Amidst the reality that Postmodernism is based upon the Existential philosophy, it is interesting to note that there are certain basics that seem to control churches that have joined this movement. To use the term “basics” or “principles” is an enigma for an existential church era that does not know where it is headed. The gurus for the Emerging Church movement have often viewed themselves as a Christopher Columbus with an unchartered course and an unknown future. They truly believe the global church must conform to the beliefs of the secular Postmodern Era. …

In the last issue of Straightway, we presented the sobering reality that the Institutional Church of Western Civilization has now entered a “post” modernity having departed from the era of the “modern” church. The modern era began during seventeenth-century Rationalism and its by-product, the Enlightenment. It was an age where man looked within himself, drawing from reason and believing this was all that was necessary in order to live. Thus man, through his reason, was projected as being the measure of all things, needing no God and no revelation from God. …

It is that time of the year when the controversy over the celebration of Christmas arises from the ashes of history and tradition, often leaving a not-so-christmasy spirit in its wake. Sometimes the controversy is so pressed by a few individuals that it is made to be a fundamental doctrine of the Christian Faith, causing a breakage of fellowship among the brethren and engendering bitterness within the Body of Christ. It reminds us of the 1700s, when a variety of strong theological voices, which at times produced adamant and boisterous debates over theological matters, brought great animosity, hatred, and strife. …

During the early 1800’s as America passed from the blessings of the Second Great Awakening, a movement called Liberalism emerged out of the European Enlightenment birthing the “modern” era of Western Civilization. Born within the theological world of Protestantism in Germany, Liberalism began to pervade all of Western society’s Christianity. This openly antichrist, anti-God movement from within Christianity denounced the literality of the Scriptures and basically rejected all the cardinal doctrines of the historic Christian Faith. Not only were all the miracles of the Bible defamed as myths, but also the historicity of Jesus was strongly condemned. …

Callings in Scripture appear in a number of unique and specific contexts covering the lifetime of a Christian. There is the calling to God-consciousness that comes to a child early in life, gently echoing through a variety of circumstances appointed of the Lord. A definite call to “Come unto Me” is that calling which brings the soul to the threshold of the New Birth. As the Christian continues in his or her walk with God, there will be the commanding call, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (I Thessalonians 4:7). The Scriptures also declare callings to specific ministries for one’s life; these may include callings to be a pastor, preacher, teacher, missionary, or evangelist. …

The spiritual and theological path from the dead sinner to the walking saint, and on into heaven, is marked by at least seven progressive steps in the doctrine of sanctification. They are: potential sanctification (John 17:17); positional sanctification (I Corinthians 1:2); experiential (crisis) sanctification (Romans 6:1-14); expansional (growth) sanctification (Romans 8:1-5); perfectional (maturity) sanctification (I Thessalonians 5:23); glorificational (in heaven) sanctification (Revelation 22:11); and eternal sanctification throughout the Eternal Golden Age (Revelation 4:8).

The three dangers remain: to neglect the biblical teaching of sanctification, entirely; to legalize the biblical teaching of sanctification, self-righteously; or to avoid the biblical teaching of sanctification, licentiously. But to live the hope of the Christian life without the holiness of God would lead to a wretched wallowing and in the despair of Romans, chapter seven. …

There is a total picture of holiness through the prisms of light granted to us through this revelation from God. And we are witnessing a fading of these facts in our time as cheap grace is preached and easy believism is proposed.

Yet, sanctification extends, through redemption, a separation from sin and apostasy; a cleansing and purifying; and an enablement by the grace of God; that leads to consecration; that results in godliness; that matures in Christian character. This is what is implied in the separation from the world, the flesh, and the devil; this is what is meant by the fact that God's people are different. …

The biblical doctrine of sanctification is both the most neglected and the most misunderstood doctrine of the Christian life. However, it must be honorably taught if we are to consider ourselves upholding the fundamental teachings of the Holy Scriptures. If it is neglected then the Christian convert is left marooned on the island of evangelism; if it is misunderstood then it will hinder the hope of revival among the saints. No doctrine has suffered more at the hands of the believers identified with Christianity in spite of the fact that this necessary and precious teaching must become the experimental doctrine of the church, having presupposed the appropriation by faith, of the fundamentals of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. …