I was particularly struck by a self-designation a youth used recently. In describing their spiritual life, they described themself as "Not-conservative." A few clarifying remarks following make it clear that they were setting themselves as opposite to the Conservative Holiness Movement(CHM). They were not liberal. They were simply NOT conservative.
I sense a great danger in this position of belief, or not-belief, whichever form it may take. There has been, and is now, a great movement of "NOT-Conservatives." It is made up of those people coming out of the Conservative Holiness Movement. Most others would not even understand the term, not know why it should be so adamantly used. I have heard preachers in this movement take pains to use examples that set their teaching against the more disagreeable parts of the CHM. I have seen people in this movement distinguish themselves not by who they are, but by who they are not. And the whole great thing can take on the appearance of an exodus.
What is so horrible as to leave it behind, and to be so vocal about opposition to it? It is a cult? Is it a sinful group that must be abandoned? Is it a horrible influence, which has corrupted for generations? NO! It is none of these. In fact, it is absolutely 90% right, and perhaps only 1% wrong. The disagreeable elements are minor, and not earth-shaking. The CHM is still solidly Christian and definitely holiness. They simply have some extremities, that while not usually sinful, are not always necessary either. This is the Conservative that this new movement is "not."
What is the danger in the new movement? Is it a complete abandonment of all beliefs and practices? Is it a rebellion or a heresy? Is it a war, set out to destroy the CHM, to proselytize or destroy all opposing members? NO! It is none of these. The new movement is in fact, 90% correct, and perhaps only 1% wrong. They are solidly Christian and definitely holiness. What then, is ever so wrong or so dangerous?
The danger that I see and fear, is that this group has referred to themselves as "Not-conservative." Many have chosen to describe themselves according to what they are NOT, instead of who they ARE. This leaves the focus of the movement still completely on the CHM, which they claim to NOT be. I fear that if the movement continues with this designation, the next generation will complete it for them. Follow with me, if you will. This first generation still believes nearly all the same as the CHM, but with a few minor differences. However, they use the designation "NOT-Conservative" to distinguish where they have come from, and where they are not going back. The next generation, however, does not know history. All they know is that they are NOT conservative. As they look at their parents, they see their parents did a poor job at not being conservative. In order to not be conservative, they look at all the aspects of the CHM, and reject them ALL. In their effort to be "NOT-Conservative," they may in fact, become NOT-Christian.
The danger is the pendulum effect, which has been observed through generation after generation. Once something starts swinging away, it doesn't usually stop in the balance area of middle. It continues swinging, often straight into the opposite vice. This group is not correcting the course, or steering for the center. They are moving AWAY. The words opposite and away are key here. If they continue to base who they are by being NOT something else, there is nowhere to stop, no target to shoot at. Like escaping from a prison, there is nothing but running away from where one has been.
My recommendation to this group, which I greatly admire, is that their next inquisition is to remove all traces of "NOT-conservatism." By this, I do not mean to change any beliefs or practices. I simply mean to completely destroy all terminology, illustrations, and above all, attitudes that declare "We are NOT CHM!" That attitude is the seed of destruction. I urge that they discover who they are, and declare it strongly. Leave off defining yourself as who you are not. Stop making distinctions so clear. Stop focusing on where you have been. Point directly at who you are and where you are going. May there be no one who would write any more, "I am NOT conservative." But instead, may they write, "I am a holiness Christian." or "I am a middle-holiness Christian." Discover who you are. Define where you are going. Deliver the message to your people. Develop a new movement, which does not need to be declared "NOT-Conservative".
