Central to a Wesleyan perspective on the Mission of God, or any Wesleyan theology needs to be an understanding of John Wesley’s view of God’s grace.[1] Wesley lived in a world where the theological thoughts that brought about the reformation were still fresh. A predominant theological thought that developed and Wesley held to was that humanity, and all of creation, had experienced total depravity, meaning that sin had corrupted and infected all aspects of the created world. The only way to experience relief or healing from that sin is by God’s grace. For some in the reformation and today, they hold the view of John Calvin and believe that God has chosen some to receive God’s grace, and ultimately salvation. Wesley’s view on God’s grace was very different.
In John Wesley’s sermon titled The New Birth he states this in regards to why someone needs to be born again:
The foundation of it lies near as deep as the creation of the world; in the scriptural account whereof we read, “And God,” the three-one God, “said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him:” (Gen. 1:26, 27) — Not barely in his natural image, a picture of his own immortality; a spiritual being, endued with understanding, freedom of will, and various affections; — nor merely in his political image, the governor of this lower world, having “dominion over the fishes of the sea, and over all the earth;” — but chiefly in his moral image; which, according to the Apostle, is “righteousness and true holiness.” (Eph. 4:24) in this image of God was man made. “God is love:” Accordingly, man at his creation was full of love; which was the sole principle of all his tempers, thoughts, words, and actions. God is full of justice, mercy, and truth; so was man as he came from the hands of his Creator. God is spotless purity; and so man was in the beginning pure from every sinful blot; otherwise God could not have pronounced him, as well as all the other work of his hands, “very good.” (Gen. 1:31)[1]
When I first took church history in bible college over a decade ago I found myself greatly intrigued by some of the amazing men and women who God used. One of those men that greatly intrigued me was John Wesley. Now I must admit, that initial intrigue didn’t translate into me learning much more then what I learned in my church history class about him.
But in the past year and a half John Wesley has regained significance in my life and I’ve begun learning more and more about him.
This past semester I had the great privilege of taking a course on John Wesley and the Mission of God. To put it shortly, through that course I met Wesley in a new and refreshing way. In Wesley I met a mentor who lived a few hundred years before me. A mentor who will continue to teach and challenge me I hope for the rest of my life. Over the next little while I’m going to be sharing some of what John Wesley and others have been challenging me on in regards to the Mission of God. Read more
I’m an introvert I know I am, and I found this video reassuring for introverts like me. I do think there is some prejudice against people who lean towards introversion. Thoughts?
I developed a relationship with Jesus when I was a teenager. And like most teenagers, I had before then, and after then too, made some very unwise choices. And like many people, often would struggle with what I was to do in light of the reality that I now called myself a Christian.
One of the things that I did incessantly was read the bible. I had been given a New Testament from one of the people who helped me begin on my journey to knowing God. I remember it well, it was a pinkish purple paper back. It only had the new testament, and it was an NIrV, which is a translation for little kids. I’m not sure why they chose to give me that one, maybe they thought I was a little slow!
But I read it, and read it. I underlined things and highlighted them. I wrote in the margins. Thinking that would at least give the impression that I knew what I was doing!
Sometimes its hard to believe for me, but for the last 14 years of my life I have chosen to try and live according to biblical principles. I have strived to live according to the teachings of Christ and the church to the best of my ability. Granted I’ve made many mistakes in those 14 years, I know I have, and I know I continue to get things wrong, but I’m working on it.
In those 14 years I’ve been very privileged to get to know other people who try to live in a similar way. I’ve met these people at the various churches I’ve gone to, and the schools I’ve attended. For the past 9 years or so I’ve been fortunate to find myself employed by churches and Christian organizations where I have had the responsibility to lead and teach. It’s been a blessing. I love being a part of God’s church.
But let’s be honest, there are some things wrong with the church.
So on my facebook feed there is a video that keeps popping up. I have been doing really well at ignoring it for the past week, but 5 minutes ago I decided to watch it. Before watching it I didn’t bother because I had a feeling it would have been the same stuff I heard many times before. And it was.
Here is the video
Now there is some really great stuff this person says, and I think he will really reach some people that need to hear what he has to say, and that’s awesome.
But there are also some things he says, and many people like him have been saying and writing books about that I think really miss the point. And we need to be careful as followers of Jesus if we take everything he says to be absolutely true. Again, there’s great stuff there, but bad stuff as well.
In the busyness of the Christmas season, I forgot to post this. Oh well, here’s part 3…
In part 1 and 2 we looked at how God used things we would not expect in Elijah’s life. He used a bird that was unclean to provide food for him, then he used a women who would have been looked down upon to provide for him as well.
God used people and things that we would not expect. And when He did so he showed that He is not bound by the same rules as we might be, and that in reality nothing exists that God won’t associate with in the created world to demonstrate His love and power for His people.
But now we enter act three of the story, and this one is a little different
When I first took church history in bible college over a decade ago I found myself greatly intrigued by some of the amazing men and women who God used. One of those men that greatly intrigued me was John Wesley. Now I must admit, that initial intrigue didn’t translate into me learning much more then what I learned in my church history class about him.
