Relational Holiness: Responding to the Call of Love

by Thomas Jay Oord, Michael E. Lodahl

Relational Holiness offers insight and evidence for understanding the theology of holiness by focusing on love - the core of God's nature and character - and describes how God invites us to share in a life of divine love. Thomas Oord and Michael Lodahl present this new paradigm for sanctification in a relevant and understandable style that is engaging and insightful, especially for the post-modern generation....Communicating holiness in relational categories and making holiness understandable today are the two passions that inspire these imaginative theologians. With insightful originality they propose that love is the core notion of holiness. Every believer's life can be enriched with this candid contemporary dialog about the holy life.-Dr. Jerry PorterGeneral Superintendent for the Church of the NazareneThis study calls us to center our understanding and practice of Christian holiness where [John] Wesley did - in the love of God and neighbor. It also highlights Wesley's wisdom about the vital role of the spiritual practices in nurturing and shaping this love. It is a welcome contribution to recent efforts to appreciate and revitalize the tradition in which we stand.-Randy L. Maddox Professor at Seattle Pacific University

Genres: Theology

Paperback

First published June 15, 2005

Reviews

[Glen O'Brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fairly lightweight book that is accurate in its central thesis that love is the organizing centre of the doctrine of holiness, but weak in that it does not provide a solid theological treatment of the topic. The stress on a Trinitarian view of holiness is welcome but not sufficiently developed here. The book is aimed at a general lay readership and is pitched reasonably well at that audience I suppose but both authors are capable of much more serious writing. It is a book typical of the crisis in the Wesleyan-Holiness churches over the doctrine of sanctification. Having given up on the simplistic formulas of nineteenth century second blessing formulations of the teaching, no adequate substitute has yet been found. Much that is said here might be found in a book by an evangelical of any particular theological tradition or none. There are a few distinctively Wesleyan insights but the tradition still awaits a contemporary formulation of its core doctrine. The reading lists at the end of each chapter provide valuable clues for further reading. Does a book that is 140 pages long really need two forwards and two prefaces?

[Russell Frazier · Rating 2 out of 5]

The authors stress the post-modern idea of relationality as foundational for a doctrine of holiness which is palatable for post-modern thinkers. A project that many would consider a worthy project.

In order to accomplish this aim, the authors turn to 1 John to stress the idea of love as the foundational of the doctrine of holiness. They find an ally in John Wesley. However, the book stresses the aspect of love in 1 John without addressing the aspect of light (holiness). These are the two truths upon which John bases his message (1 John 1:5 and 1 John 3:11). The book seems to avoid the latter (light) in favor of the former (love).

The book deviates from the Methodist/Wesleyan emphasis on the essential nature of God as holiness or holy/love by adopting the idea that the essential nature of God is love. The danger of such a position has been underscored in the Grace, Faith and Holiness by H. Ray Dunning (p. 101ff.) in which Dunning traces the pendulum swing in the history of Christian thought between divine immanence (love) and transcendence (holiness). The teaching of the book is the message of love without an adequate emphasis on holiness. Dunning's emphasis on holy-love as the essential nature of God provides a much more balanced approach than does the book, Relational Holiness. A rather significant theological shift took place in Methodism on this very subject, and Lodahl and Oord's work typifies the pendulum swing in the Methodism toward the immanence of God and away from the holiness of God.

Furthermore, the book over stresses the witness of the Spirit as feeling (p. 103, 113, etc.). An idea that does not seem consistent with the founder of the movement which the authors claim to reflect.

The aim of this book is not scholarly; it is something written for general readership or a popular level. Any review of this book should keep this in mind.

[Paul Chang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relational Holiness is the authentic Holiness

Relational Holiness explain the biblical view of authentic Holiness. Love is the core of Holiness, because God is Love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in them.

[Leann Van cleef-trimmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiness well explained in terms for everyone.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may not agree with all of the conclusions, but it is certainly worth considering.

[Jamie Pennington · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice farily quick read. Most of the information is basic and arranged in a freindly manner. A nice book to read for someone who does not really know much of the basics of Holiness.

[Michael Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novice approach to a belief system within the holiness theology. I strongly recommend this book.

[Amy Orban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Especially good for those who might not be familiar with the Wesleyan tradition.
This book was important early on in my journey when I was trying to understand the heart of holiness and the Wesleyan theological tradition. Very accessible and does not require much background understanding.