Nazarenes, Consider Your Calling

Nazarenes and the Church of Jesus Christ - Part 1 of 3

  1. Nazarenes, Consider Your Calling
  2. Nazarenes are Bible Christians
  3. The Freedom from Sin

January 10, 1992

I Corinthians 1:26 - 31

Introduction:

-A Personal Word-

I think it is important to share some thoughts on what it means to be a Nazarene. If you know me at all, you know that I love the Church of the Nazarene. I do not consider being a Christian and being a member of the Church of the Nazarene synonymous. Being truly Christian is the most important thing in the world to me. I trust that I am a Christian far and away before I am a Nazarene.

Still, being a Nazarene is vitally important to me, for it defines what I believe and how I act in a great many critical areas of life.

Christians are not to be isolated, laws unto themselves. Christians are to be part of Christ's church; they are born into it. Christians need to be part of some Christian fellowship, some visible part or expression of Christ's church.

If I were not a Nazarene I would hope that I would act in some responsible manner, and not claim to be a Christian while being a total law unto myself, not accountable to anyone or anybody.

There may be Christians still living today who say, "We do not believe in theology or interpretations of the Bible. We just believe the Bible!" But these kinds of people, if they still do exist, are very quick to interpret the Bible for other people who are not quite as intelligent as they are!

Now, to begin: What about the "denomination" called the International Church of the Nazarene? Where did it come from and why? What about denominations, period?

I. THERE IS BUT ONE CHURCH

[ONE, HOLY, APOSTOLIC. CATHOLIC]

ALL Christians, whatever they call themselves, ARE CALLED TO BE "SAINTS" (1:2) Our basic calling is to be "saints" (1:2) and not first to be Nazarenes or any other hyphenated name. We are not even called first to build the church but to proclaim Christ, and then He has promised to build His own church!

SO WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENT 'CHURCHES IN THE CHURCH'? Why have denominations at all?

We who have been reared in a denomination have a hard time understanding any other form the church of Jesus might take. Those from other traditions cannot grasp the purpose or even the legitimacy of denominations. Why are there "denominations" anyway?

There are ETHNIC reasons. There are DOCTRINAL reasons. There are CULTURAL reasons. There are even PERSONAL reasons for denominations.

There are WORSHIP preferences: Different denominations worship differently when they gather in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Some traditions emphasize RATIONAL DOCTRINE; some traditions emphasize EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE; and still others need MYSTICAL BEAUTY AND RITUAL at the heart of their Christian worship.

Some denominations think they are the only true church. Others "KNOW" they are! There are still other "denominations" that deny that they are denominations!
But even large church groups that do not call themselves by the name 'denomination' find that de facto they must form some kind of alliance to promote joint ventures in mission: to standardize the ordination of their clergy, whatever they may call them; and to find some means of disciplining or keeping pure those sacred doctrines they hold as dear.

THERE ARE GOOD REASONS FOR FORMING ALLIANCE BETWEEN CHURCHES

Denominations can multiply effort; they can serve to make the church more effective. An outstanding example is the mission endeavor in our denomination. Ours is not the only way to go about evangelization of the world. But it is the best way we have found. It has huge pluses, and perhaps some minuses.

One huge plus is that just about 85% of mission money makes it right through to the field! The other 15% is not at all wasted, however— it is in necessary networks of supervision, communication, and the like. Many so-called philanthropic groups do not come near getting that high a percentage of money to the front lines.

The minuses?: Perhaps some individuality is missed; perhaps in the rubric of bureaucracy some injustices are done. But the comparison makes our mission efforts seem wise. More loosely structured mission boards demand more extensive deputation work and much more energy is spent simply raising the support.

Denominations can clarify and develop certain approaches and understandings of scripture that keep the peculiar emphasis or emphases of that denomination strong. [In all honesty just about all denominations have their sacred cows; or arguments that begin with the conclusion and work backward to the scriptural proof texts.]

OUR REASON FOR EXISTENCE HAS BEEN A QUEST FOR WHAT IN THE REST OF THE CHURCH WORLD IS CALLED 'THE DEEPER LIFE' AND IN OUR OWN TERMINOLOGY IS CALLED "CHRISTIAN HOLINESS."

Nazarene faith is "orthodox," in that it does not depart from ancient, creedal statements about the faith. But Nazarene faith focuses on "holiness." By "holiness" we mean a personal quest for genuine piety, a corporate accountability for carrying out the commandments of Jesus, particularly the Great Commission.

But just now I am talking about how we came about as a denomination:

II. THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE AS A DENOMINATION

JUST WHO ARE THESE NAZARENES? They have a unique and God- ordained place in the Christian community. Nazarenes are NOT (or certainly should not be) merely a pale copy of other groups in their doctrines or practices.

In the Providence of God we came into being for a reason. We believe we were called of God to meet a need. We exist to help people into a holy walk with God!

Sometimes in order to be better understood we say: "We are just like Old Fashioned Methodists" Or "We worship a lot like the Baptists" or we use other good groups for comparisons or contrasts. This may or may not be helpful.

Still, it certainly helps if we know just what we DO believe and don't need to apologize at all for it!

[A very brief history lesson:]

Quite a number of groups or denominations have come about as the result of "reform" or reaction within an established church or denomination. Sometimes denominations have been shaped ethnic or cultural responses to orthodox truth. [United Brethren, for example, were mainly German speaking followers of Wesley in the Pennsylvania farmlands.]

Some denominations have reflected a personality of a charismatic leader. Calvin, Luther, Wesley— But this has been disastrous in some cases, especially when the leader has encouraged it. [ Mary Baker Eddy, Russellism (Jehovah's Witnesses; hundreds of sects from James Jones back...]

Our denomination does not primarily reflect any of these origins, although some elements of all may have been present in parts of our formation as a church.

Toward the end of the 1800's there was a large, informal, but pronounced spiritual awakening throughout Protestant America.

I would refer you to Dr. Timothy Smith's book "REVIVALISM AND SOCIAL REFORM" for a scholarly overview. [This was coincidental with the Camp Meeting phenomenon in rural America, the Keswick awakening in Britain as well as the "deeper life quests" in many areas. ]

We Nazarenes look to a man called PHINEAS F. BRESEE as our "founder." But actually Dr. Bresee was more of a convener. He found thousands of people who were riding the crest of the revival that was moving through the established denominations and in many places about the turn of the last century.

[My own parents both were products of the tail end of that revival movement; they were saved in the Methodist church and when they pursued seriously the "deeper life" of holiness they found mixed receptions. They were warmly received at Taylor University, which was at that time a "holiness Methodist" school . But they were much more comfortable with the people called Nazarenes, and soon after graduation they joined a great church in Monongehela, Pennsylvania in 1928. The pastor was John Andre. the father of the John Andre at Warren, Pennsylvania (in the 1950s).]

There were Holiness congregationalists in the east (Providence, Rhode Island) Groups in the south (Nashville)— and they merged several times, each time growing larger, and each time adding to the levels of compromise and understanding of what was and what was not "spiritually acceptable."

Some of the comprehension of the movement I knew as a boy [and it was a movement!] seems in retrospect almost sect-like. There was a tyranny of convictions at times. We were strong on personal discipline, and that extended to appearance and manners. It seems, looking back, that culture and refinement were next to godliness, especially in our colleges and schools.

It was good discipline and training for me, I believe— even though it was hard at times.

But underneath it all, BASIC TO EXISTENCE was a commitment to total consecration and Spirit-filled, Spirit-led living. WE TOOK AS OUR MISSION TELLING THE WORLD THAT THEY COULD BE FREE FROM THE TYRANNY OF SIN!

There was always a sense of obligation to the present generation. Dr. Bresee was often quoted: "We are debtors to give the gospel in the same measure as we have received it." (Or was that Dr. J.G. Morrison?)

There was also a genuine spirit of gentleness among those who were truly "sanctified," and a spirit of holy compromise on non-essentials, a compromise that has not always been evident in every area of the denomination.

Finally, Nazarene worship always seemed to me to be characterized by joy.

NAZARENES HAVE DOCTRINALLY FOLLOWED WESLEY, or at least they have intended so to do. Nearly to the last person, the ministers believe that they are in accord with the spirit of Wesley. Further more, in my view, the leadership of our denomination has (tacitly) agreed: Bresee was a Methodist, and so we have never disagreed with the M.E. doctrine of, say, a century ago. Our early Manuals were patterned after Methodist Disciplines. We have felt comfortable in following what has been a Methodistic tradition.

My personal position has been to try to "leap over" superficial and casual interpretations of Wesley, to read Wesley's Journal and his sermons and explanatory notes, and to try to catch the spirit and the heart of the teaching of this 18th century reformer.

NAZARENES SEEM TO BE ECLECTIC IN THEIR WORSHIP FORMS

WE REFLECT A (GOOD) (EVEN HOLY?) TENSION BETWEEN THE EXTREMES OF EVANGELICAL PROTESTANTISM TODAY: This reflects Wesley's statement to the effect: "In essentials, faithfulness; in non-essentials tolerance; in all things charity!"

CONCLUSION

These have been very sketchy, personal observations. I know that I have rambled, and I thank you for your patience. I think I have some important things to consider as we think together about what it means to be a Nazarene over the next few divisions of this theme. You may have to listen hard, and even hear some things I mean instead of what I simply say.

But in closing just now let me say JUST TWO things about being a Nazarene:

  1. If I am going to be a Nazarene I must know for myself what it means to be sanctified wholly.

    Our terminology may seem confusing to ears who have been taught other viewpoints; our doctrines may even be in question to other sincere Christians.

    BUT THERE IS A HARD, TRUE, CLEAR KERNEL OF TRUTH IN THAT EXPERIENCE WE CALL OUR "CARDINAL DOCTRINE." THERE IS REALITY IN COMING TO THE PLACE WHERE, AS A BELIEVER, I MAKE A COMPLETE SACRIFICE, AND COME TO THE END OF MY SELF-RULE, AND SELF-WILL, AND BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

    I may not understand the psychology of what it means to be sanctified, but I know that it makes the difference between sticking and falling away! I know it makes the difference between going back when the going gets tough or hanging in there and trusting that God is GOD and that God is GOOD!

    IF I AM GOING TO BE A NAZARENE I WANT TO KNOW THAT I AM SANCTIFIED WHOLLY!

    Not glorified like the saints in heaven. Not perfect so that I cannot or do not sometimes come short of God's glory. But sanctified until every part of my being, body, mind and spirit belong to Jesus Christ, with no provision ever to take them back. Sanctified so that the Holy Spirit has access to all there is of me!

  2. And, too, if I am going to be a Nazarene then I will be loyal to my denomination, and loyal to my local church!

    I may not agree with everything or understand everything. But the "corporate conscience" of my church will carry great weight in my personal decisions. And any quarrels I may have with my church will be lovers' quarrels. I will be stubborn toward what I see as compromise in scriptural application, and speak my mind when I think my church is wrong, but I will be exceedingly pliable toward God, and ask Him to bless and love my church through me!

Join me in prayer for our church.

PRAYER

  1. Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, even though often the world in which we live is dark. Grant us grace to put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility. Grant us grace that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, or in that hour when we shall be called to meet Him, we may be found faithful amid the chaos, rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
  2. May the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path: and the blessing of God Almighty– Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.