Well, the attempt at true, real realism is slow in coming to fruition; again, eventually I intend to scan images of handwritten entries for any of this frivolous blog-writing. It's a long story that isn't the least bit interesting here. In any case, something in heart/mind/soul clicked for me near the end of these week-long seminar classes (this latter class dealing with the Thessalonian correspondence).
Inspired by the love, fortitude, and patience of my dear patron, I continue to play out bridgework in my head and seek doorways, looking for the small ways to allow the doors to open a few inches wider - or at least looking to slide something under the closed doors. There is already a hushed-up, steady trickle of Nazarenes who are being reconciled to the Church, generally without any Catholic 'evangelism', and there is promise of the floodgates gradually bursting in some way at some point. I'm in the process of writing a little booklet (with all the other writing projects) that helps build a bridge and perhaps hint at why so many Nazarenes so easily find a home in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
To keep it concise here, I have noticed a stark contrast in Nazarene holiness theology with that of most other protestant holiness theologies (or lack of such a disciplined, dogmatic theology thereof). Nazarene holiness theology does affirm and dogmatically defend something that the vast majority of protestant 'ecclesial communities' deny and repudiate. Namely, the Nazarene denomination affirms and defends the biblical notion that real, complete purification from the power of sin is an authentic possibility and reality in the present life. While many protestant denominations/groups want to keep things simple and disparate in a sort of neo-Gnosticism that denies any escape from sin 'in this present physical life', the Nazarene denomination at least goes so far as to uphold and teach its doctrine of entire sanctification.
Now, even this Nazarene belief ultimately plays itself out in various ways that (*left to themselves*) are simplistic, incomplete, and unhelpful; however, it is indeed notable and beautiful that the Nazarene denomination has protected and dogmatised a foothold that most other protestant groups have altogether missed, ignored, or squashed. This reveals itself to be an important foothold as it begins to colour one's understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Incarnation. Protestantism in general has sustained a fetish for pushing God back into His kingdom of heaven, a penchant for avoiding the actual nasty details of Holy Scripture (e.g. the Great Commission, Paul's view of sanctification, etc.), almost reluctantly noting the humanity of our Lord, and celebrating His eventual return, but forcefully and bitterly rejecting any image of Christ or the Kingdom *beginning to be incarnated in our midst even now.* It seems to me that this is a sort of inherited distaste for the Catholic view of the Church as the literal Body of Christ, the Catholic view of Sacrament, etc. It is such a bitter distaste that it even ironically rejects what our Lord Jesus Christ had to say about the matter, as recorded in Holy Scripture.
In any case, while other protestant groups seal themselves off, the Nazarene denomination allows room for belief that God can and does presently break into our world in a real, meaningful way. In Catholic hindsight, I can see that the Article of Faith entitled 'Entire Sanctification' might as well be called something like 'The Sacrament of Confirmation Lite,' because the Catholic Sacrament actually embodies and completes what the Wesleyan wanderings hungrily and openly seek. Of course, it is much more technical than that (Wesley fixed dogma inside of charisma instead of vice-versa), but my point is clear. The point is that Nazarenes have acknowledged this reality.
The case can best be made by a case-in-point - an actual, particular embodiment. As a Nazarene, I desired to please God. I desired to love the LORD our God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, to be truly holy as the LORD our God is holy. I cast my lots with the Nazarene denomination because it spoke of the hope of a real holiness; I sought this authentic, real holiness. What I ended up discovering is that in order to be the most pleasing Christian/Nazarene to God, I must be a Catholic, because Nazarene denomination derives any substance or grace from a lingering Presence outside the denomination. The hunger and thirst for real righteousness is a good hunger and thirst, and that hunger and thirst for Real Holiness finds its ultimate fulfilment in kneeling at the altar at the feet of the Real Presence.
(Lord, we are not worthy to receive Thee, but only say the word and we shall be healed.)
-r
