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DEVOTION
WESLEYAN ROOTED SERIES
OPENING PRAYER
Almighty God, you who are the source of our life, strength, and ministry. In your presence alone we find help, hope, and life. Send us from this hour as a healing reminder of your love to all whose lives we touch this day. We offer our prayers in the name of Christ. AMEN.
INTRODUCTION
The Character of a Methodist was written by John Wesley in 1741 to help the other Christians in England understand who Methodist were. Methodist folks were not acting as other Christians in England acted. The established groups heaped insults and ridicule on Wesley’s Methodist followers. Wesley wrote this short essay as a defense and information for Methodists and non-Methodists to better understand.
CHAPTER 1 WHAT METHODISTS ARE NOT.
We don’t all think the same. Methodists don’t subscribe to a particular creed or set of dogmas or beliefs. Methodists can have different theological opinions and believe different creeds. What we DO BELIEVE is that all Christian Scripture is inspired by God. We DO BELIEVE the Bible is the only guide we need for Christian faith and life. We DO BELIEVE Jesus Christ is the eternal supreme God. But to all opinions that do not strike at the root of Christianity, think and let think. A certain set of opinions are not the distinguishing mark of a Methodist.
WE DON’T ALL TALK THE SAME.
There are not particular words of phrases which mark Methodists apart. We don’t have particular theological jargon or buzz words which we use or require. We try to be obvious and clear. Yes, we will quote the Bible, but is that a problem? You can’t identify us by some common code language of uniform set of opinions.
WE DON’T ALL ACT THE SAME
Methodists do what God has commanded us to do – not offer vane rituals or outward displays. It is not about what we wear or whether we sit, or kneel, or stand in church or the man-made rules of what we are to eat or drink. We avoid that which God has forbidden. Mostly seek to follow where God leads and do what God desires.
WE DON’T MAKE ONE IDEA OUR FOCUS
We avoid litmus tests to determine who is in or out. YES, we do say that we are saved by grace alone, but this should not be controversial or objectional. All Christians are saved by grace – not works. Works are not about getting into heaven and salvation but works express the earnestness and holiness of our heart and life here on earth. Yes, we have
THREE RULES – (1) DO NO HARM, (2) DO GOOD, (3) DO RELIGIOUS THINGS. But these do not result in salvation. They are the useful guides and results of salvation being expressed in our daily lives.
REFLECTION
Methodists are a diverse thinking people. Wesley believed that creeds and dogmas had fractured the churches ministry. His family had experienced this over the generations of Wesley preachers. Depending on the political leadership of the Church of England and the Crown of England there had been much abuse and pain suffered. Wesley strove to live the “VIA MEDIA” – the Wide Middle road. Wesley knew what he believed and could well defend it with scripture and sound reason, but he practiced patience with those were did not agree so long as they did not stray from scripture and demand adherence to personal opinion. Lively debate was helpful to all. The opinion of a church leader was less authoritative than Scripture. He always sought to ground his beliefs and practices in the Scriptures. That is why he might change his mind over time as he realized a new insight or understanding of Scripture.
There is no CATECHISM of Wesley. There is no CREED of Wesley. There is SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY of Wesley. SCRIPTURE is authoritative and it is inspired by God and understood and written by people. The Holy Spirit inspires and informs our reading and understanding. Scripture is not LITERALLY read and understood. Wesley knew, understood, and practiced Biblical critical thinking.
Wesley considered SCRIPTURE as primarily AUTHORITATIVE. Wesley applied CHRISTIAN TRADITION. (What did the earliest followers of Jesus do and believe.) Wesley applied REASON. (Does it make sense and is it reasonable?) Wesley would also apply his personal and faith community EXPERIENCE in making faith and life decisions.
Today, we consider SCRIPTURE, TRADITION, REASON and EXPERIENCE to form a Wesleyan QUADRILATERAL for decision making. Wesley was never so systematically oriented but these four themes are throughout his writings and emerge as a useful pattern.
WHO ARE METHODIST?
CLOSING PRAYER
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us unfailing courage and a firm hope, encourage you and strengthen you to always do and say what is good. – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, TEV.
Blessings
Pastor Tom
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