The Most Pressing Issues Facing the CHM

The Conservative Holiness Movement is in the hour of its greatest need. Across the movement our numbers are decreasing by percentage points each year, churches are closing and our numerous denominations, connections and associations grow smaller each year. In the effort to building toward the future, three main issues must be resolved; they are: the division of the holiness movement; the denial of worldliness and the doctrinal issues that divide the CHM for far too long.

Denominational Division:

The denominational lines in the CHM are very clear and distinct. We place too much emphasis on being from certain denominations, connections or associations and not enough on being part of the corporate body. Our primary focus is not to be placed on working for or being a blessing for a certain denomination, but being a part of the body of Jesus Christ, which knows no denominational boundaries.

The differences in many ways between the denominations of the CHM are small and mostly insignificant. A lot of the time it seems that the central issue that creates a lack of union is that too many people want to be in control. As that old saying goes “too many chiefs and not enough Indians.”

Since the 1950’s the Inter-church Holiness Convention has been a blessing and a unifying force in the holiness movement, but at the same time it is not enough. Instead of being content to stay in our little corners we need to unite in some form of association where Bible Methodists, Pilgrim Holiness, Bible Holiness Allegany Wesleyan-Methodist, etc. can be equally represented and have one common voice so that we can collectively speak out against the evils in our society and create doctrinal statements that are based from the word of truth, that we can all agree on. Unity comes at a price, and no doubt some churches will be left behind, but it is a clear means by which we can have an impact as a movement on the broader social scale and collectively reach out to the loss in a more dynamic fashion.

Lack of Denial of Worldliness:

The second most pressing issue in the CHM of today is the bent toward worldliness that is beginning to surface in many of our denominations. People seem to no longer have the desire to “flee the wrath to come.” This may because of the extreme that preaching has went to, with little or no mention of Hell, as the place for all those who disregard God. Many times people in the CHM have a strong desire to begin to look like the world, act like the world and be entertained by what the world defines as such. It seems that, as a whole people just do not understand that what they are doing is wrong or that they are committing sin. This could be based on that people just do not understand what the Bible teaches. Disciplines and manuals give lists of rules and most of the people conclude that they are man made rules with no effect on their current living arrangement. Today’s members of the CHM need to here the basis for such things as: the glory of a women; jewelry; the dress address, entertainment question, etc.

As a whole the CHM is furthered away than its ancestors were in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It seems that in the march toward progress many of us of left God behind or have misconstrued our concept of God.

Doctrinal Divisions: Category 3 and 4 truths:

Throughout the past age, divisions amongst the CHM denominations have been greatly due to small differences in doctrinal statements, like divorce and remarriage. Different stances or emphasizes have kept our denominations disunited and splintering to smaller and smaller denominations and associations. Some denominations have split over the length of shirtsleeves and the height of a ladies’ shoe heel. It must be the goal of today’s generation not to remain divided over category 3 and 4 truths, which are a matter of interpretation rather than something to die for and are not worth slaying ecclesiastical blood. There are some doctrines worth fighting for and that can never be compromised on, like the doctrine of full-salvation, inspiration, the deity of Christ, etc. We cannot give up these important doctrines, but we can compromise on matters or preference and taste. Indeed we must if we want to ever be a successful driving force in the body of Christ.

The CHM can be successful in this new century, if they can create a common bond amongst our sister denominations and create a clear stance, lest we slip and become associated with the elements of the world. The unity of the CHM must come about by a more perfect union, whether in a denomination or an association. This can create a means by which common policies could be issued to aid in making a larger impact on society and its culture. This twenty-first century can be our century, where we can see affect church planting in the urban regions of the continent and unity in a disunited movement. There is hope for the future and that is what we must look to and work towards. As the scriptures say “where there is no unity, the people perish.”