Remnant Magazine: Issue 5

REMNANT

Can We See Revival Again?

4

Can We Engage in Politics?

11

Can a Small Church Thrive?

15 pg. 18

Can You Be a Fruitful Pastor?

Can We See Revival Again? 04

08

Rev. Tim Gates

Dr. David F. Nixon

18

Rev. Tim Throckmorton

Can We Engage in Politics?

Rev. Steve Wilson

Can You Have a Thriving Ministry? 11 15

Can a Small Church Thrive?

20

Rev. Wendell Brown

Can You Be a Fruitful Pastor?

Dr. Jim Johnson

Can Holiness Universities Be Distinctive?

The Purpose of Remnant

As a publication of the Holiness Partnership, the purpose of Remnant Magazine is to promote Scriptural holiness through applicable theology and practice. The Holiness Partnership is a Wesleyan-Holiness organization seeking to re-discover the vision and understanding of biblical Christianity, re-emphasize the biblical doctrines of the Holiness church, re-invigorate the local church for mission and evangelism, and re-capture fidelity to biblical truth. We, at Remnant, pray that the Holy Spirit guides our messages, helps us bring clarity to holiness approaches to cultural issues, fosters a charitable dialogue in a polarized world, and enables us to speak the truth boldly in love, even in a time when the truth is unpopular.

Can We See Revival Again?

By Rev. Tim Gates

“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” - Psalm 85:6

Being a product of the 60s and born into the Church as a 3rd generation Nazarene, I learned early a hymn that we would sing often:

Revive us again, fill each heart with Thy love. May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.

I would watch as the generation before me would sing with great passion, asking God to do it again, to come in power and glory and pour Himself out on our church and our world. I can remember prayer meetings leading up to revival services where those who were heroes of the faith to me would kneel at the altars and cry out to God to come and move among them in a mighty way.

And God did it! He would show up in such powerful ways that people would often stand and testify to the power and transformation of God in their lives. People would be so overcome by the presence of God in the services that the only expression of what they were feeling was shouts of “Glory to God!” People would walk the aisles in tears hugging one another or simply raising a hand of thankfulness for the outpouring of God’s power and presence upon them and the services; couples would come together, praying for restoration of a marriage; people would go to one another and confess a bad spirit and ask for forgiveness; restitutions would be made; people who had not been in church for a long time would be drawn to what God was doing; people would confess their sins and receive Christ into their lives. There was lasting fruit from these divine

moments!

Can we see revival again in our day?

In a day when we have made our services about glitz and professionalism, time conscious, or imitating mega-churches and

pastors, most churches are seeing a decline and an element often missing in their services: the anointing and outpouring of God’s Spirit among them.

Can God do again what He has done for thousands of years, responding to the cries and confessions of His people?

Can God do it again in a day when it seems America is becoming less passionate about God and more critical of His Church?

It’s our ONLY HOPE!

All of us are familiar with what has taken place on the campus of Asbury University, a small campus in the small town of Wilmore, Kentucky. On Wednesday morning, February 8, 2023, students simply stayed after a normal chapel service and prayed. There was nothing emotional about the moment, just young people humbling themselves before God, confessing and asking God to fill them.

Within days, thousands of people from all over the world descended upon that place, some estimating now over 100,000 people. No one knew exactly what to call it. A movement of God? A revival? An awakening? The leaders of Asbury simply chose to call it “an outpouring of God’s Spirit!”

Within days of hearing about what was happening on the campus of Asbury, I felt the Spirit nudging me to go and experience it. So, I took a staff person and a friend, and we drove several hours to the campus. There was a holy silence as we walked across the campus. As we approached Hughes Auditorium, we could see people outside praying, and you could hear the sounds of voices singing. There was a sense of the presence of the Lord in a powerful way.

There is always the presence of four groups in any movement like this: the Holy Spirit, true worshippers, spectators, and the critics . As we walked into the chapel, we entered as spectators , watching all that was going on. But we quickly moved to become true worshippers !

Everyone was engaged in worshipping the Lord, and I noticed a variety of ages. Across the aisle to my right was a man in his 80s with his hands lifted high and tears pouring down his cheeks trying to sing a song he did not know (nor did I), just repeating the words, “I want more of you Jesus, just more of you!” A true worshipper!

As the song changed, I noticed in the front section students with hands lifted upward singing passionately, “What can wash away my sin? NOTHING but the blood of Jesus!” True worshippers!

Testimonies broke out of confession, restoration of friendships, young people testifying to the transformation of their lives by the power of God’s Spirit, others crying out for God to move in revival across our country and world, some testifying to God’s healing.

Can we see revival again in our day? I believe we can! I believe we are!

Can we see revival again in our day? I believe we can! I believe we are!

We sing a song at our church, “DO IT AGAIN!” The words are so powerful:

I’ve seen You move

You move the mountains

And I believe I’ll see You do it again

You made a way where there was no way

And I believe I’ll see You do it again

Can we see a revival again in our day?

Can God do again what He has done for thousands of years, responding to the cries and confessions of His people? IT APPEARS HE IS! I don’t care what we call it! I JUST WANT IT! I WANT IT FOR MY CHURCH!

We have been praying for an outpouring of God’s Spirit among us over the past 2-3 years at our church, but especially in the last 12 months. And nearly every week for the past year our altars have been full, people crying out to God for forgiveness, parents praying for their children and grandchildren, people coming for anointing for a physical need, couples weeping before God for their marriages.

Can we see a revival again in our day? I think we can! I believe we are!

The president of Asbury University, when asked about what was happening on the campus, said: “I believe it is an awakening among us. An awakening is where God begins to stir and awaken people up from their spiritual slumber. This is definitely happening not only in Wilmore, but as this move of God spreads to other schools and communities across the nation and even the world. There are many reports that this is what is

happening. But we must keep our hearts and eyes fixed on Jesus and ask for Him to complete the work He has begun so that, over time, there is a lasting transformation in the lives of those who are being touched by God.”

I love his statement, “But we must keep our hearts and eyes fixed on Jesus and ask for Him to complete the work He has begun.” This has been my daily prayer, that God Himself would complete across our land and world what he began in Wilmore, Kentucky. DO IT AGAIN, LORD! “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6)

We must keep our hearts and eyes fixed on Jesus and ask for Him to complete the work He has begun.

CAN YOU HAVE A

MINISTRY? THRIVING

BY DR. DAVID F. NIXON

Ever since the 1990s, we’ve heard the rather pessimistic forecast that “roughly 30% to 40% of religious leaders eventually drop out of the ministry.” More recently, it’s been said that only one in ten will make it to retirement. Mark Dance debunks the “prevailing myth” that 1,500 to 1,700 pastors leave the ministry every month. The “promising truth” is that it’s likely only 250 a month. Why? Because “pastors are not quitters. Ministry is tough, but so are ministers!” Temptations to drop out are sure to come. What God has called you to do may be difficult and costly, but remember, you are on a mission with God. You joined Him—not vice versa; therefore, you can afford to obey. And as Paul challenged Timothy, “When the going gets rough, take it

on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did” (2 Timothy 2:2, MSG).

Sound strategies are necessary to help us cope with ministry stress in a healthy manner and break the tape at the finish line. Lloyd Elder, a former Texas Baptist pastor and denominational executive, acknowledges that ministers have a unique set of stress challenges, but also unique outlets for managing the stresses that are particular to the work of church leadership. At age 83, Elder, who retired

for

the fourth time, outlines ten ways to help manage the stresses of ministry and even how to turn them into positives for your life and leadership. Don’t check out mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Jesus’ call is your thumb in the back pushing you forward toward the finish line. Here are five coping strategies I put in place that made me a 10-percenter:

1. ESTABLISH A DAILY REGIMEN FOR SOUL CARE.

Healthy soul. Healthy life. Thriving ministry. Taking care of spirit, soul, and body may require a reframing of ministry to include “self-care.” The challenge is in achieving a healthy balance in the mental, physical, and spiritual disciplines. No matter how busy you are, daily you must spend time with the Lord even if it means setting your clock 15 minutes early. You cannot constantly give out without taking in. Jump off the treadmill of busyness with its incessant responsibilities, activities, interruptions, commitments, and appointments. No more excuses!

The daily stresses of life, work, and family deplete us. A daily quiet time will replenish us. Soul care doesn’t get better by chance. It gets better by change. John C. Maxwell champions routine: “It’s not about what you do in a day; it’s about what you do daily!” What happens in you is more important than what happens to you. Soul care must become habitual. Strive to learn something new every day. Develop a learning mindset. Give yourself permission to be less than perfect but develop counter strategies to help you refocus quickly when your normal routine is disrupted. Frequency makes the difference. Change is never instant, permanent, and automatic. It takes time and repetition. You must put in your reps. String together enough successful attempts until soul care is firmly embedded in your mind and you cross the habit line. Routines require discipline. Daily disciplines become habits.

2. REFUSE TO FLY SOLO.

You will never fly solo if you enlist prayer partners. C. Peter Wagner once talked to a group of pastors about the power of intercession. He boasted 200 intercessors. I had zero but left Pasadena determined to enlist my own prayer army. God gave me 46 with the assignment to daily hold myself, my staff, and our families up to the Lord in prayer as we went about our work. Who holds up your tired arms (Exodus 17:12-14)? It is the height of spiritual arrogance to say, “I can make it on my own. I don’t need anyone else.” Avoid the knockout punch. Identify and enlist intercessors to pray continually. Information is fuel for prayer fire. You only go it alone by choice. Avoid the lonesome road. Your followers are waiting to be asked.

3. BUILD BEHAVIORAL BOUNDARIES.

Unavoidable temptations are sure to come (Luke 17:1). A talk radio host put it like this, “We’re patients in the same hospital, wearing hospital gowns. And our worst parts are showing, and we don’t even know it.” If none are exempt, how can we protect ourselves, our families, and Christ’s Church from the devastating effects of a moral

lapse? Intercession is vital (strategy 2), but so are some strict behavioral boundaries beyond which you refuse to go. Fools boast, “Such a thing will never happen to me!” The wise “take heed lest they fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Safeguards are essential. An unguarded heart is a vulnerable heart, no matter how much you pray. Guard your eye gate. Watch what you’re watching. Control what enters through entertainment. Exercise extreme caution with the opposite sex, especially in your role as an amateur counselor. Install doors with windows in your office. Refuse to meet alone with a member of the opposite sex, especially after hours. Be cautious about how you answer texts, emails, and cards. If an activity would require you to lie to your spouse, avoid it at all costs. Generally, moral failure begins with a thousand little letdowns in this pornified society we’ve been marinating in for some time now.

4. IDENTIFY THE

Mobilize your church to extraordinary prayer. Prayerlessness abounds. Prayer is oxygen for the soul. Quit trying to see how long you can hold your breath (1 Thessalonians 5:17a). Take a deep breath. Inhale the goodness and love of Christ. No plan will ever work effectively until you pray! Prayer fuels momentum. Cast a compelling vision born of prayer. Vision agreement may be a long, slow walk. Mobilize the laity for ministry. Trust God for your finances. Ask first what God wants, not how much it will cost. The Blackaby’s are right: “You can rarely afford to obey what God asks because He wants you to rely on His provision. The question is not, ‘Can we afford to obey?’ The crucial question is, ‘Can we afford not to obey?’”

5. “SCREW YOUR COURAGE TO THE STICKING PLACE AND STAND!”

Instead of spending an inordinate amount of time complaining that God put you in a terrible or difficult place, believe that Christ has the power to change hearts and your situation. Project a spirit of optimism despite all the dark things that have happened. Attempt to minister to the main body of believers as a normal congregation. Rest assured that if the patient dies despite all you have attempted to do and everything falls apart, you haven’t fallen apart. Keep on praying for the miracle you know God can provide. You are not out there alone, isolated, and forgotten, even at those times when progress forward can only be measured in centimeters. No matter how painful or disappointing your service may seem to you in the hard place, it hasn’t been wasted. With “chin up and knees down,” you can break the tape at the finish line.

CAN WE ENGAGE IN POLITICS?

BY REV. TIM THROCKMORTON

His name was Peter, and he was there. He was in the room personally when an impassioned leader from Virginia by the name of Patrick Henry addressed critical issues. His concerns were valid, and more importantly, his perspective was biblical. He knew the numerous accounts in Scripture affirming the role of pastors and prophets in their interaction with civil government. Even the Lord spoke truth to error regarding cultural situations.

He then wisely employed his understanding of Scripture and its timely relevance to his congregation. You see, Pastor Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was not only involved in the local political process in Virginia; he also served as the pastor of a congregation in Woodstock, VA. In April 1776, after preaching Ecclesiastes 3:1, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,” he closed his message by saying:

“In the language of the Holy Writ, there is a time for all things. There is a time to preach and a time to fight. You... are placed by Providence in the post of honor, because it is the post of danger... The eyes not only of North America and the whole British Empire, but of all Europe, are upon you. Let us be, therefore, altogether solicitous that no disorderly behavior, nothing unbecoming our characters as Americans, as citizens and Christians, be justly chargeable to us.”

He then removed his pastor’s robe, revealing his blue continental officer’s uniform. He asked the men of his church to join him in the continental army. 300 joined forming the Virginia 8th that would fight for the cause of freedom, paving the way for the freedoms we still enjoy today.

America’s founders affirmed that God was Supreme over earthly governments; to them, any attempt to separate government from godly principles would mean the death of the nation. As George Washington wisely reminded Americans: “Of all the dispositions

and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness—these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” [A]

In 2014 while in Jerusalem, I was with a small delegation at Temple Mount where we met a group of Israeli leaders including Uzi Landau, Israel’s Minister of Tourism. After a brief meeting, while being introduced, he asked what I did. I explained I was a Pastor from Ohio. “Oh, a pastor,” he said. “We know that if the church in America is strong then America will be good. If America is good, then Israel will be blessed!” Think just for a second about that. A member of the Israeli cabinet understood just how important the church has been and still is in America.

I am convinced that a biblical worldview clearly speaks to every area of life, including political engagement. In fact, the Bible speaks about civil government often and provides examples of faithful engagement. The Old Testament teaches us that Joseph and Daniel served in civil government, exerting influence to further the flourishing of their nations. Paul also advocates this approach: “As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone.” And: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” As our dear friend and former General Superintendent Dr. Talmadge Johnson says often, “The world at its worst needs the church at its best.”

It’s a fact of life that politics are unavoidable. Paul’s appeal to his Roman

Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg

citizenship is a model of this. In an American context, this takes on added significance because of the words prefacing the Constitution: “We the people.” In the United States, ultimate national sovereignty is entrusted to the people. This reality makes politics unavoidable for American citizens to control their political future. Because politics have real-world implications for Christian evangelism, missions and preaching the gospel, Christians ought to engage the political process, advocating for laws and policies that contribute to human flourishing.

In a very real sense, politics is one of the more important areas in which Christians demonstrate love to their neighbors. How can Christians claim to care about others and not engage the arena that most profoundly shapes basic rights and freedoms? Government restrains evil and promotes good. Government derives its authority from God to promote good and restrain evil. Elsewhere, Paul urges that prayers be made “for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life.” Paul understood the need for Christian participation in government. Good government encourages an environment conducive for people living peaceably; whereas, bad government fosters unrest and instability. Because of sin, the legitimate institution of government has, at times, been used illegitimately throughout history. However, numerous examples persist of Christians reasserting their influence and redeeming government to promote good and restrain evil.

In

How Christianity

Changed the World, Alvin Schmidt documents Christian influence in government. Examples include outlawing infanticide, child abandonment and gladiatorial games in ancient Rome, ending the practice of human sacrifice among European cultures, banning pedophilia and polygamy, and prohibiting the burning of widows in India. William Wilberforce, a committed Christian, was the force behind the successful effort to abolish the slave trade in England. In the United States, two-thirds of abolitionists were Christian pastors. [B]

Carl Henry rightfully stated that Christians should “work through civil authority for the advancement of justice and human good” to provide “critical illumination, personal example, and vocational leadership.” [C]

How can Christians claim to care about others and not engage the arena that most profoundly shapes basic rights and freedoms?

Christian witness in the public square contributes transcendent values about moral and ethical issues.

Jeremiah 29:7 says, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Referring to Babylon, the prophet recognized that secular government served a legitimate purpose in God’s plan for Israel.

Today, good governments promote literacy, advance just laws, provide religious liberty, and allow churches to preach and teach. Christian witness in the public square contributes transcendent values about moral and ethical issues. Christian withdrawal opens a moral vacuum susceptible to influences that pressure government to move outside the purview designated by God. Politics affects government, shapes society, and influences culture. Christians must care about politics, and the easiest way to be involved is by voting. Remember, every elected official from dogcatcher to the President only reflects the values of those who vote!

You and I have been entrusted with an incredible moment of stewardship in this moment in history and especially the history of the United States of America. We have been entrusted with a season of witnessing the foundation of morality destroyed and biblical principles torn asunder and relegated to the trash heap of history by those whose inclinations are in no way biblical. I have heard it said that the fruit of our lives grows on the trees of others. May those who follow us know the fruit of freedom!

It is worth remembering that Pastor Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg went on to serve in the United States House and Senate! His brother, Pastor Fredrick Augustus Muhlenberg, served as Speaker of the House of Representatives and signed the Bill of Rights. Can we engage in politics? We can and we must be salt and light in our nation in every way!

[A] George Washington, Address of George Washington, President of the United States, and Late Commander in Chief of the American Army, to the People of the United States, Preparatory to His Declination (Baltimore: Christopher Jackson, 1796), pp. 22-23.

[B] How Christianity Changed the World, Alvin Schmidt

[C] https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1986/ january-17/into-next-century-trends-facingchurch.html

Can a Small Church THRIVE?

By Rev. Steve Wilson

Can a small church thrive? To simply answer the question with a “yes” does not explain anything or truly answer the question. Let me start by introducing myself. I’m Reverend Steve Wilson, and I pastor a small church in Nyssa, Oregon, right on the Idaho-Oregon border. I have been pastoring for just over nine years after leaving a career in law enforcement. I grew up in the Church of the Nazarene, and my dad was a pastor for 39 years. Growing up in the church—most of which I attended were small—I’ve experienced many different forms of growing pains. I haven’t been a Christian my whole life. In fact, I spent many years of my young adult life rejecting God. Even the people of God experience growing pains in times of change.

In the lyrics of a Bob Dylan song, he says, “The times, they are a-changin’.” That

is true throughout many generations and cultures. Christ never changes and neither does His Word, but our world around us is ever changing. So, how do we make an impact? Have we lost our ability to reach the culture and be truly effective for the Kingdom of God? Are we less important now than we were in the 50s, for instance? In a small church, we can often begin to feel limited in our abilities as we witness or hear about what larger churches are doing. This feeling can cause us to become complacent in the familiar, the comfortable, the maintenance of the status quo, and at some point, we find ourselves wondering what happened. Small church, let me tell you, we are not inferior; we are important. I’m reminded of a quote that Eleanor Roosevelt is credited with saying: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

In his book, The Grasshopper Myth , Karl Vaters writes, “The truth about the small church is we are not sick, we are not failing, we are not stuck, we are not incompetent, we are not limited in our vision, we do not need to be fixed, we are not less than… We are God’s idea!” Vaters encourages small churches to embrace the reality that we are God’s idea, and the early Church is a great example of that. The disciples and the other followers of Christ were obedient to the calling and mission of the risen Savior. They were fearlessly bold and not concerned with programs or if they had enough people or money to accomplish this work. They knew that the Lord would provide and equip them to do it. After all, a church could have all the money in the world and still be spiritually dead. So, where does that leave us?

Remember Peter was asked at the temple gate for money. Peter responded, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you” (Acts 3:6). Peter offered grace and hope, the very same that he had received. Our natural response should be the same. We should be looking for new places where people can encounter the Gospel—alive and at work through His people.

To thrive is “to grow vigorously, to gain in wealth or possessions, to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because

of circumstances.” That is the definition in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. The first two descriptions imply the accumulation of numbers or size and finances. However, this is a misplaced focus for the Church. Attendance numbers have been a matrix in the Church that we have tracked, but it should not be the definition of a thriving church. There is nothing wrong with recording attendance. After all, we read in Scripture that three thousand were added to their number that day, five thousand were fed that day, etc. Gaining and recording numbers certainly has its place, but it must not be the primary focus.

Similarly, a focus on accumulating great wealth and possessions can be dangerous. As a small church, we might get in the mindset that we just need more money if we are to do great things for the Lord. Or possibly that we need wealth and possessions so we can prove our success in the form of bigger buildings, etc. If we’re not careful, our motivations can begin to center on ourselves and not Him. What does God need? Does He need great amounts of money to accomplish

Despite our size, which only hinders us in our own thinking, we serve a God of impossibilities that has no limits.

things? No, He needs us to be faithful and obedient.

Let’s focus on the last description of the word thrive: “to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances.” “‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets’” (Luke 5:5). They were then rewarded for their obedience. Despite our circumstances, we must respond with a “yes and amen.” Despite our size, which only hinders us in our own thinking, we serve a God of impossibilities that has no limits. We must respond with a “yes and amen.” When we respond with faith and take a step of obedience to almighty God, we realize that we are not small; we are part of the global Church, serving in our local missional outpost, allowing God to use us powerfully in our setting.

So, can a small church thrive? Yes, only with Christ truly leading the hearts of the people there. A small church can thrive after surrendering their comforts, complacencies, their own desires, and the unholy legalism that pushes people away. A small church can thrive when they respond wholeheartedly in obedience and cast out their nets, even when it doesn’t make sense. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”

Vaters, Karl. The Grasshopper Myth: Big Churches, Small Churches and the Small Thinking That Divides Us. New Small Church, 2013

A small church can thrive when they respond wholeheartedly in obedience and cast out their nets, even when it doesn’t make sense.

CAN YOU BE A FruitfulPastor?

BY REV. WENDELL BROWN

Can you be a fruitful pastor? A great question that at times can be quite confusing. Does bearing fruit mean leading the next event at your church? Is bearing fruit a board meeting void of contentious conversation? Is bearing fruit showing an annual increase in worship attendance? Or is bearing fruit, for the minister, something else entirely? The answer depends on your definition of “fruitful.”

So, what is the definition of fruitful? Be productive. Make disciples.

Jesus said in John 15:8, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

It is our mandate to bear fruit, to lead

people to Jesus, and in so doing, we show ourselves to be disciples. Or said another way, the fruit of your life will tell a story of your own discipleship. Disciples make more disciples. As a pastor, evaluate your schedule. How much time do you spend focused on events, programs, and visitation for people who already know Christ? Certainly, those areas of pastoral responsibility are important; however, they must not overtake your entire schedule. Where does sharing the story of Jesus to those who do not know Him come into your schedule? Something can happen as a minister, where we find ourselves doing many good things for the church that consume our time, and we miss the most important item on our to-do list as a disciple of Christ. We are

to make disciples, personally. We are to make the most of every opportunity. We are to bear fruit.

Perhaps another way to say this through a leadership lens would be that the people we pastor will never personally make disciples until we model and train personal discipleship. Let’s take that a step further. Can we model the sanctified life without deep personal sorrow for the lost around us? Phineas Bresee said, “The agony of God for lost men finds at least its echo in our hearts.” The love for humanity from God is represented in us. It is to the glory of God that we bear fruit individually and personally to others. Please ensure as a minister that it’s not just your church that is leading people to Jesus, but that you as an individual are cultivating relationships that lead to disciples.

In John 15:16, Jesus says, “I chose and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last...”

There is a tiny word in this verse that has large implications. It is the same word that Jesus gave us in Matthew 28 in the Great Commission. The word is “go”! We must go, as ministers, outside of our office and share Jesus. Our people will never understand the importance of going if we are conditioning them only to come to church. When church is a program, people come to a location and leave. Incidentally, too often they will go to the church that does programming the best. However, when the church is moving and active, people do not come to church because the church is already living where they are. The body of Christ was never meant to be a location; the body of Christ was meant to be everywhere through His people. They come to be empowered to go and individually share the story of Jesus with others. We bear fruit in an exponential sense by modeling personal soul winning to our people.

What would happen if we spent more time helping our people cultivate a heart for the lost than we did preparing for Sunday morning service? Where would they go? What could they accomplish? How many more might believe? As a minister, you were chosen by God to go anywhere, at any time, for anyone. May God help you give that heart to your people as well.

Charles Spurgeon said it this way: “If sinners will be damned, at

The fruit of your life will tell a story of your own discipleship.

least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”

Being a fruitful pastor is so much more than leading the next event, program or board meeting at your church. Bearing fruit comes from sharing the hope of Jesus—that life can change because of His love. Ensure you are taking the time to build relationships with the lost and watch how God invigorates your passion for serving Him in the church. The glory of God fills our hearts when we lead people to Him.

Jesus said, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

CAN HOLINESS UNIVERSITIES BE

DISTINCTIVE?

BY DR. JIM JOHNSON

Dr. Lisa Dunne, President of Chula Vista Christian University near San Diego, recently shared with me a university communication titled Avoiding the Pitfalls of Modern Education (1), and several of her statements caught my attention. She shared about the need for new thinking to meet the challenges of Christian higher education— pointing out, “The classroom culture across the US has shifted dramatically over the last four decades. What can we learn from the changes, and how can we equip the next generation to excel in the home, the church, and the marketplace?”

Her remarks pinpoint where our focus should be when we consider how to answer the question: Can holiness universities be distinctive?

Although her article was about how to equip the next generation effectively, my contention is that we must more fully consider and concretely address the impact of the “changes”— particularly the underlying factors that have shifted the nature of higher education and, in far too many cases, affected what is called the distinctive and mission of educational institutions, including our faith institutions.

perspectives, beliefs, and heritage).

Two questions must follow: (1) What can be done to counter the shift from a holiness distinctive as they begin to look more like other secular universities, and (2) How best to keep a Christian university faithful to its holiness mission and heritage, protecting the integrity and quality of a university program from an ever-impending progressive, social justice agenda informed by a liberal theology? If we attempt to address the current issues of holiness universities, these two factors must be considered.

IT STARTS WITH A CLEAR BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE OF HOLINESS.

One of the most impactful changes in recent decades has been the propagation of a progressive, social justice agenda within the educational system—in particular higher education. It is without question even more impactful in Christian higher education. It’s impact on Christian universities has, in most cases unfortunately, led to compromise. In speaking with university presidents and educational leaders across the nation, two factors are often discussed concerning this issue: the importance of “distinctive” for a Christian university (that which sets it apart) and the issue of mission drift (that which pulls the Christian university away from its purpose and its orthodox, holiness, biblical

Although there are many factors and a variety of ways to look at the distinctive of a holiness perspective and the holiness mission in our Christian universities, at the most basic level is a commitment to upholding with resolve a true orthodox, holiness, biblical perspective . It is a perspective that is established, approved, and informed by the historic Church. It holds that “a life of holiness and total devotion to God” is a life set apart for God’s holy purpose and use , empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, witnessing and living as a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. It is a perspective that holds to the full authority of the Bible as the inspired, living Word of God. This perspective views the Bible as the measure for everyday life decisions for individuals and institutions. It is indeed the foundational principle and guide to begin any attempt in answering the question: Can holiness universities be distinctive? It starts with a clear biblical perspective of holiness.

Looking at Christian universities more specifically, there are a variety of measures that can be be used and understood with confidence to determine distinctive and mission. In the limited scope of this article, three basic measures are unpacked to help answer the question of how to determine if there is a true distinctive for a university and if there is true faithfulness to mission.

Let’s drill down to these three basic measures:

• WHAT is being taught : evaluates things like curriculum, lectures, textbooks used, Chapel speaking, hosted speaking events, and campus communications.

• WHO is teaching it : evaluates who is selected, promoted, and tenured as administrators, staff, professors, and guest speakers.

• HOW is it taught : evaluates the instruction type (face-to-face, online, hybrid, corporate worship), style (chapel, Bible study groups, lectures, classroom groups/small groups, self-directed, Socratic seminars, field work, labs, public speakers), and the outcomes desired (integration of faith and learning, international experience, internships, mentoring/discipling, holy living, focus on the whole person—spiritual, mental, emotional, physical).

These three measures are at the heart of how “holiness universities” represent their holiness doctrine, as well as their educational and spiritual value—what makes them distinct from other universities. The measurement of what is being taught, who is teaching it, and how it is taught is influenced by all

components of an educational institution— its governance, administration, practices, instruction, spirituality, and values. Thus, it literally defines and determines the nature and essence of the educational and spiritual image of the university.

The Distinctiveness of Christian Higher Education

A 2022 study in the American Journal of Economics and Sociology (2) evaluated universities in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), looking at institutional identity/religious distinctiveness and student recruitment/market demand. The findings help us better understand how the “What/Who/How” measures are connected to distinctive. Here are some of the findings concerning the distinctive for a Christian university :

1. The variables used to measure a Christian University as distinctive were: (1) faith requirement, (2) university lifestyle covenant, (3) chapel requirement, and (4) Bible/theology course requirement.

2. “Institutional diversity, a hallmark of the American system of higher education, is best advanced when colleges actually commit to maintaining their institutional distinctiveness, rather than homogenize with competitors that are perceived to be more successful.”

3. “The data indicated that the ‘least distinctive’ (those schools with the fewest requirements regarding chapel attendance, number of Bible classes that had to be taken, lifestyle covenant, etc.) got the most total applications, but those with more requirements had the highest yield rates, or greatest percentage of students who applied, were accepted, and showed up on campus.”

In other recent studies, the Detroit Free Press (3) review of 34 four-year colleges that are charter members of a more conservative association of Christian colleges, the International Alliance for Christian Education (IACE), discovered additional findings connected to a holiness distinctive:

1. Total enrollment at IACE schools is up nearly 8%, comparing fall enrollment in 2020 to fall enrollment in 2010.

THE GREATER THE ORTHODOX, HOLINESS, BIBLICAL DISTINCTIVE, THE GREATER THE GROWTH.

2. Total enrollment for CCCU schools was up about 3% over that same decade.

3. Total enrollment at 950 nonprofit fouryear colleges across the country—those under 5,000 students—fell by about 10% from 2010 to 2020.

These studies seem to indicate that, while individual colleges and universities in any of the categories noted (e.g., conservative, “broader canvas of Christian beliefs and practices,” non-profit four-year colleges) can outperform or underperform the trend, the growth at both sets of Christian colleges far outpaces the overall trend in the private nonprofit school sector. This points to the trend for increased enrollment (that which draws and keeps students attending) at Christian universities and is due in part to university adherence to their orthodox, holiness, biblical distinctive, and the greater the distinctive in that area, the greater the growth.

The Mission of Christian Higher Education

Holiness universities must not only have a “distinctive” that sets them apart, but they must also stay true to their mission . Like a distinctive, it too is best shaped from a holiness, biblical perspective. Mission by nature is protective of university beliefs and heritage and most importantly serves as the very foundation for moving the institution forward with integrity. The importance of mission is directly related to identity. Mission faithfulness drives the integrity of university identity as the checkpoint for all undertakings necessary to maintain an institution’s purpose, governance, administration, spirituality, values, instruction, practices, and even goals and outcomes. This is often referred to as “mission fit.”

To maintain or even revive faithfulness to mission, let’s review a concept called mission drift—that which pulls a Christian university away from its purpose and orthodox, holiness, biblical perspectives, beliefs, and heritage. As noted by Chris Crane, CEO of Edify, “It’s the exception that an organization stays true to its mission. The natural course—the unfortunate natural

evolution of many originally Christ-centered missions—is to drift.”(4) Mission drift is a significant hurdle to the ongoing fruitfulness of Christian universities.

Greer and Horst, in their book Mission Drift , (4) highlight the nature of mission for Christian universities with fifteen elements. Listed below are four key statements that help us see the importance in being mission true (the italicized comments below are added for clarification):

1. Mission true organizations believe the Gospel is their most precious asset.

This is in contrast to liberal theology that questions the authority of the Bible.

2. Mission true organizations have clarity about their mission.

Mission is often distorted by liberal theological semantics.

3. Mission true board members understand their top priority.

Universities must hold their leadership accountable to mission.

4. Mission true leaders set the cultural tone for the organization.

Leadership must promote, lead, and live with mission integrity.

As with distinctive, mission is a focal point for establishing identity for a university but also serves as a central guide to decisionmaking and practice within the university. This is where the three measures ( What is being taught? Who is teaching it? How is it taught?) really come into play once again. They drive evaluation of the alignment of university practice with university mission.

The purpose of this article was to answer the question: Can holiness universities be distinctive? We initially discussed the need to address the changes in Christian universities over the last four decades and the invasive nature of the progressive, social justice agenda. These changes have brought into question the integrity of Christian universities in faithfulness to their foundational orthodox, holiness, biblical perspective, doctrine, and heritage. Three important elements for evaluating this faithfulness were presented:

(1) the importance of distinctive ,

(2) the

THERE

BE AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE TRUTH AND AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD FOR OUR UNIVERSITIES.

importance of mission , and (3) three measures for evaluating distinctive and mission

In conclusion, listed below are a few practical applications that could be used to help measure a distinctive and mission for a holiness university:

• An orthodox, holiness, biblical perspective (in contrast to the current focus on secular social justice themes) as the foundational basis for the university approach to decision making, academic instruction, events, and approval of guest speakers.

• A clear mission statement based on an orthodox, holiness, biblical perspective.

• Leadership, faculty, and staff holding to the full authority of God’s Word.

• Careful review of all curricula, textbooks, and instructional resources for faithfulness to distinctive and mission.

• Trustees and all personnel being carefully selected, based on spiritual maturity and

commitment to university mission as a priority.

• Annual contracts for professors with a signed university lifestyle covenant.

In personal discussions with Christian university presidents, professors, and higher education leaders over the last several years, there was consistent agreement that the greatest threat to the distinctive and mission of a Christian university is the everincreasing dismissal of the Bible and the sovereign authority of God over our world and our individual lives. The impact of this assault is directly related to the “What/Who/ How” decisions made every day by university leadership. If holiness universities are to be distinctive, there must be an unwavering commitment to the truth and authority of God’s Word—both for our lives and for our universities. It is the distinctive , and it defines the mission . May God give us the ability, the wisdom, and the courage to make it so!

2. P.

M. Hunter, How Institutional Identity Shapes Student Recruitment: The Relationship Between Religious Distinctiveness and Market Demand. The American Journal of Economics and Sociology , Volume 80, Issue 1, (January, 2021)

2021)

For more on this topic, check out the article by Dr. John N. Oswalt, distinguished professor of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, “The Crisis in American Theological Education”:

https://tinyurl.com/4fznvsuu

1. Lisa Dunne, Avoiding the Pitfalls of Modern Education. CVCU Podcast, (January 2023)

Jesse Rine, Joshua T. Brown, James

3. David Jesse, Why Some Small Conservative Christian Colleges See Growth Where Other Schools See Declines. Detroit Free Press, (October 8,

4. Peter Greer, Chris Horst, Mission Drift . Bethany House Publisher, (2015)

MUST

Lead

CONTRIBUTORS

North Central Ohio District Superintendent, Church of the Nazarene and founder of Tragedy Into Triumph

EDITORIAL STAFF

National Director of Community Impact, The Family Research Council, Washington, DC, and ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene

Executive Editors

Rev. Jared K. Henry

Rev. Bill Castillo

Managing Editor

Mallory Auer

Professor emeritus at Point Loma Nazarene University, consultant, life mentor and coach in San Diego, California

Dr. Jim Johnson

Rev. Tim Gates

pastor of Kokomo First Nazarene in Kokomo, Indiana and board member of the Holiness Partnership

Dr. David F. Nixon

District Superintendent Emeritus, Southern Florida District, Church of the Nazarene

Rev. Wendell Brown

Rev. Tim Throckmorton

Rev. Steve Wilson Lead pastor of Nyssa Church of the Nazarene in Nyssa, Oregon

WHO WE ARE

The Holiness Partnership is a Christian organization in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. Our mission is to re-discover the vision and understanding of biblical Christianity, re-emphasize the biblical doctrines of the Holiness church, re-invigorate the local church for mission and evangelism, and re-capture fidelity to biblical truth.

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info@theholinesspartnership.com

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Mackey, IN 47654