I'm for it!

You know what I like about the first fifty years or so years of the Church of the Nazarene?

For the most part, we weren't afraid to be controversial. Nazarenes were willing to "rock the boat."

Sure we (they... before my time) got scared about some silly things. We dropped 'Pentecostal' from the beginning of our name early on (Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene) and a few other things, but for the most part we were unflinching the first few years of our existence.

I mean, we were against tobacco when it wasn't popular to be against tobacco! We knew it was the "devil's weed" before celebrities realized it wasn't cool anymore! That's why we still hold on to our stance against it today. But it's not very controversial anymore (except in some places).

What is troubling though is the fact that in the last few years of our existence we've began to "soften" some of the stands we've taken on issues. Divorce, while still unaccepted in print, has had it's wording changed to give a more neutral feel. So while divorce continues to be a growing problem in the church, not to mention the world, we have cowered away from it. Jesus was very clear about it though and maybe the problem continues to grow because we are mute when it comes to divorce. (By the way, divorcee's should be met with grace, I'm certainly not proposing that we "shoot our wounded." Anything but a response in love, seasoned with grace, is unacceptable.)

Gambling holds true. But that's not real surprising since most denominations are still against it... but what if they weren't? (In Kentucky many politicians are tauting the 'good' that legalized gambling could bring to our commonwealth by funding education.)

Alcohol. Ouch. We have began to falter on this one. No, not in print, but in practice. We believed in prohibition before prohibition in the United States (1920-1933)! It was an out-flow of our concern for those we ministered to. So while a few might argue the Bible doesn't teach absolute abstinence; we Nazarenes have never argued that, so much as the consistent belief that nothing gives us the right to participate in an activity that is so destructive to our community's spiritual, economic, and physical condition.

Most of the changes to our "Covenant of Christian Conduct" (which can be found here) have sought to make it less specific and more open to an individual's interpretation. Still there are many who would wish remove any kind of moral boundaries to a covenant.

Someone who was against some of the stances we've taken as a denomination once said: "But is it easier to get to heaven than into the Church of the Nazarene." Doubtful! But even if it were, the Church of the Nazarene has never claimed that you had to be a Nazarene to get into heaven (or even that being a Nazarene would get you into heaven). To get to heaven you only have to repent and believe in Jesus Christ. But as serious Christians who believe in Holiness, we are about more than just "getting a ticket to heaven."

We're about living as citizens of heaven here on Earth! I guess what I'm thinking is that we need to get this boat rockin' again! Maybe Churches of the Nazarene in communities all over the world should be radically different rather than trying to mimic Willowcreek, Mars Hill, or First Baptist! If that means we have higher standards than some other churches that's okay! (Some of them will make it to heaven too!)

We don't want to "make it to heaven;" we want to shake the civilizations we live in! We don't want to survive Satan's attacks; we want to storm the sinful strongholds of this world! We don't want social reform; we want spiritual transformation!

I'm for it!


Call us names, make fun of us, jeer us for ministering to any kind of sinner, but please... don't try to steady the boat!