The “Middle Way” and General Assembly 2023

Spirit baptism and the gift of languages

A second area where this General Assembly will weigh-in is the question of the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (See the 2017 Manual paragraph 925, which is coming up for renewal; see also resolution CA-711). The Church of the Nazarene emphasizes that the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of the believer is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). This includes Paul’s list of characteristics such as love, joy, peace, and patience.

Nazarene history is instructive and can guide us. Though our denominational name for a decade was the “Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene,” the General Assembly in 1919 dropped the word “Pentecostal” since it had come to be associated with the practice of groups spawned by the Azuza Street Revival (1906-1908). They believe that tongues speaking is the evidence of Spirit baptism. This controversial topic remains a live issue to this day, as the Church of the Nazarene expands around the world.

The course of study used in Africa by the Nazarene Theological Institute (NTI) examines the New Testament teaching on speaking in tongues (or languages), looking not only at the Acts of the Apostles, but the writings of Paul and Peter (see Romans 12:3-8, 1 Cor. 12-14, 1 Peter 4:10-11). As NTI Director, I was one of those involved editing its various courses, which were written by a team. In Christian Theology 2 (pp. 50-52), a Middle Way has been carefully steered between two extremes:

1) denying the gift of languages and other spiritual gifts altogether (as cessationists do), teaching that the spiritual gifts ceased after the first couple of centuries AD, and

2) Pentecostal and Charismatic understandings of glossolalia, or speaking in a heavenly language that must be interpreted in the church worship service.

The NTI class maintains that the gift of languages is the gift of human languages, as exemplified on the Day of Pentecost. Actual human languages were spoken, under divine unction, and for the purpose of communicating the Gospel. Following the hermeneutical principle that passages that are clear can illuminate passages that are less so, Acts 2 becomes the interpretive key to understanding the gift of languages as presented in Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 1 Peter.

Admittedly, this is a complex topic that hardly lends itself to summary in a few short paragraphs. Notably, the Wesleyan Church in its recent General Conference added language to its Discipline that allows for the Charismatic understanding of tongues as a spiritual gift of heavenly languages, requiring interpretation when used publicly. This is a significant development considering that the Wesleyan Church is one of our closest siblings theologically. Realizing how the gift of languages has been taught in the African Nazarene context for the past twenty-five years, especially in the theological education of our ministers there, it is hoped that the 2023 General Assembly will proceed with great caution as it looks again at the renewal or modification of Paragraph 925. The potential for confusion is significant and any change in our position made when considering resolution CA-711 should be done only after a thorough study by Nazarene theologians that represents a cross-section of the denomination coming from all world Regions.

Human Sexuality: Paragraph 31

Finally, human sexuality is a subject that continues to generate debate both outside and inside the Church of the Nazarene. The 2017 Manual for the first time brought together under one heading – Paragraph 31 – a statement that encompasses a number of matters related to human sexuality. Among these is the practice of polygamy, the taking of multiple spouses. Though there are numerous countries in Africa where polygamy (or, more precisely, polygyny – the taking of multiple wives) is allowed by law, African Nazarenes were among those who voted overwhelmingly at the 2017 General Assembly to approve the wording that forbids polygamy. Our African delegates were counter-cultural when they approved Paragraph 31. It was a bold move on their part, especially when polygamy has deep roots in the African context, particularly rural areas.

Now in 2023, it’s the turn of American and European delegates to be on the hot seat as they experience the growing tension between the prevailing cultural winds and our Nazarene stance as related to LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning) matters. Recently, a group of Nazarenes, including some ordained elders, has proposed that the denomination move to a “fully affirming” stance, which would allow the reception as members of practicing gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender individuals as well as permitting Nazarene clergy to officiate weddings between two members of the same sex. (See their website at lovingnazarenes.com). This progressive position may be considered one end of the spectrum, as we identify the parameters of a Middle Way. Importantly, no resolution pending for the June 2023 General Assembly has been proposed, seeking to nullify Paragraph 31, and thereby making the denomination fully affirming.

On the other hand, the opposite side of the spectrum, a very conservative approach, does figure in the resolutions pending before the General Assembly. Resolution CA-705 would remove much of the language from Paragraph 31 that is gracious, inserting at several points affirmations that same-sex intimacy is sin. To be sure, Paragaph 31 is already crystal clear that all practices it mentions are out-of-bounds, yet curiously, no similar statements saying “this is sin” are recommended for any of the other behaviors prohibited by Paragraph 31. The effect of the proposed change is to imply that other types of sexual transgressions are bad, but this particular one is really bad. This is a step backwards, reverting to the tenor of earlier pre-2017 Manual language to single out for special correction those who practice homosexuality.

One of the reasons that a commission was set up in 2013 was to rectify this unbalanced treatment in Manual statements, highlighting one category of offenders – one that may include slightly more than 7% of Americans who identify as LGBT – while paying less attention to the other 93%. The revised Manual statement, carefully crafted by an international working group, resulted in what we now know as Paragraph 31. It steers a Middle Way between what the “Loving Nazarenes” website proposes and what the Kentucky District’s Resolution CA-705 would accomplish.

Since its appearance in 2017, Paragraph 31 has been well-received by many Nazarene congregations, and Nazarene pastors have gone on record via social media to say that the statement is coherent, loving, and worth maintaining. Some churches, such as Trinity Midtown Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, Missouri, led by pastors Andy and Sarah McGee, have embraced the statement as providing a helpful context for compassionate ministry in the LGBTQ+ community. Notably, a recent statement from Dr. Jeren Rowell, President of Nazarene Theological Seminary, supports leaving Paragraph 31 alone. Like Rowell, I think we should exercise great caution before deciding to water down a mediating statement that – while it can never satisfy everyone – has already proven itself useful in keeping the Church of the Nazarene as united as possible in her mission. At the same time, we have always believed that when we follow the light we have, God will give us more light. Let us remain open-minded and openhearted to further studies that incorporate a careful study of Scripture, as illuminated by reason, tradition, and experience.*

Conclusion

General Assembly 2023 is here. Baptism, the gift of languages, and human sexuality are just three of the important issues delegates are discussing. Avoiding ditches on the left and right, let us steer instead a Middle Way. Let us respond to the call to prayer recently broadcast by the Board of General Superintendents, asking the Holy Spirit to visit the General Assembly in a powerful way. May God grant our delegates and all of us wisdom as together we move with unity and confidence into a hopeful future.

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*For further reading, see Justin Lee, Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays vs. Christian Debate (New York: Jericho Books, 2012) and Robert Gagnon, The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Text and Hermeneutics (Nashville: Abingdon, 2001). The literature on this topic is vast, and Google searches will turn up other books and articles. The two cited above represent (respectively) the affirming position and the traditional perspective regarding homosexual practice and the Christian.

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Images

Balance – From Miloš Jurišić, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dove – User:Manfreeed, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Male/Female symbol – twitter, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons