Holiness movement Facts for Kids

The holiness movement is a group of Christian beliefs and practices that started in the 1800s. It grew out of Methodism, a type of Protestant Christianity. The movement also includes several groups of evangelical Christians who believe these ideas are very important.

A key idea in the holiness movement comes from the teachings of John Wesley, who founded Methodism. This idea is called "Christian perfection". It means that people can live a life free from sin. The movement teaches that this can happen suddenly through a special spiritual experience called a "second work of grace".

What is the Holiness Movement?
- How it Started: Methodism and John Wesley
- Key Beliefs of the Holiness Movement
Where is the Holiness Movement Today?
Images for kids
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What is the Holiness Movement?

The holiness movement is a part of Protestantism, which is a major branch of Christianity. It focuses on the idea that Christians can become holy in their daily lives. This means living in a way that pleases God and avoids sin.

How it Started: Methodism and John Wesley

The roots of the holiness movement are in Methodism. This Christian tradition was started by John Wesley in England in the 1700s. Wesley taught that Christians should strive for "Christian perfection." He believed that God could help people become completely devoted to Him and live without intentionally sinning.

After Wesley's time, in the 1800s, many Methodists in the United States became very interested in these ideas. They wanted to experience a deeper spiritual life. This desire led to the growth of the holiness movement.

Key Beliefs of the Holiness Movement

The holiness movement has several core beliefs:

Christian Perfection: This is the idea that a person can be made pure in heart and live a life free from sin. It doesn't mean someone becomes perfect like God, but rather that their desire to sin is removed.
Second Work of Grace: This is a special spiritual experience that happens after a person first becomes a Christian. It's often called "entire sanctification." People believe that during this experience, God cleanses their heart and gives them the power to live a holy life.
Emphasis on Holy Living: Followers of the holiness movement try to live very disciplined lives. This often includes avoiding things like alcohol, tobacco, and sometimes even certain types of entertainment. They focus on prayer, Bible study, and helping others.

Where is the Holiness Movement Today?

The holiness movement has influenced many different Christian churches and groups around the world. Some of the well-known groups that came from this movement include:

The Salvation Army: This group is famous for its charity work and its bands.
The Church of the Nazarene: A large Protestant denomination with churches in many countries.
Various smaller Methodist and Wesleyan churches: Many of these groups continue to strongly emphasize the teachings of Christian perfection and the second work of grace.

The movement has also played a role in the start of Pentecostalism, another major Christian movement. While Pentecostalism has its own unique beliefs, it shares some roots with the holiness movement's focus on spiritual experiences.

Images for kids

An engraving of a Methodist camp meeting in 1819 (Library of Congress).
Henry Clay Morrison, a Methodist evangelist and founder of Asbury Theological Seminary.
Julia A. J. Foote, an elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, preached Christian holiness. Her autobiography talks about entire sanctification.
Illustration from The Circuit Rider: A Tale of the Heroic Age by Edward Eggleston showing a Methodist circuit rider on horseback.
A cartoon from 1922 showing Modernism as a path away from Christianity.
Grace Wesleyan Methodist Church in Akron, Ohio. This church belongs to the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection, a large holiness denomination.
A Salvation Army band parade in Oxford, United Kingdom