6 Part Entry: My Theology pt. 5 Doctrine of Sanctification

“Charis” is the Greek word meaning grace.  We find it in words like “charismatic” and “eucharist.” I think it’s important to start off this section with the word “grace.”  Essentially, this is because I don’t believe that anything in the area of sanctification can take place apart from grace.  Sanctification is entirely the result of cooperation with grace.  It is certainly a process that begins as progressive sanctification and ending with entire sanctification.

I am a firm believer in what is commonly referred to as the middle-way to entire sanctification.  This is to say that I believe that entire sanctification comes by a process of growth in grace and constant seeking on the part of the believer.  I don’t necessarily believe that only people over the age of 60 can be entirely sanctified, but I mean that this is not a process that takes place instantaneously or at a time of the choosing of the believer.  The Shorter Way just seems to lack so much, in my opinion.  I would like to think that my God can accomplish so much more and desires to accomplish so much more in the lives of Christians.  He can literally break the power of sin in our lives and re-orient us in love.  Love can be the normal and sin the exception in our lives.  People who have grown and matured in their relationship with Christ can be so much like him that they can live their lives daily in such a way that love in conveyed when they are not even aware of it.  They live that way because they are naturally loving.  These people don’t become that way because they simply decided, “Today is the day that I will be sanctified.”  They became sanctified entirely because they day-by-day walked with God cooperating with His grace with every step for years.  These are spiritual giants.  And they are even likely to not testify to being sanctified openly.  If they do, it is most likely in a small group setting or in private with one other person.

I am cautious to say that I outright agree with the articles of religion in the Wesleyan denomination.  The way that the Wesleyan denomination views entire sanctification describes it as a crisis moment in which a person is suddenly changed.  The walls of sin are broken down in a moment, and the individual is free from the power and stronghold of sin.  The denomination, though, does not denounce a progressive sanctification.  I believe that there is a moment that we can testify to where the Lord makes us sanctified, but I do believe that it is after a process of growth.  I believe that we will struggle through the process praying for the Lord to sanctify us and change our hearts, and He will do so eventually.  I believe in a momentary transformation, but, as I said, I believe it takes place after a journey.  Essentially, I do believe in a moment, but maybe not a crisis moment.  I can't deny that this can take place in one's life, and there are people who testify to that crisis moment.  I just do not believe it accurately describes the most common transformation.

A few examples of testimonies that differ would be those of Reverend David Vardaman, Professor Elaine Bernius, and Dr. Bud Bence.  Rev. Vardaman, according to my own observations, is a spiritual giant.  He displays self-control and a life of love on a daily basis.  He models sanctification to me.  He walks it and talks it.  He has never shared his testimony with me, but I hope to ask him about it in the near future.  Elaine Bernius does testify to sanctification and has told me personally what her experience was like.  For her, it was a crisis moment where the Lord suddenly sanctified her through and through while she was still in college.  In my optimism, I believe her account to be true, but doubt that it is the standard.  I do not see myself being ready for sanctification any time in the immediate future, and I am almost finished with college.  I certainly wish, though, that I could be sanctified tomorrow if I could.  Dr. Bence sat down with me once and explained his view.  It was much different.  He does not testify to entire sanctification.  He says that he has been searching for most of his life now and has not yet reached it.  He firmly believes in a longer way to sanctification.  I would most likely argue on behalf of the middle-way.