Wednesday, August 28, 2013

"If we affirm that the reality of what is known as “holiness” or “sanctification”—which we believe was faithfully preached by Wesley and his successors—transcends time and space, we must see it as a vital message to be passed to future generations. This is the challenge: to regain or recreate an ethos, a vision, and a distinctive spirituality as we attempt to articulate the doctrine of holiness in the next century. This is not a task, however, for one theologian or one preacher or one teacher." I have struggled with this as I work with young people. How do I teach them about this idea of Christian Perfection, that Jesus teaches to be "perfect"? How do we tell young people to seek to live their lives this way in the midst of all of their busyness, their (sometimes unrealistic) expectations that are set by them, their families, their teachers, or coaches? How do we tell kids who are constantly told that they are not good enough that God wants them to live a perfect and holy life? How do we show the love of Jesus, and have it translate into growth towards a holy lifestyle? This is certainly a task made out for the Church to engage in!