Wesley Walk Part 3

Very Much Alive

“I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.”

“The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.  So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.  Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught.” (2 Peter 1:9-12).

Here we are, more than 200 years down the road from Wesley’s words; more than 2,000 years from Peter uttering his words.  And, Christianity is still here.  Methodism is still here and there is good reason to believe it will be for some time.  Yet, the biggest threat to both has been the deadness from within that is predictable with anyone who holds fast to a form without growing in its power. 

There must be a “cast caution to the wind and serve Jesus with all our might” attitude in order to remain vibrant and productive.  The name becomes tarnished if the discipline becomes tarnished.  Growing in faith and love requires that we find ourselves in places that stretch our faith and challenge our love.  That keeps us from succumbing to the numbing effects of passionless Christianity.  One thing that has always appealed to me about John Wesley, his theology aside, is his unwillingness to settle.  He just would never settle for anything less than top notch, Spirit-led, genuine community, accountable holiness.  He was not a compliant sort who would settle into a reasonable or comfortable station in life and then sit down with the book of contentment and a hot cup of personal satisfaction.  His unsettledness was both boon and bane for him.  His critics note that his unyielding attitude toward American independence and frustration with those who would choose a different kind of church polity was perhaps his downfall as the respected founding leader of the movement.  But, it was this same zeal that made him commit to the core disciplines of the Christian life until nearly 90 years old. 

 

I want to keep “adding to my faith” those things that keep it very much alive.  It would not be the worse thing in the world to be a little rough around the edges.  If we have love in our hearts and minds filled with peace, a little bit of unbridled and messy passion is a good thing.