Over-the-Counter Holiness

About 90 minutes south of Kansas City, Missouri, and the Nazarene International Center is a small town with more history than future. Like a lot of U.S. towns these days, the differences between these two locations must be measured in more than minutes or miles. Many years ago, the holiness people in this town would pitch a tent, call in itinerant evangelists and singers, and stage a "tent meeting." My dad was one of those evangelists who would preach the Good News from beneath the tent.

It made little difference if the weather was good or bad, the message of holiness was proclaimed for all the community to hear.

When Dad wasn't preaching, I was downtown as often as possible. There, children, teenagers, and old men congregated at the soda fountain. For five cents, a person could order a cherry-flavored Coke. With elbows propped on the smooth surface of the counter, something wonderful would take place.

As I rolled my nickel in the direction of the proprietor, he would slide that ice-cold cherry Coke toward me. Over the counter came a delicious delight that put an all-day smile on a small boy's face.

Meanwhile, back under that old tent, serious things were taking place. Because those holiness people had Methodist roots, a "mourner's bench" anchored a prominent place just below the pulpit. Night after night, I witnessed something far different from the easygoing transactions of my over-the-counter exchange for a cherry Coke. Seekers at the mourner's bench were called to lay down far more than a shiny coin in an exchange for an eternal gift. Grace flowed in response to their gifts of total consecration.

The times have changed-both downtown and under the tent. The soda fountain is gone. The tent was taken down forever. I wonder if holiness costs any less today than it did then?

David J. Felter is editor in chief

Holiness Today, January/February 2005

Please note: This article was originally published in 2005. All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at that time but may have since changed.