talk about the “end times.”  The message was popularized in a war ravaged America by Dwight L. Moody and the Scofield Bible.  The people of the day were quite open to this idea of escape, because, in the midst of war, they had lost hope in the concept of redeeming the world.  As the message spread, organizations like Moody Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary arose promoting this new dispensational understanding of the “last days.”  And so the evangelical community embraced the various “end times experts” and had their visions reinforced by popular novels and other books.

            But, if we should “leave behind” the misunderstandings that form the basis of the Left Behind movie, then where should we Wesleyan Christians stand?  -  We should stand with the Scriptures and the historic teachings of the Church.  We hold to the ecumenical and orthodox faith of the Church as found in the creeds.  We do not find in them any mention of a secret rapture, but rather they clearly affirm our beliefs in the resurrection of the body and that Jesus will “come again to judge the living and the dead.”  In short, we believe that “Christ had died; Christ is risen; and Christ will come again!”  -  Thanks be to God!

 
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Special thanks goes to Randall Hardman, whose blog article prompted this article.

WESLEYAN-ANGLICAN SOCIETY NOW RECEIVING MEMBERS/DUES VIA WEBSITE

It is with great joy that I am announcing to the readers of this blog that the Wesleyan-Anglican Society is now ready to receive members and dues via our website!

It has taken quite a while to organize, incorporate, get a bank account, and set up our website and Paypal account, but WE ARE FINALLY READY!

Over the past year, we have taken in members via email and Facebook messaging, but we had not had the capability of receiving our annual dues.  Now, all of that has changed.

I want to encourage the readers of this blog to go to our website, and click on the membership link.  There you can access the Constitution and the Application Form.  You can also make payment of dues via Paypal, or you can write a check, if you prefer.

I would also encourage you to join the Wesleyan/Anglican Facebook page, where members and friends of the Society are able to dialogue about all things Wesleyan & Anglican.

The Wesley Teapot

I've been meaning to post an article about one of my recent acquisitions, about which I have been quite excited.  Time, however, has gotten away from me . . . until now.  (At least I'm taking a couple of moments to get this up!)

Recently I found on an ebay auction one of the Wesley teapots.  As a big Wesley fan and a drinker of tea, it seemed like a perfect fit for me!

The original was a gallon-sized teapot used by the Rev'd. Mr. John Wesley for thirty years.  It is displayed in the Museum of Methodism at City Road Chapel (i.e., Wesley's Chapel) in London.  Josiah Wedgwood, the famous potter to the Queen, presented Wesley with the teapot in 1761.

The one that I purchased is an exact replica in quart size.  It was reproduced by Wedgwood in 1908.  The floral pattern, known as "Wesley Blue Calico," is still used by Wedgwood on various items.  Josiah Wedgwood described the origin of the "Wesley Blue Calico" as follows:

 

"The wreath around the blessing is suggestive of Mr. Wedgwood's flower garden where he and Mr. Wesley first met, and where their lifelong friendship began; The single flowers above the spout are England's national flowers - the rose for England, thistle for Scotland, the shamrock for Ireland; The design in band around the bowl and on the lid of the teapot was taken from a dress belonging to the young woman who later became Mrs. Wedgwood and the grandmother of Charles Darwin."

On one side of the teapot there is a prayer that says:

We thank thee Lord for this our food

But more because of Jesus's blood

Let manna to our Souls be given

The bread of Life sent down from Heaven

 

On the other side (as shown in the picture) one finds the "Wesley Grace," which was written by John Cennick, the first Methodist lay preacher.  It reads, as follows:

 

Be present at our Table Lord

Be here and everywhere ador'd

These creatures bless & grant that we

May feast in Paradice with thee.

(And, yes, the above reflects the actual spelling!)  -  The Wesley Grace is still sung by Methodists of various stripes to the tune of Old 100th ("Doxology").  It is sometimes sung prior to coming to the Lord's Table for the sacrament.  At other times it is sung prior to a church dinner.  -  It appears in The United Methodist Hymn, though strangely (and wrongly), "These creatures . . ." is changed to "Thy creatures . . ."

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Much of the above information came from Treasures of the World Methodist Museum located at Lake Junaluska, NC, and printed by Biltmore Press, Asheville, NC.

Nazarene Call For Prayer For the Middle East

Earlier this month, the Board of General Superintendents of the Church of the Nazarene issued an episcopal call for prayer concerning the turmoil throughout the Middle East.  Specifically, the General Superintendents have called us to pray for the following concerns:

• Pray for peace in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, for a just and lasting solution that allows all people to live with dignity and respect in the absence of violence. Pray for the comfort of those who have lost family members and friends.
• Pray for peace in Syria, for an immediate end to the conflict, and for protection of human life. More than 100,000 people have been killed; there are 6.5 million internally displaced people in Syria and 2.5 million Syrian refugees who have fled to neighboring countries. Pray for their many needs to be met and for hope in the face of long-term displacement.
• Pray for the persecuted church across the region that is in danger because of faith in Christ, that those who are oppressed would know the strength and courage that comes from fellowship with God. Pray that people of different faiths could live in peace with one another.
• Pray for the protection of children throughout the region and for all people who have experienced trauma.
• Pray for local churches that are working in partnership with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (and other ministries and agencies) to alleviate suffering as they care for the vulnerable in volatile, insecure conditions

I want to encourage my fellow Nazarenes, and all of the readers of this blog to answer this call for prayer.

The full article can be found at this link.

World Methodist Council Celebrates Church of England's Decision

By now it is old news, I realize.  But, back on July 14 the General Synod of the Church of England (John Wesley's church) voted to approve allowing women to serve as bishops.  This was an historic move overturning centuries of Anglican tradition in the Church of England.  (Though some other jurisdiction within the Anglican Communion already have women serving as bishops, the Church of England, itself, restricted the episcopal office to men, only.)

This news was met by mixed reactions.  Even within the Anglican world, itself, there were various responses.  While I have Anglican friends who rejoice over this decision, I also have a number of Reformed Episcopal, Anglo-Catholic, and other traditional Anglican friends who are not happy at all.  The latter are likely ready to give up on Canterbury!

Outside of Anglicanism, the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches look on this with less than favorable eyes.  Undoubtedly, this move by the "Mother Church" of Anglicanism will further strain relationships with Rome and those connected with Constantinople.  -  This is significant because Anglicanism has understood itself as a "third branch" of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, along side of Rome & Orthodoxy.  With these historic churches of the West and the East condemning the idea of women in holy orders at all, and certainly condemning the idea of women as bishops, this move only separates Canterbury even further.  - Of course, it must be said that, even though Canterbury sees itself as this "third branch," Rome and Constantinople have always been less then convinced.  As it stands, neither Rome nor Orthodoxy accept Anglican orders as valid.  But, if they were ever to change their minds, this recent move by the General Synod surely closes that door.

On the other hand (and though this is old news, as well, I just became aware of it!), the response from Methodism has been quite favorable.  -  Upon hearing the news from England, World Methodist General Secretary, Bishop Ivan Abrahams issued a letter to Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.  In the letter Bishop Abrahams said, "The news that the Church of England has voted in favor of allowing women to become bishops is welcomed with open arms by the World Methodist Council.  Our global body has long welcomed, appreciated and been strengthened by our sisters in our faith tradition, and we know that this news will be seen as another common belief that affirms not only the bond between the Church of England and its members, but also within the World Methodist Council's ongoing  ecumenical dialogue with the church."

In reality, the first women to be ordained in modern times (i.e., we see women ordained as deacons in Scripture, itself) were ordained by those in the Methodist tradition.  More specifically, such ordinations took place in the Wesleyan-Holiness wing of Methodism.  In fact, the Church of the Nazarene (for example) was ordaining women as elders a quarter of a century before the United Methodist Church made that move.  However, United Methodism has been much quicker and more consistent in seeing women serve in the episcopal role than either the Church of the Nazarene or The Wesleyan Church.  But, neither of those denominations ever barred women from the office of general superintendency.  The only relevant restriction for serving in the superintendency for Nazarenes was being ordained an elder, and, as I said, elders orders were always open to women. 

Bishop Abrahams went on to say, “As the Church of England acts upon this landmark decision, know that by doing so they are doing it with the blessings and prayers of the Methodists throughout the world who are part of the World Methodist Council."

The full article from the World Methodist Council can be read, here.

The Wesleyan-Anglican Society Congratulates New ACNA Archbishop

              
According to a June 21 news release from the Anglican Church in North America, the College of Bishops of the church has elected Dr. Foley Beach, Bishop of the Diocese of the South to succeed the Most Rev'd. Robert Duncan as their new archbishop.  

“The election occurred Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of the College of Bishops three-day conclave where they met in the crypt of the basilica at Saint Vincent Archabbey,” said the Rev'd. Andrew Gross, Communications Director for the Anglican Church in North America.  The new archbishop will serve a five-year term and is eligible for re-election.

“I am delighted by this election and how the College of Bishops, after much deliberation and prayer, came to a unanimous decision,” said Archbishop Robert Duncan.  “This is a happy day for the Anglican Church in North America, a happy day for the Anglican Communion, and a happy day for the Christian Church.”

According to the news release, the newly elected archbishop served as the Rector and Pastor of Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville, GA, from its founding in February 2004, until December, 2013. On October 9, 2010, he was consecrated in Atlanta, Georgia as the first Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the South in the Anglican Church in North America.

Dr. Beach is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, the School of Theology at the University of the South, and Georgia State University. He has served in ministry with Young Life, the Episcopal Church, and the Anglican Church.

The new archbishop will have a formal investiture to follow in the coming months.

It was my pleasure to worship with the new archbishop at Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville during the recent Anglican 1000 conference.

Upon hearing of Dr. Beach's election, the Wesleyan-Anglican Society sent a letter of congratulation to His Grace congratulating him on his "election to serve the Servants of God as Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America!"

It is my hope that the Society might serve the new archbishop as a point of connection between the ACNA and the various Wesleyan/Methodist denominations and that we might find ways to work closely with the ACNA.

Trinity Sunday

This coming Sunday, June 15, the Church celebrates Trinity Sunday. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is one of the mysteries of faith, but the Church, from ancient times, has confessed its faith in the Triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The denomination in which I am currently serving (the United Methodist Church) is no exception to the orthodox Christian faith.   Neither is my own denomination (the Church of the Nazarene).  Our very first Article of Faith confesses our belief in the Triune God. Additionally, in our Manual's "Historical Statement," we state that the Church of the Nazarene ". . . receives the ecumenical creeds of the first five Christian centuries as expressions of its own faith." Along side the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed (which, in my local setting, we have made it a practice of confessing alternatingly each Sunday), we find that creed which John Wesley identifies as the best explication of the Trinity he ever saw (cf., his sermon "On the Trinity"), that is the so called Athanasian Creed (or Quicunque Vult) written, most likely within the fifth-century.

The words at the beginning and conclusion of the creed tying the necessity of assent to this faith with salvation have caused much difficulty for many. However, according to Ray Dunning, "Edmund J. Fortman says that it is not suggesting that the 'Catholic faith' is merely an intellectual assent but rather that it involves the 'worship of one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity'" (Grace, Faith and Holiness, 226). Wesley, himself, said, "I am far from saying, he who does not assent to this 'shall without doubt perish everlastingly.' For the sake of that and another clause, I, for some time, scrupled subscribing to that creed; till I considered,(1.) That these sentences only relate to wilful, not involuntary, unbelievers; to those who, having all the means of knowing the truth, nevertheless obstinately reject it: (2.) That they relate only to the substance of the doctrine there delivered; not the philosophical illustrations of it" ("On the Trinity"). - Whether one still has trouble with those lines, even after Fortman's and Wesley's explanation, the Athanasius Creed is still a wonderfully thorough confession of Trinitarian faith.

Although, it has been said that it is far too long for liturgical use, it is used on Trinity Sunday in Anglican and Lutheran churches that I am aware of, and probably others.  (I've not been brave enough to spring it on the congregations where I serve!)

I strongly encourage those who are unfamiliar with the creed to read it by clicking, here.

Please join me in this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, on God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pentecost

 



Yesterday (Sunday, 8 June 2014) the Church around the world celebrated the culmination of the Great Fifty Days, the conclusion of the Easter season, the outpouring of the promise of the Father, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and the birth of the Church. - John the Baptizer had declared concerning Jesus, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Luke 3:16, NRSV).  Jesus assured the disciples that it would be to their advantage that He would ascend to the Father, because, in doing so, He would send the Holy Spirit (the Advocate/Comforter/Counselor/Helper - parakletos ) to them (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit would teach them everything and remind them of all that Jesus had said to them (14:26), and the Holy Spirit would "prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement (16:8).

 

Further, Jesus told the apostles, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8, NRSV).

 

On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples saw the fulfillment of the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit as told by John the Baptizer and the Lord Jesus, as well as the prophet Joel.  It is that same outpouring of the Holy Spirit that we enter into by faith and through our baptism, for St. Paul declares, "For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body . . ." (1 Cor. 12:13, NRSV).*  -  And so, for our family, we often take time on Pentecost to watch the videos of when our children were baptized on Pentecost Sunday: my daughter, Sarah, was baptized on Pentecost 19 years ago, and my son, Matthew, was baptized on Pentecost 15 years ago.  Our district superintendent, the Rev'd. Dr. M. V. Scutt, came to our church in Greencastle (IN) on both occasions to baptize our newborn children.

 

Pentecost is one of the major feast days of the Church, and it should be a great day of celebration for those of us in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. - I recall a conversation several years ago with a pastor from a Presbyterian (USA) congregation. He confessed, he really didn't know what to do with Pentecost. Now, I do not mean to imply that such is the case for all, or even a majority of Presbyterians. I don't know. However, whatever the case for my Presbyterian brother, Nazarenes, whether espousing a 19th century or a classical Wesleyan view (cf. footnote, below) ought to know how to celebrate Pentecost Sunday.

 

You see, one of the main benefits of Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the possibility of having our hearts cleansed of sin. - As the prophet Ezekiel foretold, there was coming a day when God would ". . . sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statures and be careful to observe my ordinances" (Ezek. 36:25-27, NRSV). And St. Peter, referring to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the gentiles, argued, "And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us" (Acts 15:8-9).

 

It is this heart cleansing that has been at the heart (no pun intended!) of the Wesleyan & Methodist movement, and especially so for the Holiness branches of Methodism. It has been referred to by Wesley in connection with the Biblical doctrines of Entire Sanctification and Christian Perfection. In fact, the spread of scriptural holiness throughout the land was the stated purpose of Methodism, first by John Wesley in London in 1733, and then in America, at the famous Christmas Conference in Baltimore in 1784 at the founding of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was the commitment to this purpose that gave rise to the 19th century Holiness Movement within Methodism. And Phineas Bresee said of the Church of the Nazarene, that it is ". . . a part of that body of believers raised up to spread sanctified holiness over these lands, and thus that we are a part of that company who are the real successors of John Wesley and the early Methodists" (Nazarene Messenger, July 15, 1909).

And so, we Wesleyan Christians, including those at Centenary & Main Street United Methodist Churches (where I currently serve), enthusiastically join our sisters and brothers in Christ from around the world to rejoice and give thanks to God on Pentecost Sunday for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we seek to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

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*At this point, those within the Holiness movement will recognize that I take my stand with John Wesley, the Church of history, and those in the classical Wesleyan theological tradition, rather than those who are more consistent with 19th century interpretations. Those debates within the Holiness Movement can be seen in The Wesleyan Theological Journal between 1973 and 1982. Mark Quanstrom discusses it in A Century of Holiness Theology: The Doctrine of Entire Sanctification in the Church of the Nazarene, 1905-2004 (though his bias toward the 19th century view is apparent in his, not always completely accurate portrayal of members of "The Trevecca Connection").

Celebrating Twenty Years of Ministry

Today I am celebrating 20 years of full-time, post-seminary, pastoral ministry! 

Upon graduation from Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO, at 25 years of age, my wife (Bobbie) and I arrived at Greencastle Church of the Nazarene in Greencastle, IN.  -  We stayed there in ministry for 12 1/2 years.  (Those poor people!)

It was while in Greencastle that our two children were born.  Sarah, our first born, is now 19 and has just finished her freshman year at our Alma mater, Trevecca Nazarene University.  Our son, Matthew, just finished his freshman year at my high school, Floyd Central.

It was also while serving at Greencastle that I entered into Holy Orders, being ordained an elder (presbyter/priest) at the hands of the Rev'd. Dr. James Diehl, surrounded by the elders of the Southwest Indiana District on July 17, 1996. 

Of course, I was involved in ministry prior to that 20 year mark.  I preached my first sermon at the age of 15 or 16 (I'll have to double check, but I do have a cassette tape of it!).  On October 19, 1986, I received my first Local Minister's License.  I was 17 and a Senior in high school.  The license was issued to me by the Church Board of the Georgetown (IN) Church of  the Nazarene under the pastorate of the Rev'd. Russell Parker.  (A Local Minister's License is the very first step toward ordination, and the holder of such a license is not consider to be clergy.)

My Local Minister's License was renewed the next two years through the New Albany Eastside (now Christ's Community) Church of the Nazarene, under the pastorate of the Rev'd. Dr. Garry D. Pate (who now serves as my district superintendent).  And in 1989, under the district superintendency of the Rev'd. Dr. B.G. Wiggs and the general superintendency of The Rev'd. Dr. Jerald Johnson, I was issued my first District Minister's License by the Southwest Indiana District, Church of the Nazarene.  At that point, though the license must be renewed each year, a person so licensed is consider to be clergy.  And so, I held a district license until I was ordained in 1996.

During college and seminary, I held various ministry positions.  I did pulpit supply in Nazarene and Wesleyan churches.  I directed a Summer Day Camp for the Salvation Army one year.  I worked as a youth pastor at the New Albany Eastside (now Christ's Community) Church for two summers.  I was a volunteer Music Minister at Foster Avenue Wesleyan Church in Nashville, TN.  And I served as the pastor of Gunn City (MO) Christian Church for a year and a half while in seminary.  But my first, real, full-time, post-seminary pastoral position began 20 years ago at the Greencastle Church of the Nazarene.

In 2006, we moved from Greencastle to Grace Church of the Nazarene in Evansville, IN  It was while at Grace that I completed my doctoral work at Asbury Theological Seminary.  We continued in ministry in Evansville for almost four years.

Finally, in 2006, we moved to Greenville, IN.  I took an assignment as the pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church in nearby New Albany.  My Nazarene designation is Special Service / Inter-denominational.  In the United Methodist Church I am designated "Other Methodist" (as opposed to other Christian denomination).

Two years into our ministry at Centenary, that church entered into a two-point charge relationship with Main Street United Methodist, and I became the pastor of two United Methodist Churches.

At this point, my two churches, along with three other United Methodist churches in New Albany, are in the midst of "Vital Merger" talks.  If the vital merger is voted for by the congregations, that means that I will no longer be the pastor in my present setting.  -  What will we do?  Where will we be?  We trust that God knows the answer, and that the One who has been faithful these 20 years (well, really, all our lives!)  will continue to be faithful to guide and direct our paths and supply our needs. 

God has, indeed, been faithful and gracious toward us these 20 years.  And we are so thankful for the good, godly people who have become a part of our family in the churches we have been blessed to serve.

After 20 years, my desire is that the next 20 years will prove to be more effective than the first 20 in Christlike ministry for the glory of God.  -  Thanks and praise be to God!

Baptism, ORDINARILY Necessary for Salvation

"Ordinary" is a term that Wesley utilized at times.  He would use it when talking about "the rule" or "the norm" in a given situation.  This "rule" or "norm" would sometimes have exceptions.  Nevertheless, those exceptions were just that; exceptions to the rule.  Nor did those exceptions invalidate the norm or the rule.

One of those rules had to do with the relationship between Holy Baptism and salvation.  Wesley would agree that baptism was the ordinary means of receiving salvation.  -  In the words of the Nazarene Article of Faith, "Christian baptism [is] commanded by our Lord."  It is, therefore, hard to imagine that one who refuses baptism could possibly claim biblical faith in Jesus as Lord.  After all, how can one own Jesus as Lord and yet willingly refuse to obey His command?  Such willful disobedience demonstrates that it is not Jesus who is Lord, but that person is usurping lordship in their own life.  Thus there is a lack of biblical faith.  As Rob Staples has said, "Faith is not faith, however, apart from obedience.  Baptism is commanded, therefore required as our faith response, unless it is an impossibility due to circumstances beyond human control."

As the late Rev'd. Dr. William Greathouse, general superintendent (bishop) emeritus has stated, "In the New Testament church, there simply were no unbaptized Christians."

Nevertheless, while baptism is the ordinary means, Wesley refused to claim that baptism was absolutely necessary for salvation.  -  He said, "Indeed, where it cannot be had, the case is different, but extraordinary cases do not make void a standing rule."

An example where it could be said that baptism was not absolutely necessary for salvation can be seen in the case of the appointed executioner of St. Alban.

I recently read the Venerable Bede's account of this executioner in his History of the English Church and People.  (The book was a Christmas gift from a couple in one of my churches.)  -  According to Bede, having seen the miracle that accompanied St. Alban's journey to his own martyrdom, the appointed executioner "was so moved in spirit that he hurried to meet Alban at the place of execution, and throwing down his drawn sword, fell at his feet, begging that he might be thought worthy to die with the martyr if he could not die in his place."

Bede goes on to say that this soldier "was beheaded at the same time as Alban.  And although he had not received the purification of baptism, there was no doubt that he was cleansed by the shedding of his own blood, and rendered fit to enter the kingdom of heaven."

This is a great example of an "exception" to the norm of the Holy Sacrament being ordinarily necessary for salvation.  As one can see, it is a far cry from the "take it, or leave it" mindset that has unfortunately crept into some parts of the Church in more recent decades.

Praying for Seattle Pacific University

Prayer Requested After SPU Shooting

June 5, 2014

Seattle Pacific University President Dan Martin speaking to the media after a shooting on the SPU campus. [Seattle Pacific University photo]

 

Free Methodist Bishop Matthew Thomas is requesting prayer after four people were shot Thursday, June 5, at Seattle Pacific University. Seattle police reported that one victim, a 20-year-old man, has died as the result of his injuries.

“We are asking all members of the body of Christ to pray for the safety and healing of the entire Seattle Pacific University family. Pray for the victims and their families,” Bishop Thomas said. “Please pray that God’s presence becomes palpable on campus and that SPU becomes a safe place in the future and known as a place of peace in the world. Pray for President Dan Martin and his administration, that their next steps reflect justice, truth and grace. And pray that this kind of violence that plagues our nation ceases.”
 
The SPU website stated Thursday afternoon that the campus was “in lockdown due to a shooting in Otto Miller Hall.” The university’s Twitter account later reported that the lockdown had ended.
According to a Seattle Police Department statement, “One person was killed and three others injured Thursday afternoon after a lone gunman opened fire with a shotgun at Seattle Pacific University. Police have one suspect in custody, an adult male who was subdued after being pepper-sprayed by a student security guard. No one else is being sought in connection with the shooting. All of the victims were taken to Harborview Medical Center. One 20-year-old male victim died at the hospital. Another male victim was reported in stable condition. In addition, one woman had life threatening injuries and another woman was reported in stable condition. More information will be provided as it becomes available.”

Seattle police stated on the department’s Twitter account that SPU students can gather at Gwinn Commons with grief counselors available for students and staff.

Seattle Pacific University is a member of the Association of Free Methodist Educational Institutions
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The above was copied from the Free Methodist site here.

The Free Methodist Church and The Wesleyan Church are the closest denominations to my own denomination, the Church of the Nazarene.  They both share membership with the Church of the Nazarene in the National Association of Evangelicals, the Christian Holiness Partnership, the Global Wesleyan Alliance, and the World Methodist Council. 

Inflame the Fire

John Michael Talbot has been one of my favorite musicians for quite some time, now.  His Simple Heart CD has been a great conduit of God's peace during times when I have experienced stress since back in 2000.  Brother to Brother, recorded by JMT and Michael Card has been one of my very favorite CDs of all time.

Today, as I traveled to and from the ordination service at the Indiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (more about that at a later time), I was listening to John Michael's Cave of the Heart CD. 

 



Cave of the Heart "sounds different" than many (or most) of John Michael's CDs.  Theologically, the theme of the CD harkens back to St. Paul's message to the Athenians in Acts, when he used the "altar to an unknown god" as his point of connection from which he said, "What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you" (which was my sermon text last Sunday, the Sixth Sunday of Easter).  -  In other words, from a good Methodist perspective, much of what John Michael does in this CD is consistent with a Wesleyan understanding of Prevenient Grace.

The song, in particular, that caught my attention was "Inflame the Fire."  (Since this is the second to the last song on the CD, John Michael has, by this time, moved from the prevenient aspects of grace that are found in earlier songs.)  -  This song captured my attention today, I think, for a couple of reasons.  First, there is the sacramental focus found in the song.  That of course would catch the attention of one who is committed to recapture the Wesleyan commitment to Eucharistic worship.

A second reason is the fact that certain of the lyrics of this song made a real connection with recent lectionary texts, including this Sunday's text, which has focused on what, again, is very consistent with a Wesleyan understanding of Scripture: the fact that it is the Holy Spirit who enlivens the Word to us as we faithfully go to Scripture seeking the face of God.  The Scriptures are intended to reveal Christ to us and to shape our very lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A third reason that this song captured my attention is what might be called a general sacramental understanding of life.  Another way of trying to get at that is that the song focuses on a very real, living God who is truly at work in "the ordinary ups and downs of life" (as JMT says of the song).

I hope that you will find the words of this song meaningful, as well.

 

Inflame the Fire

 

Spreading the fire of the gospel of God

Spreading the fire of the Spirit

Spreading the fire of His call on our life

To follow the gospel of Jesus

 

Look beyond the mere bread and the wine

To see the real presence of God

Look beyond the externals of life

To His presence within our hearts

 

Beyond the words on the page of a book

To the mystical Incarnate Word

Written deep in the spirit and soul

In the pages of life to be learned

 

Inflame the fire

Inflame the fire

Inflame the fire

Inflame the fire

 

Inflame the fire

Inflame the fire

 

The truth of law gives direction to life

To know the right from the wrong

But by itself it is never enough

To bring us to divine love

 

We need the [S]pirit of God in our life

To write the truth in our hearts

A truth beyond ideas and words

To a mystical truth of the heart

 

Inflame the fire

Inflame the fire

Inflame the fire

Inflame the fire

Inflame the fire

You can hear a bit of the song (and purchase songs from the recording), here.

John Michael's website can be found, here, and the website for The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage (founded by JMT) can be found, here.

Ascension Day

Today is the fortieth day of the Great Fifty Days of the Resurrection (i.e., Easter) Season.  It is the day that Christians refer to as Ascension Day.  Many Churches will celebrate this day on this coming Sunday, Ascension Sunday.

As the name indicates, it is the celebration of the risen Christ's ascension into heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

In celebration of Ascension Day, I offer the following Scriptures, hymn and prayer:

Christ's Ascension

 

After Jesus' suffering, he showed himself to the disciples and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.  He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?

He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.  "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky?   This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Remember Jesus' words:  "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 

(Acts 1:3-11; Matthew 28:20b, from "Sing to the Lord")

 

Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise

Hail the day that sees Him rise, Alleluia!
To His throne above the skies, Alleluia!
Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluia!
Reascends His native heaven, Alleluia!
There the glorious triumph waits, Alleluia!
Lift your heads, eternal gates, Alleluia!
Christ hath conquered death and sin, Alleluia!
Take the King of glory in, Alleluia!

Circled round with angel powers, Alleluia!
Their triumphant Lord, and ours, Alleluia!
Conqueror over death and sin, Alleluia!
“Take the King of glory in! Alleluia!”

Him though highest Heav’n receives, Alleluia!
Still He loves the earth He leaves, Alleluia!
Though returning to His throne, Alleluia!
Still He calls mankind His own, Alleluia!

See! He lifts His hands above, Alleluia!
See! He shows the prints of love, Alleluia!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!
Blessings on His church below, Alleluia!

Still for us His death He pleads, Alleluia!
Prevalent He intercedes, Alleluia!
Near Himself prepares our place, Alleluia!
Harbinger of human race, Alleluia!

Master, (will we ever say), Alleluia!
Taken from our head to day, Alleluia!
See Thy faithful servants, see, Alleluia!
Ever gazing up to Thee, Alleluia!

Grant, though parted from our sight, Alleluia!
Far above yon azure height, Alleluia!
Grant our hearts may thither rise, Alleluia!
Seeking Thee beyond the skies, Alleluia!

Ever upward let us move, Alleluia!
Wafted on the wings of love, Alleluia!
Looking when our Lord shall come, Alleluia!
Longing, gasping after home, Alleluia!

There we shall with Thee remain, Alleluia!
Partners of Thy endless reign, Alleluia!
There Thy face unclouded see, Alleluia!
Find our heaven of heavens in Thee, Alleluia!

- Charles Wesley

 

(Thanks to Michael Scarlett for posting all of the verses on Sacramental Nazarenes' Facebook page, back in 2012.)



Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (BCP)

Happy Aldersgate Day!

Today is the day that all good Wesleyans/Methodists celebrate! Today is Aldersgate Day! Now, it may be that a few of the readers of this blog may be unfamiliar with Aldersgate. And, of course, it is a strange name, thus, it is not easy to discern what it is about. So, what is Aldersgate Day?

In a nutshell, it is the anniversary of John Wesley's "Evangelical Conversion." As the United Methodist Book of Worship puts it, "On Wednesday, May 24, 1738, John Wesley experienced his 'heart strangely warmed.' This Aldersgate experience was crucial for his own life and became a touchstone for the Wesleyan movement."

Aldersgate Memorial in London

So, why is it called "Aldersgate"? Well, the name refers to Aldersgate Street, the location of the Society meeting where Wesley experienced his strangely warmed heart.

Prior to this Aldersgate experience, Wesley had sought assurance of his sins forgiven, but he was unable to obtain it through his many pious works.

During his trip to Georgia, where he would serve as a missionary, the ship on which he was sailing encountered a terrible storm . . . right in the middle of their time of worship. But the thing that caught Wesley’s attention was that, while the English on board were screaming for fear of their lives, the Germans simply continued singing.

Wesley asked one of them, “Weren’t you afraid? Weren’t your women and children afraid?” The man simply said, “Thank the Lord, we were not afraid; we are not afraid to die.”

Later, Wesley met with one of the German pastors for advice. The pastor asked him, “Do you have the witness within? Does the Spirit of God bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God?” Wesley was caught off guard (not something that happened very often). And so the pastor asked, “Do you know Jesus Christ?” Wesley said, “I know he is the Savior of the world.” The pastor replied, “That’s true, but do you know he has saved you?” Wesley said, “I hope he has died to save me.” “But do you know?” And then comes those powerful lines from John Wesley, “I said, ‘I do.’ But I fear they were vain words.”



This marker is located at the probable
site of Wesley's Aldersgate experience

However, what was to happen to Wesley on May 24, 1738 would forever change his answer, and forever change the world.

John Wesley, himself, describes what took place that evening in his journal as follows: "In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

Another marker in memorial of John & Charles'
"Evangelic Conversions"

Wesleyan/Methodists remember and observe Aldersgate Day, because it not only shaped the life and ministry of John Wesley, but also the entire Methodist movement from that time until today. It not only marks the spiritual experience of Mr. Wesley, but it calls us to worship the God who still "strangely warms the hearts" of all who place their trust in Christ alone as Lord and Savior. This experience illustrates so well the Biblical doctrine of Assurance.

We can, by grace through faith, know our sins forgiven. We can, by grace through faith, have an assurance that Christ has "taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." As the apostle Paul says, "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God . . ." (Romans 8:15-16, NRSV). - Praise be to God!!

Let us pray: Almighty God, in a time of great need you raised up your servants John and Charles Wesley, and by your spirit inspired them to kindle a flame of sacred love which leaped and ran, an inextinguishable blaze. Grant that all those whose hearts have been warmed at these altar fires, being continually refreshed by your grace, may be so devoted to the increase of scriptural holiness throughout the land that in this our time of great need, your will may fully and effectively be done on earth as it is in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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(Prayer by Fred D. Gealy, as printed in the UMBW.)

(The pictures in this post were taken during my trip to England for the 2001 World Methodist Conference.)

*This post was originally posted in 2011.

World Methodist Council Statement on the Mass Abduction in Nigeria

Twenty days ago, an estimated 234 girls between 16 and 18 years old were taken from a school in northeastern Nigeria by a group of Islamic militants called Boko Haram. Boko Haram was founded in Northeastern Nigeria and has been very active, and very violent, since 2009. The name translates, literally, as “Western education is sinful.” This mass abduction has recently began to make news outside of Nigeria, and now is drawing attention to a search that has left more questions than answers. Recent news from Nigeria includedubious reports from the nation’s military about rescue efforts, a crackdown on those protesting the government’s response to the kidnapping and also claims by the leader of Boko Haram that the girls will be sold. But the missing girls and their safe return home isn’t being spoken about enough. The World Methodist Council would like to express concern over both the abduction and efforts to return of these children to their homes. We believe that every human being is born with a God-given dignity, and a fundamental right to an education. As the collective voice of 80 million Christians in the Methodist, Wesleyan, United, Uniting and Nazarene faith traditions, the World Methodist Council has been a key player in ecumenical discussions between faiths, and an advocate of peace building throughout the world. The Boko Haram’s actions are contrary to everything that the World Methodist Council stands for. During this time where the lives of 234 young girls hang in the balance, the World Methodist Council asks for prayers and solidarity.   ____________________________________________________________________________ Note:  This article came straight from a World Methodist Council email.  The original links for the news reports referenced in the article were not included when copied to this blog. Another note: Completely as an aside, this is the first time I have seen the WMC list "Nazarene" as a separate designation.  -  Interesting.