Conservative holiness movement

The conservative holiness movement is a loosely defined group of theologically conservative Christian denominations with the majority being Methodists whose teachings are rooted in the theology of John Wesley, and a minority being Quakers (Friends) that emphasize the doctrine of George Fox, as well as River Brethren who emerged out of the Radical Pietist revival, and Holiness Restorationists in the tradition of Daniel Sidney Warner. Schisms began to occur in the 19th century and this movement became distinct from parent Holiness bodies in the mid-20th century amid disagreements over modesty in dress, entertainment, and other "old holiness standards". Aligned denominations share a belief in Christian perfection (entire sanctification), though they differ on various doctrines, such as the celebration of the sacraments and observance of ordinances, which is related to the denominational tradition of the specific conservative holiness body—Methodist, Quaker, Anabaptist or Restorationist. Many denominations identifying with the conservative holiness movement, though not all, are represented in the Interchurch Holiness Convention; while some denominations have full communion with one another, other bodies choose to be isolationist.

The father of Methodism, John Wesley, taught that "Nothing is sin, strictly speaking, but a voluntary transgression of a known law of God. Therefore, every voluntary breach of the law of love is sin; and nothing else, if we speak properly. To strain the matter farther is only to make way for Calvinism." With this narrower understanding of sin, John Wesley believed that it was not only possible but necessary to live without committing sin. Wesley explains this in his comments on 1 John 3:8: "Whosoever abideth in communion with Him—By loving faith, sinneth not—While he so abideth. Whosoever sinneth certainly seeth Him not—The loving eye of his soul is not then fixed upon God; neither doth he then experimentally know Him—Whatever he did in time past." Holiness adherents therefore believe in the possibility and necessity of living a life without committing sin. Leading Holiness Scholar Leslie D. Wilcox concluded that "holiness writers, following the Wesleyan theology, define sin as a willful transgression of a known law of God." The Inter-Church Holiness Convention following John Wesley defines sin as "a willful transgression against a known law of God. This means that there must be knowledge of wrongdoing, or of refusing to obey God, before sin is committed. Mistakes are not sin." H. E. Schmul, the founder of the Inter-Church Holiness Convention actually explains how some of our "theological wunderkind" including S. D. Herron, and Leslie Wilcox came up with this definition:

An act of sin is any uncoerced word or thought or deed that violates the will of God, performed by an intelligent responsible person within the age of accountability done in defiance of God or not prompted by love to God or desire to please him. Sin, then, is a responsible act.

With this definition in mind, Christian denominations aligned with the Conservative Holiness Movement believe that "The lowest type of Christian sinneth not and is not condemned. The minimum of salvation is salvation from sinning." Following the lead of John Wesley, denominations identifying as being a part of the Conservative Holiness Movement hold that "calling every defect a sin, is not well pleasing to God." "Mistakes, and whatever infirmities necessarily flow from the corruptible state of the body, are no way contrary to love; nor therefore, in the Scripture sense, sin." This definition of sin is vitally important because "If this definition is compromised, victorious Christian living becomes meaningless, and entire sanctification an impossibility." Historian Charles Jones explains that "Believing that sin was conscious disobedience to a known law of God, holiness believers were convinced that the true Christian, having repented of every known act of sin, did not and could not willfully sin again and remain a Christian."

The word Holiness refers specifically to the belief in entire sanctification as a definite, second work of grace, in which original sin is cleansed, the heart is made perfect in love, and the believer is empowered to serve God. The Conservative Holiness movement is known for its emphasis on the possibility, necessity, and instantaneous nature of Entire Sanctification, also known as 'Christian perfection' in Methodism and 'Perfectionism' in Quakerism, as well as the second work of grace. This doctrine is shown in the founding documents of the Holiness Movement, the 1885 Declaration of Principles which explained:

"Entire Sanctification... is that great work wrought subsequent to regeneration, by the Holy Ghost, upon the sole condition of faith...such faith being preceded by an act of solemn and complete consecration. This work has these distinct elements:

The Book of Discipline of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection explicates the doctrine of sanctification:

Entire sanctification is that work of the Holy Spirit by which the child of God is cleansed from all inbred sin through faith in Jesus Christ. It is subsequent to regeneration, and is wrought when the believer presents himself a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, and is thus enabled through grace to love God with all the heart and to walk in His holy commandments blameless.
Gen. 17:1; Deut. 30:6; Ps. 130:8; Ezek. 36:25–29; Matt. 5:48; Luke 1:74, 75; John 17:2–23; Rom. 8:3, 4; 11:26; 1 Cor. 6:11; 14:20; Eph. 4:13, 24; 5:25–27; Phil. 2:5, 7; Col. 4:12; 1 Thes. 3:10; 5:23; 2 Thes. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:17; Tit. 2:12, 14; Heb. 9:13, 14; 10:14, 18–22; Jas. 1:27; 4:8; 1 Pet. 1:10; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 John 1:7, 9; 3:8, 9; 4:17, 18; Jude 24.