BLJ: Today's modern holiness church has neglected the language of the early holiness church that stressed eradication, entire sanctification, death-route, dying out, etc. As churches have moved away from the vocabulary of holiness, experiences have become shallow and almost non existent. How long has it been since you heard a red hot testimony of entire sanctification. People talk in general terms about holiness and the results are readily apparent. When people speak the language of holiness, you are more likely to hear of people being saved and sanctified.
THE LAME LANGUAGE LOOPHOLE
Some of us lived in the days when the holiness churches began to shy away from some of the terms which had characterized the vocabulary of the modern holiness movement from its inception. To check this fatal trend, Dr. J. B. Chapman, General Superintendent, came out with, what some considered, the greatest book he ever wrote. He entitled it "THE TERMINOLOGY OF HOLINESS." One of the terms which Dr. Chapman contended for was "ERADICATION" as it applies to the carnal nature in man. The book no doubt slowed this liberal trend for a while, but it appeared to be only a temporary slow down. Careful observers noticed that when old meaningful terms were dropped, the reality for which those terms stood received less and less emphasis, until they were virtually, if not entirely abandoned.
BLJ: Dr. Chapman's book is excellent and clearly identifies the language of holiness. Just like people reference "the man upstairs" in a general way indicates a lack of relationship with God, people that use vague terms most likely have not been sanctified wholly.
Many people have "died out" and were sanctified wholly without realizing they were following any particular terminology or any particular doctrinal pattern. But they were so hungry for a pure heart and perfect love that they simply followed the leadings of the Holy Spirit, by faith
THE LAME LANGUAGE LOOPHOLE
Some of us lived in the days when the holiness churches began to shy away from some of the terms which had characterized the vocabulary of the modern holiness movement from its inception. To check this fatal trend, Dr. J. B. Chapman, General Superintendent, came out with, what some considered, the greatest book he ever wrote. He entitled it "THE TERMINOLOGY OF HOLINESS." One of the terms which Dr. Chapman contended for was "ERADICATION" as it applies to the carnal nature in man. The book no doubt slowed this liberal trend for a while, but it appeared to be only a temporary slow down. Careful observers noticed that when old meaningful terms were dropped, the reality for which those terms stood received less and less emphasis, until they were virtually, if not entirely abandoned.
BLJ: Dr. Chapman's book is excellent and clearly identifies the language of holiness. Just like people reference "the man upstairs" in a general way indicates a lack of relationship with God, people that use vague terms most likely have not been sanctified wholly.
Many people have "died out" and were sanctified wholly without realizing they were following any particular terminology or any particular doctrinal pattern. But they were so hungry for a pure heart and perfect love that they simply followed the leadings of the Holy Spirit, by faith
to the total crucifixion of carnal self, and they received the blessing of sanctification, without, in some cases, having heard about it, or knowing what to call it.
Rev. Parker Maxey relates this account of a couple that he met in their later years while he was a young pastor. He states:
During pioneer days a young couple of Irish descent was homesteading in the state of Colorado. They had been wonderfully saved, and were full of the joy of the Lord. But, of course they were battling with the carnal nature, and did not know the cure. At times they would get into arguments and lose the joy. At other times, while working on the farm, the horses would step over the traces and snarl the harness. He would get mad and beat them unmercifully. Then while convicted of his anger, he would turn the horses loose and go in the house to talk to his wife about it. Together they would pray, until he prayed through.
Finally, on one of these occasions, he went in and got his Bible, and said, "I know what God did for me. I'm going to the woods and find out if God has anything better." In the woods he first prayed through and received the joy back. Then he began finding promises in the Bible. God led him to Luke, 1:74, 75 where God promised "...that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life." Then he read in James 3:17: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. "Then he turned back to the promise in James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."
While pleading with God for deliverance, his faith took hold of the promise and wonderful peace came to him. He returned to the house and testified to his wife that he had found the cure. She replied that she would see whether he had or not. So sweetly did he live it that in a few weeks she became deeply convicted, and sought and found the same experience.
About two or three years later, a holiness tent revival came to their area. They attended the services and heard holiness preached. He said, "That's what Mom and I got two or three yeas ago."
"Take us, Lord, Oh, take us truly, Mind and soul, and heart and will! Empty us and cleanse us thoroughly, Then with all Thy fullness fill."
BLJ: While it true that someone can get sanctified without the terminology of holiness, it is our duty when we know the truth, to speak that truth in love.
Rev. Parker Maxey relates this account of a couple that he met in their later years while he was a young pastor. He states:
During pioneer days a young couple of Irish descent was homesteading in the state of Colorado. They had been wonderfully saved, and were full of the joy of the Lord. But, of course they were battling with the carnal nature, and did not know the cure. At times they would get into arguments and lose the joy. At other times, while working on the farm, the horses would step over the traces and snarl the harness. He would get mad and beat them unmercifully. Then while convicted of his anger, he would turn the horses loose and go in the house to talk to his wife about it. Together they would pray, until he prayed through.
Finally, on one of these occasions, he went in and got his Bible, and said, "I know what God did for me. I'm going to the woods and find out if God has anything better." In the woods he first prayed through and received the joy back. Then he began finding promises in the Bible. God led him to Luke, 1:74, 75 where God promised "...that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life." Then he read in James 3:17: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. "Then he turned back to the promise in James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."
While pleading with God for deliverance, his faith took hold of the promise and wonderful peace came to him. He returned to the house and testified to his wife that he had found the cure. She replied that she would see whether he had or not. So sweetly did he live it that in a few weeks she became deeply convicted, and sought and found the same experience.
About two or three years later, a holiness tent revival came to their area. They attended the services and heard holiness preached. He said, "That's what Mom and I got two or three yeas ago."
"Take us, Lord, Oh, take us truly, Mind and soul, and heart and will! Empty us and cleanse us thoroughly, Then with all Thy fullness fill."
BLJ: While it true that someone can get sanctified without the terminology of holiness, it is our duty when we know the truth, to speak that truth in love.
"Take us, Lord, Oh, take us truly, Mind and soul, and heart and will! Empty us and cleanse us thoroughly, Then with all Thy fullness fill."
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