The 20TH Biennial Missionary Church General Conference held at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana July 13-17, 2009 is now history and could well be considered historic both for what did and did not transpire.
Prior to the General Conference some were anticipating at the least an “interesting debate” and “perhaps even explosive fireworks…when the proposed language changes on sanctification for the Constitution” came to the floor.
In my last article on the We Were Frogs page entitled “Before We Vote” I asked four questions regarding the proposed changes to the historic doctrinal position of the Missionary Church. They were:
1. Do the recommended changes strengthen our historic position on the doctrine of sanctification and the filling of the Holy Spirit?
2. Do we still believe that sanctification is the will of God?
3. Do we still believe that sanctification is provided for in the atonement?
4. Do we still believe in a crisis experience subsequent to regeneration in which the believer is to be perfected in holiness?
To the great relief of many, the first four sentences of Article IV.A.4.d. Salvation: Sanctification and Filling with the Holy Spirit were maintained which reads: “d. Sanctification and Filling with the Holy Spirit. We believe that sanctification is the work of God in making people holy. It is the will of God. It is provided in the atonement, and is experienced through faith by the operation of the Holy Spirit through the Word and the blood.” (The Doctrinal Commission reported that those sentences were inadvertently dropped from the new proposed statement.) Thus the three questions 1, 2 and 3 as stated above were positively and importantly affirmed.
With those four sentences preserved, question 4 above, on whether or not the Missionary Church would retain language that clearly defines sanctification as an either a “crisis experience” or “decisive experience” subsequent to conversion was yet to be addressed.
Believing that the Missionary Church was facing a both a significant and defining moment with regards to its historic position on the doctrine of Sanctification and Filling with the Holy Spirit, at the Thursday morning business session, I presented the following statement and amendment:
“Some years ago, J. Robertson McQuilkin, then professor and now President emeritus of Columbia International University in South Carolina, made a noteworthy study. Providing a questionnaire, he polled 5,000 students. His respondents attended Bob Jones University, Biola University, Columbia International University, Prairie Bible College, Providence Bible College and Wheaton College. All these schools will be recognized as representing an evangelical tradition, which is non-Wesleyan in their orientation.
The questionnaire investigated a student’s conversion, service call, and deeper life experience.
…Out of the 5,000 students questioned, 90 per cent stated that they had received a second crisis experience, which they variously called “surrender,” a life of “victory,” the second work of grace,” the second blessing,” or “the baptism with the Spirit.”
In his book Dwell Deep. J. E. Ramseyer one of the founders of the Missionary Church and of Fort Wayne Bible College tells the story of a woman who received the assurance of forgiveness of sins at the age of 86. Four years later he relates and I quote: “Jesus baptized (her) with the Holy Spirit.”
Said Ramseyer, “If I had not believed in the baptism with the Holy Spirit as a definite experience subsequent to the new birth, I would have been fully convinced by the ringing testimony of this saintly old mother.” “This precious sister,” wrote Ramseyer, “ got the experience before she got the doctrine. Many, “ he said, “have the doctrine but are lacking the experience.”
The first camp meeting ever held by another one of the founders of the Missionary Church, Daniel Brenneman began on July 30, 1880 in Fetter’s Grove south of Elkhart, IN. In that camp meeting Daniel Brenneman would report in the Gospel Banner that “many entered into the higher life or blessed state of sanctification.”
Dr. J. A. Huffman in his book “The History of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church” wrote: “The theory of sanctification, as a definite work of grace subsequent to regeneration, came to be accepted quite generally throughout the church by 1880. When preaching of the theory of sanctification was begun, there were those throughout the conferences who testified to having entered into the experience without having known the theory of it.”
If Dr. Quinton J. Everest, after whom this very chapel is named, were here today, there is no doubt that he would say, and I quote: “We must conclude…from the Word of God and from experience that subsequent to conversion, there is need of a further work in the heart. This need, as I have stated, is an inner sanctifying. It is a cleansing, co-instantaneous with cleansing, there is the infilling with the Holy Spirit.”
These three former leaders of the Missionary Church used the term “subsequent to regeneration” not because they were misguided men who were “allowing tradition and historical precedent to trump Scripture.” On the contrary, they did so because they each, by their own unique testimony, had personally yielded to the convicting and convincing power of the Holy Spirit who had cleansed their own hearts subsequent to regeneration with His sanctifying power. In so doing they linked heart and head not only with scores of Biblical scholars of their day but with the majority of the early church fathers such as Cyprian, The Bishop of Carthage: Origen, the father of bible interpretation: Tertullian, the chief of the Latin apologists: Clement of Alexandria: and Polycarp, who was a disciple of the apostle John, just to name a few.
Furthermore, I would suggest that they simply shared the testimony of not only tens of thousands of sanctified believers throughout the centuries, but the testimony as well of more than a few of us in this room today.
For that reason, Mr. Chairman, I offer the following amendment to the proposed Article IV.A.4.d: I move that in the sentence that reads: “Furthermore, through a decisive experience…” the word subsequent be added after the word “a” and before the word “decisive” thus reading: “Further, through a subsequent decisive experience…” Though the wording of the new proposed doctrinal statement is descriptive of a subsequent experience, it is not definitive of a subsequent experience.”
Thank you Mr. Chairman.”
After one supporting comment from the floor, no one rose in opposition to the amendment! On voice vote, the amendment was overwhelmingly passed.
After a short period of discussion on the conference floor, the amended motion which follows was voted upon: “d. Sanctification and Filling with the Holy Spirit. While the divine work of making people holy begins at conversion, believers must surrender to the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying power in their lives as they battle the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Furthermore, through a subsequent decisive experience, believers are to deny self, be purified in heart, and be filled with the Holy Spirit that they may be separated wholly unto God to serve Him in righteousness and holiness. Their progressive growth in Christ-likeness will be accelerated and deepened through continually submitting to His Lordship in every aspect of life until they are called to heaven. Ps. 4:3; Matt. 16:24; John 17:17; Acts 15:8-9; Rom. 6:19 and 22, 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 7:1; Gal. 2:20, 6:14; Eph. 5:26, Col. 3:3; 1 Thess. 4:3, 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 12:14; 13:12; 1 Pet. 1:2 and 15-16; 2 Pet. 3:18, 1 John 5:6"
By more than a 5 to 1 margin, the conference adopted the new doctrinal statement on Sanctification and the Filling with the Holy Spirit!
No rancorous debate, no explosive fireworks! By a strong, firm, decisive vote, the 20TH Biennial Missionary Church General Conference affirmed its historic stand regarding the doctrine of Sanctification and the Filling with the Holy Spirit.
It is now our responsibility to embrace the doctrine with passion, teach it with clarity, preach it with certainty, and live it with unswerving commitment.
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