A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

The following is an article over 26 years ago from an old elder that I thought I would post on her for discussion/comments/interest. Enjoy...

Holiness-Minded People

(E.L. Holley)

Without becoming proud and haughty, we must set our minds on things pure and holy! We are in the world, but we are not of it! Furthermore, we must get a firmer grip on the principles of holiness and its standards of life. Regardless of the cadence called out by those who advocate worldly steps, we must march to the beat of another Drummer – a high and holy One!

Several areas are under attack, and each of them a vital link in the chain of holiness. The premise behind it all is that holiness of life is not an outer display of standardized rules. To this, we all agree. But, that doesn’t alter the fact that true inner holiness will express itself in outer behavior, manner, dress, etc.

We hold some things to be self-evident. Among these is the proposition that the Holy Ghost baptized believer will abandon the mode of dress which accents sexuality. Clothing which immodestly exposes the body, either through the absence of material or the tightness of fit, has no place in the Christian wardrobe. Nor does artificial hair coloring or cosmetics. Of what purpose does such garb and make-up play in the role of a disciple of Jesus Christ? Are we not to project an image of our Maker? Why mar it by suggestive garments or stains, dyes, and paints?

Another area which can never be abandoned by holiness-minded people is our abstention from worldly sports. If we loosen our grip on the determination to refrain from participation in this whirlpool, we will drown in an ever-widening, ever-increasing vacuum of carnal involvement. One wave of involvement will be followed by another in the circle of justification, and the end result is not difficult to envision. We would become adherents to one of America’s most fanatical cults – the religion of sports.

Gambling has never been acceptable to holiness people. And gambling rarely begins with a trip to Las Vegas for the purpose of beating the games! Usually, it starts in a rather “harmless” way. Then it grows by leaps and bounds! Electronic devices, marble machines, cards, dice, the lottery – all have their lures for individuals. Where does putting a quarter in a “game of skill” end, and putting a quarter in a “game of chance” begin? How can we say “Blackjack” or “Poker” is a vice, but “Gin Rummy” isn’t? One thing is certain, we can never say it is all acceptable!

When we consider the end result of any activity, we must keep in memory that God saved us from a world gone astray. Our peace of mind, our very souls’ salvation is at stake. Should we ever re-activate in our lives those patterns of behavior and expression from which we were saved, we’ll find ourselves astray again.

Therefore, let’s re-affirm our conviction. We will never, never, never surrender our positions! We realize these points are not acceptable to the unregenerate world about us, but for those of us who were brought out of darkness into this marvelous light, these are the sincere expressions of an inner Spirit – One who says, “Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate....”

When unthinking people wade off into the depths of such activities or behavior, they are prone to feel “persecuted” by those who call them back to the shores of truth. God has ordained that we be reminded of eternal values as opposed to temporal pleasures (I Timothy 2:14; II Peter 1:12). Truth-loving people are always thankful for a clear note!

Without becoming proud or haughty, we must set our minds on things pure and holy. Let there be no compromise! [March 1982]

Compiled by, J.R. Ensey. The Best of E.L. Holley, Musings of a man of God, shared through the pages of the Apostolic Sentinel. Advance Ministries, 12391 Lyra Drive, Willis, TX 77378, (409) 856-3419.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Thank you, I really enjoyed reading something written by Brother Holley.
Very to the point.
Amen!

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

do you agree with the article?

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Yes I do.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

I'm sure you do. I was talking to the tiger. Roooaaar!

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

What an outstanding article!! I will print it for usage at my church. Simple, clear, concise and most importantly RIGHT!

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Bro. Holley was a gentleman and a man of God.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Unless you crossed him and were unafilliating your church from the UPC!

This article was more of good old time OP logic that you must ban everything because everything leads to something bad.

You can't play Monopoly with dice because the next thing you know you will be in Vegas playing Craps with a blonde hoochie mama at your elbow rooting you on!

I think the article speaks for itself. The ultra cons will revel in it's clarion call for cookie cutter corporate legalism layed down by a preacher modeled after the Old Testament Judges and Prophets rather than Jesus Christ's ministry on earth.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Two thoughts on this: From reading of Elder Holley's disdain for grooming i would have to assume he never shaved. That would have been maring what God gave man naturally.

And as for the clear note I don't thionk there has ever been a clear note on our pentecostal man made standards. Hardly have ever two church's ever agreed on the rules book of what's holiness and what's not.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

I just want to say that half the men who read the above quote thought: Can I skip the dice and just get the hoochie mama?

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Absolutely not! It is all part of that slippery slope. You must start at the top and slide to the bottom. No skipping the slide.:snapout

First the dice, then Vegas and Craps with the hoochie mama.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Ive always been a roulette man.

can my slippery slope start with playing marbles?

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

He starts with this sentence and then proceeds to make a laundry list (almost literally) of things that "we" don't wear or don't do.

A long list of don't is the only way that some peoples brains are wired to work.

So obviously pinball, arcade, crane games, and everything is out...... I wonder how many parking tickets he has received since the mere act of putting in a quarter in a device is now taboo? And parking meters take coins.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

I agree with some of the article.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

I am sure he told us his heart. I have heard he was a good man I did not know him.

I do not agree with every point in his article but what two people do agree on everything...I love my skip-bo cards... ha...

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

I am sure the further we live from the world the better off we are however I am thinking of a certain church that lost a lot of young people because they were so protected that when they faced the REAL OUTSIDE world they lost it!
I am not so much for christian schools....(guess that shocked you) but am not against them either...but I have seen some people that were too protected...and lost out for that very reason...
Now does that make sense? lol...I think I am talking in circles.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Nope...you are making good sense.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

No ma'am, you are making good sense. But our young people need a good foundation and grounding to face the world. It begins at home!

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Sister Alvear, I used to agree with you until the last few years.
Very soon in B.C. they will introduce legislation that will force teachers in public schools to teach alternative life styles to kids from K-Grade 12.

Not going to happen to my kids while I am living.

I am 110% for Christian schools now.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Oh great! Now you have gone and ruined it for the little kids in some ultra cons church whose pastor is reading this and now realizes the danger of kids playing with marbles!:tease

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Ron, a good christian school yes but some of the schools are not schools...

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

ALL my children went to public CATHOLIC schools and not one of them are catholic...they are all in church..some maybe more than others however they all know what it takes to be saved...THEY were taught at HOME...that is in accordance with the Bible...nothing can take the place of HOME.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

and when one of my boys brought home his science book that supported Darwin...my son told his teacher, Sir, you are going to have a hard time convincing my mother that she came from a monkey..."

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

I agree with both of you. I used to be opposed to Christian Schools and homeschooling except in extreme cases where kids would be going to horrible urban public schools.

However as Ron has pointed out there is absolute evil against the word of God being taught in public schools today.

Here in Tennessee about a year ago I heard the owner of a pre school center interviewed and she was livid because new state regulations were requiring her to bring up the subject of sexual abuse to pre Kindergartners who 99.9% rightly have no idea what sex is and this will sexualize them prematurely.

The curriculum required her to paint a scenario to the little kids where an uncle was touching them, etc. This planting things in their little minds they would have never thought of on their own.

In the public schools they are now introducing curriculum in many states that doesn't just ask for tolerance of homosexuality but teaches it as an appropriate normal lifestyle.

At this point I do think Christians are going to have to fight to change these inroads of evil into public schools and when the battles are lost move their kids to GOOD Christian Schools.

As you have pointed out though BAD Christian schools staffed by uneducated people are not the answer. There are good ones though.

The downside in my opinion is what you pointed out. That there is a danger of kids being raised so sheltered that when they do finally have to deal with the world it overwhelms them. The positive side of public schools in areas where they are still good is that they teach kids how to get along with people different than them and how to live out Christianity.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

There are horrible Christian schools. I agree. Then there are Christian schools that are not really Christian except for the sign over the door and the chapel service once a week. They are just baptized humanists. I would say most, not all, fit this description.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Oops - my bad, sorry. :)

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Generalization and not true.

My pastor has never preached against monopoly and I've never heard of an Apostolic preacher do so.

As the post shows, the article appeared in the Apostolic Sentinel.

As Paul in the NT says...

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The things that were written before (in the OT), were written for our learning - now in the NT :)

What things were written in the OT for our learning now? - whatsoever :)

In fact, Jesus preached from proverbs a few times.

I wonder how many times it is written in the NT - "as it is/was written"?

1Co 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Co 9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

Imagine that, the OT muzzling of an ox was written for our sakes now in the NT - Praise God!

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Things in the OT are - PRESENT TENSE - written for our admonition now in the NT - God is great!

Let's not toss out the OT, but realize that it was also written for us in the NT and also contains types/shadows/figures/patterns for us in the NT.

Glory to God.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

God also gave man hair which naturally grows, but man is to have short hair. Finger and toe nails grow naturally as well, but it doesn't mean we should just let nature takes it course now.

You know the interesting thing about the 12 tribes in the OT was that each one had its own unique characteristics and strengths but they were all the children of Israel and each tribe respected each other and they still had unity when they were in obedience to the word of God.

Isn't that interesting?

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

I didn't quite get his point with the OT reference, but I am sure he will make himself clear.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

How do you explain the divided kingdom, using the 12 tribes as your example?

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

1Co 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

I wonder what some modern idols are in today's age and I wonder if "time" is one of the things that gentiles/people who are lost now sacrifice unto their modern idols/devils?

But the people of God CANNOT have fellowship with devils and CANNOT drink the cup of devils and CANNOT be partakers of the table of devils.

Luk 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Luk 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

That which is HIGHLY ESTEEMED among men is ABOMINATION in the sight of God.

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Don't covet and love the things of this world and don't covet the things that the man of God in your life has preached against. Otherwise you might, like 2 Peter 2 describes, become like the false teachers among the Apostolics who bring in disunity by speaking evil of the way of truth, and through "coveteousness" - desiring things that you do not have and SHOULD NOT HAVE - and feigned words make merchandise of people. Who walk after the flesh and are not interested in crucifying their flesh with the affections and lusts thereof who despise leadership and are not afraid to speak evil of dignities and do not want to be lead by others but just want to do their own thing and whatsoever is right in their own eyes.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

God's people are NOT to be conformed to this world; if the world wants to get saved them let them conform to the word of God.

You can still be separate from the world and its idols and still try to love them - PEOPLE - and try to win them...

1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

What is the devils cup?

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Could it be that he was referring to playing craps with dice which involves gambling? If we examine the context, blackjack, and poker was mentioned. Even in the bible they cast lots and proverbs mentions that the lot causes contentions to cease.

While not all people may have experienced what I am about to describe among singles, i'm sure that "some" people can relate...holding hands leaders to hugging, hugging leads to kissing, kissing leads to...

This was in response to one poster saying words to the effect of living in the OT, etc.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

The bible describes why the kingdom split - Jeroboam rebelled against the God-given authority of Rehoboam. But even tho it split, the bible says that all those whose heart was to seek God, left Israel and they went to Judah. The priests and the levites also left Israel and went to Judah. Jeroboam kicked out God's ministry and substituted it after his own imagination. He forsook the old paths and created some new thing.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

I see. I'm still not making the connection to what was in the article, but it's probably just me.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

Some people think there should be NO dating. Just a couple living their lives as happy singles then suddenly showing up at church and meeting their betrothed for the first time.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

That's outrageous.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

the old paths,

As a child growing up in a conservative UPC church in the 60's and early 70's our pastor made us throw away any dice that game with board games and make spinners to take their place.

This was not uncommon. It was the same logic that says playing Uno is ok but not any card games with regular playing cards. The game I mentioned, Monopoly, was just incidental. My point was the banning of the dice. We had to make spinners for Monopoly and a host of other board games ( we played lots of board games because it got very cold in the winter in Alaska and being UPC we had no TV - LOL!!!)

I believe the fear was that the dice would feel so good in your hand playing that innocent board game that it was that slippery slope to gambling with dice. Same logic that says if you play gin rummy or war with regular playing cards you are on the slippery slope to playing in poker tournaments in Vegas.

You can doubt all this you want. I lived it. First hand. No second hand story here.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

I wonder if anyone who became addicted to gambling ever started out wanting to become addicted to gambling? The simple fact remains that some get addicted to gambling.

Now your strengths and weaknesses may not be my strengths and weaknesses, but we are NOT to put a stumbling block before another saint.

Also we are not to be under the power of any.

1Co 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Re: A Voice From the Past - E. L. Holley
 

True story - Years ago I was speaking to a Dean at one of the UPC Bible Colleges. He had just gotten back from a meeting for Deans of all of the UPC Bible Colleges.

One of the Deans told this story to the other Deans at the meeting. A wonderful godly young woman who had either been homeschooled or church schooled was a member of the freshman class of this Dean's Bibile School.

She came back from Thanksgiving break distraught and not herself. This continued for days with her looking like her best friend had died and that she was about to have a nervous breakdown.

Finally she asked to counsel with this dean. He agreed and was shocked when she confided in him that she was pregnant. He was shocked because she was the last person in the world he expected to hear this from. He ask her to explain what had happened.

She proceeded to tell him about going home for Thanksgiving and being asked out on a date by some guy. She continued the story until it ended with the boy french kissing her. The Dean was confused and asked some probing questions only to find out that was all that happened.

This woman was so sheltered that at the age of 18 or 19 she thought you could get pregmant from kissing!!!

Now obviously even for back then (20+ years ago) she was very much the exception to the rule but it is possible for kids to grow up so sheltered it hurts them more than helps them.

I know that this girls parents had all of the best intentions in sheltering her but they had done her a great disservice by not preparing her for life.