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Do not fill this in! ==Beliefs== === Entire sanctification === The Holiness movement believes that the "[[second work of grace]]" (or "second blessing") refers to a personal experience subsequent to [[Salvation (Christianity)|regeneration]], in which the believer is cleansed from original sin.<ref name="Beliefs">{{Cite web|url=https://godsmissionarychurch.org/beliefs-gods-missionary-church/|title=Beliefs|website=God's Missionary Church, Inc.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-12}}</ref> It was actually this doctrine, the attainment of complete freedom from sin that the movement was built upon.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shattuck |first=Gardener |title=Encyclopedia of American Religious History Volume 1 |publisher=FactsonFileINC |year=1996 |isbn=0-8160-2406-5 |location=Boston |pages=295}}</ref> "In this line of thinking, a person is first saved, at which point he is justified and born again. Following this, he experiences a period of growth...This ultimately culminates in a second work of grace whereby the Holy Spirit cleanses his heart of original sin, eradicating all inbred sin. The Holy Spirit then imparts His indwelling presence, empowering the believer...This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It happens instantaneously as the believer presents himself or herself as a living sacrifice to God with an attitude of full consecration," and faith.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Rhodes, Ron|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/884817087|title=The complete guide to Christian denominations|date=March 2015|isbn=978-0-7369-5291-0|oclc=884817087}}</ref> The First General Holiness Assembly's 1885 Declaration of Principles, which explained:<blockquote>"Entire Sanctification... is that great work wrought subsequent to regeneration, by the Holy Ghost, upon the sole condition of faith...such faith being preceded by an act of solemn and complete consecration. This work has these distinct elements: # The entire extinction of the carnal mind, the total eradication of the birth principle of sin # The communication of perfect love to the soul... # The abiding indwelling of the Holy Ghost."<ref>Maddox, Randy (1998). [https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/items/ec2606ed-7a7c-4cee-a4ba-269b1a473e5c "Reconnecting the Means to the End: A Wesleyan Prescription for the Holiness Movement"]. ''Wesleyan Theological Journal''.'''33''' (2): 29–66.</ref> </blockquote>The [[Church of the Nazarene]], a large Wesleyan-Holiness denomination in the Methodist tradition, explains that: {{blockquote|"We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God, subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotement to God, and the holy obedience of love made perfect. It is wrought by the baptism with or infilling of the Holy Spirit, and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, empowering the believer for life and service. Entire sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus, is wrought instantaneously by grace through faith, preceded by entire consecration; and to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness."|source=Dean G. Blevins et al., eds., Church of the Nazarene: Manual, 2013–2017 (Kansas City, MO: Nazarene Publishing House, 2013), 32–33.}} According to Stephen S. White, a noted Holiness scholar from the mid-1900s, there are "five cardinal elements" in the doctrine of entire sanctification: # "Entire Sanctification is a Second work of Grace # Entire Sanctification is received Instantaneously # Entire Sanctification -- Frees from Sin # Entire Sanctification -- Is Attainable in This Life # Entire Sanctification -- and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit are Simultaneous"<ref>{{Cite book|last=White|first=Stephen S.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/814409314|title=Five cardinal elements in the doctrine of entire sanctification|date=1954|publisher=Beacon Hill Press|oclc=814409314}}</ref> This experience of [[entire sanctification]] or [[Christian perfection#Quaker teaching|Perfection]] is generally identified with the filling of or the baptism of the Holy Ghost.<ref name="Beliefs"/> As such, entire sanctification is also known in the Holiness Methodist tradition as [[Baptism with the Holy Spirit]] (though in Pentecostalism, this term carries a different meaning).<ref name="UMC2012"/><ref name="PHC2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.pilgrimholinesschurch.org/doctrine.htm|title=Doctrine|date=15 December 2000|publisher=[[Pilgrim Holiness Church|Pilgrim Holiness Church of New York]]|language=en|access-date=31 May 2018|archive-date=2 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502115615/http://www.pilgrimholinesschurch.org/doctrine.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[John Swanel Inskip]], a minister in the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]], explained, "There is, however, one doctrine, in a great measure peculiar to Methodism. It is that, in which we teach the possibility of man attaining a state of grace in the present life, in which he will be made free from sin."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inskip|first=John S.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/30371096 |title=Methodism explained and defended. |date=1860 |publisher=H.S. & J. Applegate |oclc=30371096}}</ref> Reflecting this inward holiness, Holiness Methodists, who make up the bulk of the Holiness Movement, have emphasized the Wesleyan-Arminian doctrine [[outward holiness]], which includes practices such as the wearing of modest clothing and not using [[profanity]] in speech; Holiness Quakers have likewise emphasized the Friends teaching on [[testimony of simplicity]], while the Holiness Anabaptists (such as [[Brethren in Christ Church|Holiness River Brethren]] and [[Mennonite Brethren in Christ|Holiness Mennonites]]) have upheld their belief in [[nonconformity to the world]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seedbed.com/getting-it-right-christian-perfection-and-wesleys-purposeful-list|title=Getting It Right: Christian Perfection and Wesley's Purposeful List|last=Headley|first=Anthony J.|date=4 October 2013|publisher=Seedbed|language=en|access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref> Baptists who have embraced the second work of grace have founded their own denominations, such as the [[Holiness Baptist Association]] and [[Ohio Valley Association of the Christian Baptist Churches of God]]. The [[Original Church of God or Sanctified Church|Original Church of God]] and the [[Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.]] were founded by Baptist ministers, including Charles W. Gray and [[Charles Price Jones]], who embraced the doctrine of entire sanctification. === Definition of sin === Holiness adherents also hold to a distinctive definition of (actual) sin. They believe that "only conscious sins are truly sins."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - Christian Cyclopedia|url=http://cyclopedia.lcms.org/display.asp?t1=h&word=HOLINESSCHURCHES|access-date=2021-07-31|website=cyclopedia.lcms.org}}</ref> Historian Charles Jones explained, "Believing that sin was conscious disobedience to a known law of God, holiness believers were convinced that the true Christian, having repented of every known act of sin, did not and could not willfully sin again and remain a Christian."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jones|first=Charles|title=Perfectionist Persuasion|pages=32–33}}</ref> Historian Benjamin Pettit described the approach of the Wesleyan-Holiness movement as: <blockquote>1. "The person who sins is not a Christian but a sinner. 2. When a person is saved, he is out of the sin business (may but must not sin) 3. The sinner must repent and be restored to his lost relationship with God. 4. To sin results in spiritual death."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pettit|first=Benjamin|title=The Great Privilege of All Believers|pages=170}}</ref></blockquote>In his study of this question, Caleb Black concluded that "the consensus understanding of sin in the Holiness tradition is that sin is an avoidable, voluntary, morally responsible act that those born of God do not commit."<ref name="Black, Caleb p. 86">Black, Caleb. ''What About Sin?: An Appraisal of the Nature of Sin in the American Holiness Tradition'' (p. 86). Kindle Edition.</ref> Put simply, Holiness adherents adhere to the definition of sin, as explained by Wesley himself. <blockquote> "Nothing is sin, strictly speaking, but a voluntary transgression of a known law of God. Therefore, every voluntary breach of the law of love is sin; and nothing else, if we speak properly. To strain the matter farther is only to make way for Calvinism."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wesley|first=John|title=The Works of John Wesley, Third Edition., Volume 12|publisher=Wesleyan Methodist Book Room|year=1872|location=London|pages=394}}</ref></blockquote> Dr. Timothy Cooley explained, "If this definition is compromised, victorious Christian living becomes meaningless, and entire sanctification an impossibility."<ref>Black, Caleb. ''What About Sin?: An Appraisal of the Nature of Sin in the American Holiness Tradition'' (p. 1). Kindle Edition.</ref> "The definition and consequences of sin are a key theological distinctive of the Holiness Movement as it underlies their entire theological system. To differ on the conception of sin is to destroy the foundation of holiness theology."<ref name="Black, Caleb p. 86" /> With this definition of sin, Holiness adherents believe while Christians may fall into sin, they also have the God-given power to avoid committing sin, and in this sense be free from sin. Furthermore, not only does God enable this obedience he also requires it. One of the founders of the movement, J. A. Wood, explains "The lowest type of a Christian sinneth not, and is not condemned. The minimum of salvation is salvation from sinning. The maximum is salvation from pollution—the inclination to sin."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wood|first=John|title=Perfect Love}}</ref> Another founder, C. J. Fowler explains that "We teach that regeneration does not allow the committing of conscious sin."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fowler |first=C. J. |title=What We Teach and What We Do Not Teach}}</ref> Harry Jessop warns "It should ever be born in mind that believers cannot commit sin without forfeiting justification."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jessop |first=Harry |url=https://www.whdl.org/sites/default/files/resource/book/EN_jessop_foundations_of_doctrine.pdf |title=Foundations of Doctrine |pages=44}}</ref> The founder of the [[Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)]], [[Daniel Sidney Warner|D. S. Warner]], explains "Holiness writers and teachers, as far as my knowledge extends, uniformly hold up a sinless life, as the true test and Bible standard of regeneration."<ref name="Daniel S. Warner 2005" /> This doctrine follows in the footsteps of Wesley who wrote “If a believer wilfully sins, he casts away his faith. Neither is it possible he should have justifying faith again, without previously repenting."<ref>Wesley, J. (1872). ''The Works of John Wesley'' (Third Edition, Vol. 8, p. 276). London: Wesleyan Methodist Book Room.</ref> === Lifestyle === Holiness groups believe the moral aspects of the law of God are pertinent for today, and expect their adherents to obey behavioral rules.<ref name="Russell2010">{{cite book|last=Russell|first=Thomas Arthur|title=Comparative Christianity: A Student's Guide to a Religion and Its Diverse Traditions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FmMarHDbglgC&pg=PT121|access-date=9 November 2012|date=June 2010|publisher=Universal-Publishers|isbn=9781599428772|pages=121–}}</ref> Consequently, members of the Holiness movement readily apply Scriptural lifestyle commands to their lives, and view them as generally binding today, and apply these principles in numerous different ways.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Discipline of the Bible Methodist Connection of Churches|url=https://www.biblemethodist.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2014-Bible-Methodist-Discipline.pdf}}</ref> "Holiness churches have been distinguished from other churches by their more careful lifestyle. Many churches and denominations in the Holiness movement prohibit smoking, drinking, dancing, listening to inappropriate worldly music, or wearing makeup or flashy clothes."<ref>Ron Rhodes, The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations: Understanding the History, Beliefs, and Differences (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2015).</ref> ===Diversity in belief and practice=== Christian denominations aligned with the holiness movement all share a belief in the doctrine of [[Christian perfection]] (entire sanctification); apart from this, denominations identified with the holiness movement differ on several issues, given that there are Methodist, Quaker, Anabaptist and Restorationist churches that comprise the holiness movement and these denominations have unique doctrines and theologies.<ref name="Kurian2016"/> Methodist denominations that are a part of the holiness movement, such as the [[Free Methodist Church]] or [[Missionary Methodist Church]], affirm the celebration of the [[sacraments]], chiefly [[Holy Baptism]] and [[Holy Communion]]; on the other hand, denominations of the [[Quaker]] tradition, such as the [[Central Yearly Meeting of Friends]], are entirely non-sacramental.<ref name="Kurian2016">{{cite book |last1=Kurian |first1=George Thomas |last2=Lamport |first2=Mark A. |title=[[Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States]] |date=10 November 2016 |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |isbn=978-1-4422-4432-0 |page=1945 |language=English |quote=Formed in 1926, Central Yearly Meeting [of Quakers] is part of the Conservative Holiness Movement and consists of a small number of Monthly Meetings in Arkansas, Indiana, North Carolina, and Ohio.}}</ref> Anabaptist denominations aligned with the holiness movement, such as the [[Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene)|Apostolic Christian Church]], teach the observance of [[ordinance (Christianity)|ordinances]], such as [[eucharist|communion]], [[Christian headcovering|headcovering]] and [[footwashing]].<ref name="Lindner2008">{{cite book |last1=Lindner |first1=Eileen W. |title=Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches, 2008 |date=2008 |publisher=Abingdon Press |isbn=978-0-687-65149-8 |page=69 |language=en}}</ref> While the Methodist denominations of the holiness movement hold to [[church membership]] (such as the [[Lumber River Conference of the Holiness Methodist Church]]), the concept of membership rolls is rejected in holiness denominations of a Restorationist background, such as the [[Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)]].<ref name="BurgessMaas2010">{{cite book |last1=Burgess |first1=Stanley M. |last2=Maas |first2=Eduard M. van der |title=The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements: Revised and Expanded Edition |date=3 August 2010 |publisher=Zondervan |isbn=978-0-310-87335-8 |language=en |quote=In each place, the Church of God consisted of the wholly sanctified living out the divine command under the Scripture-mandated name. No membership roll had to be kept, for true saints recognized one another.}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page