Why I like the holiness people - Written in 1903

[holinesspk]

I found this a couple of years ago. I found this very interesting. Thought I would post this to see what you guys think............


Why I Like the Holiness People
By: John B. Culpepper
Published in the Holiness Advocate, N.C.
August 15, 1903

I like their aim. They aim high. If they miss, nevertheless, they have scored one good point.
They are uncompromising.
They are against Sin and Wrong, including Sunday Trains, Tobacco, Secular Newspapers, the Honkytonks and Taverns, Motion Pictures, Theatres, Sunday Cooking, Sunday gossip, and other uncleanness.
They are Prohibitionists, almost to a man.
They are agitators.
They make and distribute tracts.
They circulate books.
They have a catching sort of degree of spirituality.
They are in for everything that is good.
They say amen out loud.
They shout as I feel.
They [root] for a fellow while he is preaching.
They all dress like one would expect a child of God to dress.
If the load is heavy, they all jump out and push.
Wherever you meet one, he is already organized and ready for work.
If they are scared, they pray and shout, and work and move, so that it can't be detected.
They always want to dig deeper, climb higher and know and do more.
They are long-winded in the closet, and nearly out of breath in a testimony service.
Every one of them will pray if you call on them, and if the fuse seems damp, they will pray, call or no call.
They are God's globe-trotters.
They don't ask how many are the enemy, but where are they?
They can shout in the cemetery.
They actually use the Bible in their work.
They will go to China or Africa as cheerfully as to the market.
It is not a money question with them.
They know the Holy Spirit.
They love you hard.
Their experience throws up a highway I'd like to die on.
They've come to stay.
They are unpopular with dirt, dignity, and the devil.
They are not in ruts.
They cry and run as if they had jumped the fox. That makes me spur on in the chase.
Whenever I meet or hear one of them, it makes me want to quit something, or do something, or go somewhere, or be somebody.
They are my kinsfolk.



How far has the church gone?................................

[commonsense]

Very good points, well stated, certainly this is what Pentecostals should strive for.

Most of the guidelines could be promoted today...

[Sister Alvear]

Was that a Methodist publication?

[Praxeas]

No sunday cooking? lol the author must have been a female using a male pseudonym

[holinesspk]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

Was that a Methodist publication?

I think it might have been actually. Because Azusa didnt start until later........

[holinesspk]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

No sunday cooking? lol the author must have been a female using a male pseudonym

lol..........

Actually, back then, doing anything secular on Sunday was pretty much a sin. Boy have things changed.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by holinesspk

lol..........

Actually, back then, doing anything secular on Sunday was pretty much a sin. Boy have things changed.

I think that is because they had the catholic idea that Sunday was the New Sabbath day

[RandyWayne]

If doing anything on a Sunday was considered a sin, or reading a "secular" newspaper, why isn't that considered a sin now?

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?

[Jason B]

interesting, but it also shows that with time there need to be adjustments on things not specified in the Bible, such as sunday cooking, reading secular newspaper,etc..

overall though, it makes you think.
Sometimes people think we are so enlightened and modern, but I kind of wonder sometimes if we aven't lost something that those old timers got a hold of in the early 1900's

[holinesspk]

I think we have lost a lot since those old timers were around. We sure dont see a move of God like they had.

Rows of canes nailed to the wall. Rows of wheelchairs in the foyer. People raised from the dead. Demons coming to church, showing themselves, whistling, and trying to disrupt church only to be cast out. Angelic appearances. Glory Clouds and when people raised their hands and they touched those clouds, they were instantly filled with the Holy Ghost. The power of God running along the ceiling, down the walls and across the floor.

I remember the story of one camp meeting where they had a brush arbor going. They were in prayer and looked up and saw literal legions of black figures marching on the brush arbor in the woods surrounding the entire camp. They began praying and said that saw a massive ring of light begin racing around the camp like a ring of fire. The entire camp was suddenly surrounded by a line of angels for about 50 to 100 feet out. They said the power of God inside that circle was unreal. Hardened criminals would walk inside that circle and immediately fall on their faces because they couldnt stand on their feet because of the glory of God.

I remember stories of angelic beings standing visibly behind the preachers encouraging them on as they preached, visible to the congregation. I remember stories of people being filled with the Holy Ghost and their faces literally glowing. They could turn off the lights and you could see the glow. I remember stories of rushing mighty winds blowing through just like on the day of Pentecost. I remember stories of complete congregations being overtaken by the power of God and all being slain in the spirit at once. I remember stories of severed limbs growing back, lumps and growths falling off the body, people near death's door, suddenly healed.

We dont see stuff like that anymore. And I think I know why. Our generation is so concerned and caught up in this world, that we fail to be as proactive with the spiritual one. Those old timers had nothing going for them except God. 10 hour prayer meetings were typical. Our generation cant even make it for 15 minutes. I believe its a matter of consecration. Until we consecrate our very lives to the Lord and the work of the Lord, we wont see a move of God like they had. They abstained from the very appearance of evil. Including sunday trains ,newspapers, cooking, etc, etc, because sunday is our "sabbath". Now we question it and mock it and say thats silly and unnecessary, but then you know, we dont have a move of God like they did. They had a lot of "rules" we dont have. They did not go to restaurants that served alcohol. TV was preached against when they still had sermons on it. They preached for the women to dress like women and not men, not to cut their hair or wear jewelry. Men were not permitted to take off their coats with ladies present, because it was immodest. They had a lot fo convictions we dont, but so help me..........if that is what brought on the move of God they had, then I am all for it............