The Reason for a New Denomination

[Eric Frey]

In Called Unto Holiness Timothy Smith wrote:

Widney attempted to explain why a new denomination was required. The reason, he said, was that the machinery and the methods of the older churches had proved a hindrance to the work of evangelizing the poor (pp 110-111).

When I read that, I thought about the discussions here. A couple questions came to mind on the Eve of our centennial celebration.

1) Do we, after 100 years, find this to be a valid reason to leave a church and start another?

2) After only 100 years, it seems we are back to the original question. How do we make sure history doesn't repeat itself in the next 100 years?

3) In a Nazarene history class there was a debate about whether the founders' "sprint to evangelize the world" didn't become a great hinderance in the "marathon of time." When connecting organization to mission (as Widney did) how do we balance the need for deep and wide roots with the desire to grow a tall and expansive tree? Have we grown the tree faster than the roots? Are we well positioned to see our mission continue in both the new works of growth around the world and in the old roots?


Just some thoughts/obersvations. How do you respond to Widney's

[Scott Sherwood]

Your thoughts deserve a better response than I will have time to give. A couple things leap to mind.

1) I always struggle with what to make of the impulse to break free of old wineskins vs. the nagging curiosity of whether the Catholic church might have been reformed had the reformers stayed put (of course the Pope's use of capital punishment may answer that question.) Further, though, where would the Methodist church be if the holiness crowd and then the pentecostal crowd had gravitated toward the mothership instead of away?

2) On the other hand, God has long been in the business of raising up new peoples for Himself. John the Baptist said as much: "God can raise up new children for Abraham out of these rocks" (SUV) sherwood unauthorized version. He grabbed melchizedek out of nowhere. He found Noah. He found Abraham. He raised up Gentile leaders in the NT. Could it be that the exponential splintering of churches has as much to do with God raising up new peoples in new contexts as it does with a lack of unity among God's people?

3) I realize the first two thoughts are totally in contradiction to each other. I am coming to believe that this self-contradictory thinking is inherited. We, here, are mostly denominational loyalists looking to our founders to reclaim our identity only to find that they themselves were anything but denominational loyalists.

My head hurts, and I have to get to work. Thanks a lot Eric. :)

[Barb Bouldrey]

And have you noted what year that book was written? Dr. Smith made that statement in a book that he wrote over 40 years ago?


Whereas some may feel it is relevant today, I just wanted to note that this was not written recently.

Barb

[Barb Bouldrey]

Scott,

I just notice Bloomington First on your post. My mother-in-law lives at Fairbury, IL, just north of there. We were just in Fairbury last week. Maybe the next time we go to check on her we can have a NazNet lunch.

Barb

[Gina Stevenson]

Scott,

I just notice Bloomington First on your post. My mother-in-law lives at Fairbury, IL, just north of there. We were just in Fairbury last week. Maybe the next time we go to check on her we can have a NazNet lunch.

Barb

You just reminded me of a couple of people I've not seen in ages! There's also a Fairbury, NE ... which is where they moved to when they married long ago, to his g'dad's farm. ;)

[Mark Bolerjack]

Gina, I spent 4 years of my childhood in Falls City, NE, close to Fairbury. I think it was about 60 miles away. I have a lot of memories from Nebraska.

[Scott Sherwood]

Scott,

I just notice Bloomington First on your post. My mother-in-law lives at Fairbury, IL, just north of there. We were just in Fairbury last week. Maybe the next time we go to check on her we can have a NazNet lunch.

Barb

I would love that. My treat. Please let us know the next time you are in the area.