Conservative holiness movement
Christianity • Protestantism The conservative holiness movement is a loosely defined group of theologically conservative Christian denominations with the majority being Methodists whose teachings are rooted in the theology of John Wesley, and a minority being Quakers (Friends) that emphasize the doctrine of George Fox, as well as River Brethren who emerged out of the Radical Pietist revival, and Holiness Restorationists in the tradition of Daniel Sidney Warner.
The father of Methodism, John Wesley, taught that "Nothing is sin, strictly speaking, but a voluntary transgression of a known law of God.
Whosoever sinneth certainly seeth Him not—The loving eye of his soul is not then fixed upon God; neither doth he then experimentally know Him—Whatever he did in time past.
"[11] The Inter-Church Holiness Convention following John Wesley defines sin as "a willful transgression against a known law of God.
"[14] Following the lead of John Wesley, denominations identifying as being a part of the Conservative Holiness Movement hold that "calling every defect a sin, is not well pleasing to God.
"[15] "Mistakes, and whatever infirmities necessarily flow from the corruptible state of the body, are no way contrary to love; nor therefore, in the Scripture sense, sin.
"[17] The word Holiness refers specifically to the belief in entire sanctification as a definite, second work of grace, in which original sin is cleansed, the heart is made perfect in love, and the believer is empowered to serve God.
The Conservative Holiness movement is known for its emphasis on the possibility, necessity, and instantaneous nature of Entire Sanctification, also known as 'Christian perfection' in Methodism and 'Perfectionism' in Quakerism, as well as the second work of grace.
This doctrine is shown in the founding documents of the Holiness Movement, the 1885 Declaration of Principles which explained: "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.
[21][22] Members of the Conservative Holiness movement generally hold that the lifestyle restrictions found in the New Testament are still binding today and must be followed.
The come-outers were concerned that mainline Methodism had begun to water-down Holiness teachings and even shun its more outspoken proponents.
[30][32][33][34] The Holiness movement, for the most part, huddled together tightly from its early history to later when Pentecostalism was competing for the hearts and minds of its adherents.
By the post-World War II era, a more relaxed societal attitude toward morality and theological differences continued to accompany many mainstream Holiness conferences, districts and local churches reinforcing longstanding prohibitions on behavior in their governing documents.
[7] Entire sanctification (in Methodism) or Perfectionism (in Quakerism), as well as traditional holiness strictures on dress and entertainment, held a prominent place in convention sermons.
The swelling divorce rate, the relentless spread of Communism (with its promotion of state atheism), and the effects of television on society were also prominent themes.
[36] Participants resisted a call to form a new denomination, but became an ally toward a series of prior and future institutional secessions.
"[42][43][44] However, mergers have occurred as well; for example, in August 2019 the Pilgrim Nazarene Church (PNC) voted to join the Bible Methodist Connection.
Colleges affiliated with the conservative holiness movement include: A number of mission endeavors exist within the conservative holiness movement with active mission fields in the Philippines, South Africa, Ukraine, Haiti, Peru, Mexico, Asia, Eastern Europe, India, Myanmar, and South Korea.
Publications, publishing companies, periodicals and discipleship tools affiliated with the conservative holiness movement include:
