VOICES: Commissioner Israel Gaither

With this posting, I’m starting what’ll be an occasional series that I’m simply calling “Voices.” Randomly sprinkled in between other postings on this site, Voices will consist of a quote or excerpt that I’ve collected over the years for a wide range of reasons. Some I’ve found to be insightful, while others are convicting. Sometimes they’re stirring, or disturbing: insightful or encouraging…whatever. Who knows – maybe you’ll find them equally moving to you.

For me, a good quote has power. Now sometimes this power comes as a result of their communicator carefully crafting his/her words, cherry-picking just the right ones and honing them to a fine point. Other times, a quote’s power doesn’t come from this kind of intentional “word-smithing,” but rather from the passion of the moment or circumstance. The context gives it power. There are also some outstanding quotes that come as plain-spoken, down-home, common sense or country wisdom. In any case, I find that a good quote has an impact that’s hard to ignore.

While I will probably offer some sort of setup to the quote/excerpt – that context thing I mentioned above – it’s my intention to let them stand completely on their own; they say what they say. Me adding my two-cents’ worth would only take away from the force of their message. But you, on the other hand, are more than welcomed to weigh-in with your own insight and comment. I’d love to hear your take on the quote.

Let’s start with a short one from Commissioner Israel Gaither – one of our most outstanding communicators – from a talk he gave last summer (2008) at the Old Orchard Beach Camp Meeting, up in Maine.

Speaking to a packed house of Salvationists, the Commissioner said,

“We can no longer risk spiritually dead corps. We can’t have dead social centers. We can’t have dead headquarters. We can’t have dead Salvationists anywhere.”

Wow…! Lined up right in the crosshairs with nowhere to turn!

What do you say to that?!

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis

...so how do you feel 'bout death?

Let's talk about death for a moment (how's that for a catchy way to grab your attention and start this post?). The fact that most folks are not terribly eager to die isn't exactly new information, right? The "fight or flight" instinct for self-preservation that comes as standard equipment inside all of us causes people to do whatever is necessary -- or possible -- to protect our lives. While there are very sad exceptions, most folks generally steer clear of situations that will put their lives at serious risk. And in those rare circumstances when people do come face-to-face with the liklihood of what they would consider a pre-mature death -- say an encounter with an armed robber, or a mugger with a knife, or some other weapon -- it's very common for the person to plead, bargain, or beg for their lives to be spared.

This is another one of those cases where we find a parallel between our physical lives and our spiritual lives.

What am I talking about...? I'm talking about what happens in the inner man when our sin nature sees the very real prospect of it's death.

Let me try to set this up... But to do that, I have to step back to my March 6 posting (below), where I offered this thought:

Once God has shown you those things you've always thought of as just some innocent little habit (c'mon...no big deal, right?) or what you might label an occasionally inconvenient behavior that you've simply learned to live with (I've always been that way...), you've got to kill it! Not cage it, chain it up, tie it down, or lock it away. You've got to drag it kicking and screaming to the altar and kill it dead!

From there I tossed out a couple of verses that drive this point home far better than I could hope to on my own. They're definitely worth repeating:

Romans 8:13
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die;
but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,
you will live...

Colossians 3:5
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature...

And here's another one for good measure...

Galatians 5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature
with its passions and desires.

Now here's the point...

Our inner sin nature -- the very thing the Bible clearly tells us to "crucify," and "put to death" -- is like a person who learns they're about to be executed. It tries anything and everything to escape the death sentence. When its faced with any threat to its life or well-being, the sin nature inside us will scream, and fight; it'll try to wiggle out of it, or dodge the bullet; it'll beg, bargain, plead, promise to behave, anything....! If only we'll let it live!

Adjutant Kate Lee -- the "Angel Adjutant" -- went head-to-head with this very thing in her own quest for a holy life. In the January 1917 issue of The Officer, she testified how this exact life and death struggle went on in her soul in an article simply titled, My Personal Experience of Full Salvation.

Here's how she described what we've been talking about (the emphasized sections are mine):

“…God in His love and pity came to my heart; gave me a revelation. He not only showed me myself and my sin, but showed me my need. I needed something, and as I sat in a holiness meeting I realized that need was sanctification. For months the word sanctification was to me a heavy burden; a torture. I could not really grasp its meaning. I read and re-read the theory of sanctification, going from one authority on the subject to another, only to turn away still more puzzled. I then set myself to seek publicly and was several times found at the holiness table, pleading for the blessing that I failed to understand. Again and again I came to the altar, and, as far as I understood, laid my all there. But as soon as the test came, without realizing that I did it, I took from off the altar the sin I had laid there, or the gifts that I had surrendered to God.

“This is where I failed many times, and during my officership. I have found scores of other souls who have failed on this very point. They come sincerely to the altar, definitely laying their gift there, a living sacrifice; but when the knife is felt, the realization of the dying comes upon them as they feel the hurt and understand fully what it means, they shrink and draw back. Abram's experience, related in Genesis 15, has been a great help to me. He had to wait for the fire. He prayed all day, even until eventide, and then the birds of prey came down; but he stood by the sacrifice and drove them off. Then the fire came and consumed the sacrifice.

“That was just the point to which I had to get. I had laid my all on the altar, but then I had to wait for the fire. Meanwhile, the birds of doubt, fear, and discouragement came flying around. I had to get up again and again to drive them off, and hold on to God.

“Fresh light came; a new path opened up. The laying of self on the altar meant following God fully and showing my colours everywhere. Could I do it? It was hard to die to self, and say, 'Yes, Lord.' But as I said it, I felt I was accepted, and afterwards, when I carried out that vow, joy flooded my soul and I realized that the Spirit of the Lord was upon me. The desire to sin was removed, and my heart yearned to be kept pure and clean."

Can you relate to her struggle? Have you ever laid your sin nature on the altar -- a place of death, I might add -- only to snatch it back as you felt the edge of the Holy Spirit's knife?

Listen to me... Either your hunger for holiness will bring you to the point of sacrificing the sin that shackles your soul and holds you back from spiritual power and genuine Christlikeness, or the sin nature will so convince you that it is untouchable and unconquerable that your desire to life in holiness will shrivel and die. Bottom line...? One way or another, something's going to die.

What'll it be for you, I wonder?

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot...!

Willis

"Holiness: Missed It By THAT Much"

As a kid, I enjoyed watching the old 1960's sitcom, Get Smart. You know, the one with the bumbling secret agent, Maxwell Smart (a.k.a Agent 86, for all you CONTROL agents out there), who would somehow always win out over the bad guys -- usually the agents from the villainous CHAOS organization, who were always bent on taking over the world. Thanks for keeping us free, Max!

But in his wacky, slapstick fashion -- as could only have been written by Mel Brooks -- he would inevitably screw up, or make a mess of things, only to look at the camera and say, "Missed it by THAT much!"

When it comes to holiness, I wonder how many folks miss out on the blessing because they're looking for the wrong thing. Rather than focusing on "What do I have to deal with in the depths of my own heart, soul, and nature?" they're looking for a formula (do these 5 things, then turn around 3 times and click your heels while saying, "there's no place like home, there's no place like home...") which will somehow deliver an experience -- a tingly, metaphysical, hocus-pocus, light-from-heaven-shining-down-while-angel-voices-sing kind of thing. Like Max, people looking for that sort Holy Ghost emotional thrill ride have "...missed it by THAT much."

You see, too many are hoping for God to sanctify them -- to make their hearts clean -- without any interest or willingness in surrender on their part. Wanting a kind of a have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too relationship with the sin that's still in their heart, they'd opt to perform their way into the blessing, if they could. They'd be willing to give more, or do more, or fulfill some pre-arranged list of requirements rather than have to come to grips with self-related issues of the heart.

That pesky little point is where people often times wind up missing out on what God would bless them with.

How about you...? Have you ever let go of what you might consider to be "acceptable sins?" You know, those annoying little slips of the tongue that you wind up apologizing for, the flare of temper that you try to keep in check, the presence of pride that shows up at awkward times, the selfishness you really hope you've kept hidden, the way you rationalize what you watch or look at... I think you get the idea and can come up with your own list, right?

If by some chance you have a problem putting your finger on any "harmless" little ol' sin area that you might have kept around and cuddled up to, here's a tip -- ask God to show you what He sees; to show you any areas that still need addressing and cleaning.

Now here's where the price tag gets too high for some: Once God has shown you those things you've always thought of as just some innocent little habit (c'mon...no big deal, right?) or what you might label an occasionally inconvenient behavior that you've simply learned to live with (I've always been that way...), you've got to kill it! Not cage it, chain it up, tie it down, or lock it away. You've got to drag it kicking and screaming to the altar and kill it dead!

"Gee, Howell, a little extreme, don't you think?"

Yeah, I guess it is. But God's the One saying that's what it takes. Check it out for yourself:

Rom 8:13

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die;

but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,

you will live...

Col 3:5

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature...

So to any of you really interested in holiness (which the Bible describes pretty clearly as a must-have requirement for anyone who would "...see the Lord."), know that it comes with a price -- death to some habits, lifestyles, desires, and behaviors that you've probably become cozy with. But trust me on this...the life of holiness God gives you in return for the death of those old leeches that sucked spiritual life and vitality out of you will more than make up for anything you think you've lost.

So whaddya say...? You up for it?

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot...!

Willis

Wisdom from Otis

Major Otis Street was one of those officers who left his mark on every life he touched. Though he's in heaven now, while he was here among us he ignited a passion for the possible in countless people. I think he saw what people might be -- the potential within. His enthusiasm was infectious, and his joyful spirit contagious. He loved the Lord, and loved serving Him through the Army equally as much.

It was during his funeral a few years ago that I picked up this little phrase of his -- this "Otis-ism:"

"Get up, put your uniform on, and go do something!"

Let me tell you, that's good counsel from a classic warrior-saint of God, whose life, mission, and incredible results reflected that simple, uncomplicated statement.

I'm simple enough to believe it'll still make a difference in this day and age.

Are you up to the challenge? Why not try and see!

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot...!

Willis

Looks Pretty (but doesn't last)

See... We do get snow occasionally in Atlanta! And it sure looks nice here at the EBC.

got holiness?

For the last week, I've been mulling over some of the pages and pages of notes I took at our recent Holiness Conference here at the Evangeline Booth College. With Dr. Bill Ury, of the Wesley Biblical Seminary as our guest, we all had an incredible time of study, and deeper exploration of the doctrine anad life of holiness!

It's probably no surprise to you that the subject of holiness isn't a terribly popular one in most church circles. It's just not "jazzy" enough. Not one of the "trends du jour" in church-world. Oh, we'll wrestle and wrangle over shadow issues like music styles, standing vs. sitting for Scripture reading, and the merits or shortcomings of terms such as "seeker-sensitive." But when it comes to foundational, substance issues such as holiness of heart -- what can we or can't we expect the Spirit of God to do in our hearts -- well, we find all kinds of reasons to push it aside in favor of more popular matters.

As he spoke to us, Bill Ury observed:

"We like to complicate holiness, because if something is complicated, we can't really be expected to be held to it."

Man, doesn't that ring with truth?

For some reason, we've got holiness as complicated as rocket science! But check out how Commissioner Brengle lays it out as simply as possible:

“We do not say that it is not possible to sin, but we do say that it is possible not to sin.”

That's the point! Through the power of the Holy Spirit it is actually possible for the Christian to not sin and to live a holy life!

During one of his teachings, Bill Ury told about a Camp Meeting he had been preaching at and doing his best to get across the idea of holiness. After he had given it all he had, he told how a simple missionary lady from Mexico came to the stage to give her testimony. Part of her testimony included this question (I thought this was great...!). In her quiet, understated way, she asked the crowd, "What sin do you have to commit today?"

Exactly!!

And not only have we complicated the simple truth of holiness, we've also given it some bad press. In the minds of most, "holiness" conjures up images of some pretty severe-looking folks (like Charles Finney, pictured here). Joyless, somber faces, women's hair in a tight bun, and rigid lists of do's-and-don'ts. Holy cow...! With such a negative image, it's no wonder that holiness is misunderstood and neglected in the church.

Sadly, the problem's not just with other churches. Holiness isn't doing a whole lot better in Army circles.

General Clifton lines up this sad fact in his crosshairs in the first chapter of his book, New Love. He writes:

"The greatest threat of all today for Salvationism is a perceptable neglect of holiness teaching (the emphasis is Clifton's). Left unchecked, this has the potential to undermine Salvationism right at its very heart. We are less surefooted about it tan once we were. William Booth used to say there are few subjects of which we more frequently speak, or in which we more truly glory than that of holiness of heart and life. Is this still so? No, it is not... The blessing of a clean heart is no longer spoken about or witnessed to. Many (most?) Salvationists today would simply not know what we mean by the phrase, 'the blessing of a clean heart.'"

So how about you...? Do you know what the phrase means? Better still, do you know the experience of a clean heart -- a holy life? You can, you know... Just talk to God about it, and listen to what He has to say in His Word, and to your heart. He's the One who made it all possible.

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot...!

Willis