Post by Jeff on Aug 3, 2005 15:41:45 GMT -5
A wiser person than I once said, “If a fish could philosophize, the last thing that would suggest itself as an object of speculation would be the nature of water.” When I hear such things, I always begin by accusing myself: “What is my water?” So I have been thinking about Methodism seriously for the last six months or so. Some of that has cropped up here on the board in my posts. I know that my own version of Christianity is heavily indebted to John Wesley, I just don’t know how much. So, I have been seeking out and reading his essays and sermons. This led me to this site: ( gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/index.html ), which contains a nice selection of documents from both John and Charles. I wanted to ask you what you guys thought of this as a statement of faith. John wrote it in an essay entitled the Character of a Methodist.
“THE distinguishing marks of a Methodist are not his opinions of any sort. His assenting to this or that scheme of religion, his embracing any particular set of notions, his espousing the judgment of one man or of another, are all quite wide of the point. Whosoever, therefore, imagines that a Methodist is a man of such or such an opinion, is grossly ignorant of the whole affair; he mistakes the truth totally. We believe, indeed, that "all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God;" and herein we are distinguished from Jews, Turks, and Infidels. We believe the written word of God to be the only and sufficient rule both of Christian faith and practice; and herein we are fundamentally distinguished from those of the Romish Church. We believe Christ to be the eternal, supreme God; and herein we are distinguished from the Socinians and Arians. But as to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think. So that whatsoever they are, whether right or wrong, they are no distinguishing marks of a Methodist.”
This strikes me as just about right. Let me make a few comments about each of the three core beliefs:
1. “All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God.”
Agreed. But this doesn’t mean that it is literally true. Further, even if we take “Scripture” to refer exclusively to the Old and New Testaments, this statement does not entail that the Bible is the only work that is inspired by God.
2. “The written word of God is the only and sufficient rule both of Christian faith and practice.”
Agreed. Again, there may be works other than the Bible that fall into the category of the written word of God. As for myself, part of the reason I call myself a Christian is because I privilege to the NT over all other religious works that I’ve read. It guides my faith and practice like no other work. But I recognize others might feel differently about the Bible. On Wesley’s principle, they could still be Christians so long as they based their life on the written word of God. Further, the statement does not imply that Christian faith and practice are the only valid expressions of religious experience.
3. “We believe Christ to be the eternal, supreme God.”
Indeed. But what this means for us is an open question. For instance, it may be the case that we are all aspects of God and so share this same supreme identity.
I guess what shines most brilliantly in Wesley’s definition is the last part: “But as to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think.” It is this assertion of spiritual freedom that I find most attractive about Methodism.
Welsey concludes his essay...
"But from real Christians, of whatsoever denomination they be, we earnestly desire not to be distinguished at all, not from any who sincerely follow after what they know they have not yet attained. No: 'Whosoever doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.' And I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that we be in no wise divided among ourselves. Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thine? I ask no farther question. If it be, give me thy hand. For opinions, or terms, let us not destroy the work of God. Dost thou love and serve God? It is enough. I give thee the right hand of fellowship. If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies; let us strive together for the faith of the Gospel; walking worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called; with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; remembering, there is one body, and one Spirit, even as we are called with one hope of our calling; 'one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.'"
“THE distinguishing marks of a Methodist are not his opinions of any sort. His assenting to this or that scheme of religion, his embracing any particular set of notions, his espousing the judgment of one man or of another, are all quite wide of the point. Whosoever, therefore, imagines that a Methodist is a man of such or such an opinion, is grossly ignorant of the whole affair; he mistakes the truth totally. We believe, indeed, that "all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God;" and herein we are distinguished from Jews, Turks, and Infidels. We believe the written word of God to be the only and sufficient rule both of Christian faith and practice; and herein we are fundamentally distinguished from those of the Romish Church. We believe Christ to be the eternal, supreme God; and herein we are distinguished from the Socinians and Arians. But as to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think. So that whatsoever they are, whether right or wrong, they are no distinguishing marks of a Methodist.”
This strikes me as just about right. Let me make a few comments about each of the three core beliefs:
1. “All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God.”
Agreed. But this doesn’t mean that it is literally true. Further, even if we take “Scripture” to refer exclusively to the Old and New Testaments, this statement does not entail that the Bible is the only work that is inspired by God.
2. “The written word of God is the only and sufficient rule both of Christian faith and practice.”
Agreed. Again, there may be works other than the Bible that fall into the category of the written word of God. As for myself, part of the reason I call myself a Christian is because I privilege to the NT over all other religious works that I’ve read. It guides my faith and practice like no other work. But I recognize others might feel differently about the Bible. On Wesley’s principle, they could still be Christians so long as they based their life on the written word of God. Further, the statement does not imply that Christian faith and practice are the only valid expressions of religious experience.
3. “We believe Christ to be the eternal, supreme God.”
Indeed. But what this means for us is an open question. For instance, it may be the case that we are all aspects of God and so share this same supreme identity.
I guess what shines most brilliantly in Wesley’s definition is the last part: “But as to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think.” It is this assertion of spiritual freedom that I find most attractive about Methodism.
Welsey concludes his essay...
"But from real Christians, of whatsoever denomination they be, we earnestly desire not to be distinguished at all, not from any who sincerely follow after what they know they have not yet attained. No: 'Whosoever doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.' And I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that we be in no wise divided among ourselves. Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thine? I ask no farther question. If it be, give me thy hand. For opinions, or terms, let us not destroy the work of God. Dost thou love and serve God? It is enough. I give thee the right hand of fellowship. If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies; let us strive together for the faith of the Gospel; walking worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called; with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; remembering, there is one body, and one Spirit, even as we are called with one hope of our calling; 'one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.'"
