Pastor Scott's Thoughts: The Hope (and Humility) of Transformation

I have had several great comments and questions via email this week. I asked one person permission to share a part of their question because I am asked this question from time to time. Here is the person's question:

I liked what I heard today, but am scared that I'll sign up and then find out I need to be "circumcised." I don't understand too much about the "holiness" movement, but am uncomfortable with the idea that people can be perfect on earth, if I understand that correctly. I'm uncomfortable with that because I've been around those people who feel they're "holy"--I disagree with their assessment.

Here is part of my response:

Thanks for the question. I believe that Wesleyan traditions – like the Church of the Nazarene – have been at our best when we walk in a certain tension between hope and despair. What I mean by that is that Wesley believed that “perfection” (which he meant as Christian maturity not perfect actions or thinking) could be possible in this life with two conditions: (1) he seriously doubted that any one would ever really reach a place where there was no further maturity still to be attained and (2) if you claimed to have attained complete maturity your self-pride demonstrates that you really aren’t there yet.

If you understand all of that, then it sort of sounds like he didn’t believe that anyone can really be completely mature in Christ. However, the reason he wanted to avoid that belief is because he didn’t want people to be able to say: “Well, I’m never going to be what God wants me to be in this life, so I’ll just let my character and faith stay right here where it is.” For Wesley, to give up the idea that God can make us what he wants us to be in this life allows us to accept defeat and despair as the final answer. But to be overly optimistic about Christian perfection and believe we can easily attain it leads to the kinds of spiritual fallacies, Christian pride, and church destructiveness that you have mentioned.

That’s why I say, we are at our best when we find ourselves caught between the tension of hope that we can really be what God wants us to be and honest confession that we are a long ways from being there.

I think it is very important for us to find that balance between hope and vulnerability that keeps us from spiritual pride.