"The altar Sanctifies the Gift" was Pheobe Palmer's 1 rhetorical flourish in the American Holiness and Revivalist Camp. It was rooted in an essential and historic truth of the Church that affirms the healing/cleansing of the human heart so that one loved God as no other was in fact Divine gifting, not of human capacity apart from the gracious Presence that makes what is possible, true.
The altar making real what The Trinity of God had already committed as true for every son of Adam and daughter of Eve implied another fact; Human receptivity is also necessary for the relational benefit of "forgiveness" to grow up as love penetrating the very center of our affections. The altar is the very "living" sign of Divine initiative and our response.
Where the American evangelical holiness movement erred in reinterpreting her, was in its practice of turning what was intended as an assurance for those who wrestled with deep doubts, aware of their very imperfect love--into a mathematical equation that the altar + human contrition and consecration + faith was the holy magic that clenched the deal. The problem is "time's sbsence," forcing both God's hand and the human cluttered heart. Neither the Trinity of God, nor the human heart or the inter-action between are formulaic equations bound by theological paradigms. Otherwise it all comes in the end, down to a simple bargain, a deal.
The real truth is-this. Following my outrageous hypocrisy and sinful, harming behavior with women I would never again meet, and the inherent betrayal of my covenant with my wife, the Church, its pastor (my son) and all whom God allowed me to meaningfully minister with--my sin is unforgivable. It is sheer mercy that God chose, long before the creation of the universe,2 to "forgive us/me" in the "lamb slain" before time itself. It is a very different and costly price paid and being paid (by the Father-Son-Spirit) to make "real" in me /us what God has made true about us/me. That price is ably described by Paul. "God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV).
It is this inter-penetration of the Divine and human spirit restoring us, that cannot be reduced even to the most holy of equations.
In the first three to six months, after the initial cost of my sin became apparent and I had 90 days of sobriety with regard to sexual addiction, I was remarkably at peace; the lie was over, the initial release from the hellish nightmare at end. Several close to me were legitimately offended by what they thought was a cavalier attitude. It wasn't. At least it didn't feel that way to me. I was very much walking through an intermittent battle with lust (the memory of the pleasure), not so much with the sexual hunger itself. The battle on more than one occasion seemed overwhelming. What I knew from my years of ministry and walking others through these kinds of battles was this. I wouldn't/couldn't begin to really repent, deeply, till the addictive hunger, memory had largely fallen away and the very "real process" of seeing, feeling, owning the cost of my sin for others would begin to transform the myriad of lies I had told myself.3 All that is true simply because time matters. Our relationships in time matter. A de-constructing of sin was necessary to a re-construction of health,
As I approach the end of January, 2024, my heart continues to be in a space of quiet listening; to Jesus, my own body-soul-spirit, Joetta, my family and from a distance my church. Every where I see the deep pain, isolation, and insecurity that my unfaithful betrayal of my wife, family and church has created. Sometimes it's in a felt distance or hesitation, a protective withdrawal in relational intimacy. The eyes often convey a blank stare where once a light of familiar trust lived. Today, visiting my former church to watch my grandsons in a January Christmas play, the youngest ran up and gave me a huge hug, asking "are you now back, Papa?" His withdrawal in spirit was almost immediate when I responded, "For today only hun." After the service, his brother, Tanner cuddled in near, demonstrating his prowess over " Minecraft. I wanted to weep in joy and laugh through sadness. 😪
How I have missed them, as I have missed the weekly Table of our Lord, longing to once again be fed The Cup and The Bread at each service, receiving in my flesh the very life of God poured out. My heart broke as I received communion from two small children, hearing in their heart "The bread broken for you" and from a second "The blood poured out for you." How I have betrayed these who just a year ago had grown up hearing the same from their pastor whom they and their parents trusted.
Though my sin was acted out in the addictive lure well away from God's community, how did I ever fail to see every woman upon whom I looked as the "saved" child of Christ, in both intention and commitment--from God's perspective? The complete lack of integrity and love saddens me as I see its effects all around me.
My Hope (Our Hope)
May God The Father make real in me what God promised Israel when comparing their idolatry with Sodom and Samaria. God promised to "restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and of Samaria and her daughters, and your fortunes along with them.. And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to what they were before; and you and your daughters will return to what you were before. You would not even mention your sister Sodom in the day of your pride, before your wickedness was uncovered... Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both those who are I'm older (Sodom) than you and those who are younger (Samaria). I will give them to you as daughters, but not on the basis of my covenant with you. Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord’ ”“ (Ezekiel 16:53-57, 60-61, 63 NIV).
Such is the nature of the Divine Communion. May God somehow, in God's time and in mine as my heart is prepared, extend This incredible Communion in love even to me and to you. so that we are filled with very Love that make Three, One.
Terry
01/28/24
1 Pheobe Palmer: a 19th century writer, teacher, preacher and influencer of the American Holiness movement. For more https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrtz4uDc_A5Kq7NXzTpR3BQV8JR0gJN1O&si=DU6LWmIfsIX2wEb7
2 Scripture Reference: "All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world" (Revelation 13:8 NIV).
Theology of Election Properly Understood: See my next published book, "Entirely Christ's... and Not Yet", Exordium 2b "Universal Reconciliation & Confessional Holiness"
3 Scripture Reference: ”Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:12-14 NIV)
Theology of Time's Place: See my next published book, "Entirely Christ's... and Not Yet", "Chapter 3, "Entire Inside an Emerging Universe of Experience," including:
Ch.3a "Forming within Nature Holy-Love"
Ch.3b "In the Light of Darkness"
Ch.3c "At Home In Our Own Skin, Part I"
Ch.3d "At Home In Our Own Skin, Part II"
Ch.3e "Process of Human Making"
TEMPORARY FILE of "Entirely Christ's.. not Yet"
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