Outward holiness, or external holiness, is a Wesleyan–Arminian doctrine emphasizing holy living, service, modest dress and sober speech. Additionally, outward holiness manifests as "the expression of love through a life characterised by 'justice, mercy and truth. It is a testimony of a Christian believer's regeneration, done in obedience to God. The doctrine is prevalent among denominations emerging during the revival movements, including the Methodists (especially those in the Holiness Movement), as well as Pentecostals. It is taken from 1 Peter 1:15: "He which hath called you is Holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation"., King James Bible
History
In Methodist theology, in regeneration, a person has an "experience of God's Spirit enabling faith and new birth and witnessing that we are loved by God as God's children". As a result of the New Birth, an individual is transformed and into a new creature in Christ. Outward holiness manifests as "the expression of love through a life characterised by 'justice, mercy and truth. This has led to an emphasis on the importance of holy living, which has included an emphasis on clean speech, modesty, and abstinence from alcohol. Outward holiness additionally included service to God and others, with the early Methodists being engaged in ministry, including "setting up schools for children (including a grammar text Wesley himself wrote), sick ministries, medical care, food and clothing distribution, ministry to unwed and destitute mothers, The Stranger's Friend Society (a charity for non-Methodists), ministry to paupers in London, establishing a home for widows in London, establishing an orphanage in Newcastle, unemployment relief, small business loan fund, and prison ministries".
The aspects of modesty and plain dress as related to outward holiness have been emphasized in early Methodism and in the holiness movement. According to Methodist theology held by the holiness movement, before the fall of man, "Nakedness was 'very good' from the beginning, but its innocence was corrupted by the fall", a concept taught in Genesis 1:31 and 2:25. Genesis 3:8–10 and Revelation 16:15 teach that after the fall of man, "publicly exposed nakedness is a symbol of the shame of sin". In Genesis 3:7, Adam and Eve tried to cover their nakedness, though their attempt was inadequate for God; this reflects the tendency in humans to "invent inadequate coverings for our nakedness". Genesis 3:21 and Revelation 3:18 teach that God properly clothed humans and that a "fully-clothed person is a God-ordained symbol of the full clothing of Christ's righteousness". Exodus 20:26 and 28:42–43 teach that nakedness is inclusive of anything that includes the torso and thighs. As taught in the early Christian text Paedagogus, the early Church stressed the importance of wearing modest clothing in the practice of Christianity, with the Church Father Clement of Alexandria declaring in it:
More specifically, with regard to proper apparel, Clement commanded:
The Paedagogus teaches against the wearing of extravagant clothing, in addition to forbidding the wearing of jewelry. It emphasizes instead that people should seek piety. In the same vein, the , an early Christian manual, directed: "Thou therefore who art a Christian [woman][...] if thou wishest to be faithful, please thy husband only, and when thou walkest in the market-place, cover thy head with thy garment, that by thy veil the greatness of thy beauty may be covered; do not adorn the face of thine eyes, but look down and walk veiled; be watchful, not to wash in the baths with men."
Reviving these early Christian teachings on modesty as an integral part of Christian living, the founder of the Methodist Churches, John Wesley, emphasized "inward and outward holiness", which "emphasized the essential link between heart holiness and holy living". Outward holiness in the form of "right living and right actions" is practiced in obedience to God and as a testimony of faith after a person experiences the New Birth. The General Rules of the Methodist Church (1739), written up by the father of Methodism John Wesley, enjoin the faithful against "Doing what we know is not for the glory of God, as: The putting on of gold and costly apparel. The taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus. The singing those songs, or reading those books, which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God. Softness and needless self-indulgence. Laying up treasure upon earth." The Shield of the Young Methodist notes that diversions "Diversions include those popular amusements—such as dancing, theaters, circuses, etc.—which divert or turn the heart away from God, to be fascinated by worldly things." With regard to that criminals are made "by reading bad books, bad newspapers, and blood-and-murder stories in cheap novels"; "such reading as glorifies cunning tricks, falsehood, the dirk and pistol, corupt the young and lead them in the paths of sin." Popular music "taints the heart and generates worldlness [and] must be avoided."
Early Methodists wore plain dress, with Methodist clergy condemning "high headdresses, ruffles, laces, gold, and 'costly apparel' in general". John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, recommended that Methodists read his thoughts On Dress, in which he detailed acceptable types and colors of fabrics, in addition to "shapes and sizes of hats, coats, sleeves, and hairstyles";Journals of Wesley, Nehemiah Curnock, ed., London: Epworth Press 1938, p. 468. in that sermon, John Wesley expressed his desire for Methodists: "Let me see, before I die, a Methodist congregation, full as plain dressed as a Quaker congregation." He also taught, with respect to Christian headcovering, that a woman, "especially in a religious assembly", should "keep on her veil". Those who tried to attend Methodist services in costly apparel were denied admittance.Rupert Davies, A History of the Methodist Church in Great Britain, London: Epworth, 1965, p.197. Wesley's teaching was based on his interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:9–10 and 1 Peter 3:3–4, which he stated led him to conclude that "expensive clothes puff up their wearers, promote vanity, incite anger, inflame lust, retard the pursuit of holiness, and steal from God and the poor." The 1858 Discipline of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection stated that "we would not only enjoin on all who fear God plain dress, but we would recommend to our preachers and people, according to Mr. Wesley's views expressed in his sermon on the inefficiency of Christianity, published but a few years before his death, and containing his matured judgment, distinguishing plainness—Plainness which will publicly comment them to the maintenance of their Christian profession wherever they may be." The "men among the Methodists all wore the low-crowned hat with a broad brim, and a shad-bellied coat, much after the fashion of a Quaker coat, and their women wore generally a long scoop black silk bonnet, plain, without any gay trimmings, plain dress and no ear-rings, nor any kind of ornaments". The 1859 novel Adam Bede portrayed the Methodist itinerant preacher, Dinah Morris, wearing plain dress, with the words "I saw she was a Methodist, or Quaker, or something of that sort, by her dress". In the 14 April 1903 edition of The Free Methodist, an article on "Woman in the Public Service" written by a bishop of the Free Methodist Church (a Methodist denomination aligned with the holiness movement), Walter Ashbel Sellew, taught the importance of the woman's headcovering and modest dress:
Peter Cartwright, a Methodist revivalist, emphasized the importance of outward holiness in the history of Methodism, stating:
While few wear plain dress in mainline Methodism today, some Methodist Churches of the conservative holiness movement, such as the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection and Evangelical Wesleyan Church, continue to dress modestly and plainly, also avoiding the wearing of jewelry (sometimes inclusive of wedding rings). The Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches continues the practice of headcovering. The 2015 Discipline of the Evangelical Wesleyan Church details these holiness standards in its General Rules:
In its Special Rules and Advices, the Evangelical Wesleyan Church further teaches that:
The same denomination, in its 2018 Handbook for the Evangelical Wesleyan Bible Institute (EWBI), teaches the following "Principles of Christian Living" for its seminary students:
The Book of Discipline of the Calvary Holiness Church specifies the standard for the headcovering worn by Christian women:
The Methodist doctrine of outward holiness applies to Home Furnishing as well, with the Metropolitan Church Association teaching:
Standards Holiness Methodist doctrine teaches that biblical standards of dress and behaviour are followed "an act of obedience and they keep one from nullifying his testimony of grace", being required for all Christians after the first work of grace—regeneration.
The father of Methodism John Wesley's view of biblical standards was further grounded in the principle of stewardship—dressing plainly so that money could go to help the needy: "Everything about thee which cost more than Christian duty required thee to lay out is the blood of the poor!" Methodist evangelist Phoebe Palmer wrote the following prayer of consecration for those seeking to be entirely sanctified, which "involves a submitting to any behavioral standards which might be enjoined upon the believer by God":
Daniel Stafford, a Nazarene evangelist, preached that those not adhering to biblical standards of dress and behaviour are not even candidates for the second work of grace: "It would be an insult to the blessed Holy Ghost to ask Him to house a body that is decked out with the things of the world". The 2012 Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church teaches the following standards that are typical of traditional Methodist practice:
Many of the following standards are those practiced by those who adhere to the doctrine of outward holiness, though certain connexions have relaxed them, especially those in the mainline tradition:
Modest and plain dress (1 Tim. 2:9), which is defined as loose covering from the neck to below the knee in all normal body postures (Exod. 20:26; 28:42-43) with women's styles including cape dresses and prairie dresses for example; women often wear a Christian headcovering (). This would include the wearing of swimming dresses by women rather than revealing bathing suits, as well as the strict prohibition of mixed bathing. Moderate or no use of jewelry or ornaments of gold, silver, and jewels for personal adornment (1 Tim. 2:9-10; 1 Pet. 3:1-6); some denominations will only allow the use of a wedding band or ring while others proscribe it too. A distinction of the sexes in clothing, forbidding such style as trousers and pant suits for women even if required by work or public service. (Deut. 22:5). Christian men are to wear their hair short and Christian women must never cut or remove their hair, wearing it long in order to have a definitive distinction of male and female sexes. (1 Cor. 11:14-15).
Outward Holiness can also include the following which reveal an inward character: Impeccable honesty (Prov. 11:1; Rom. 12:7) Civil obedience (Rom. 13:1-7) Subjection to parental authority (Eph. 6:1) Submission to the spiritual authority (Heb. 13:17) No profanity or vulgar joking or explicit conversation (Eph. 4:29; 5:4; Col. 3:8) Keeping the Ten Commandments, such as observing the Christian Sabbath (John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-4; Heb. 10:25) Regular prayer and fasting (Acts 14:21-23) Abstinence from alcohol and other drugs (Prov. 20:1; Rom. 13:13; Eph. 5:18; 1 Thes. 5:7-8) Avoidance of social dances (Rom. 13:11-14; Gal. 5:19-21)
Observing denominations