Questions about weslyanism

[Colabomb]

Greetings my Brothers in Christ!

I am ignorant of Weslyanism/Methodism, and I was wondering, what makes weslyanism weslyanism?

Pretty much all I know is that it is a Tradition sprung off of John Wesley, one of our (Anglicanism) priests.

Other than that, I am clueless.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

May the God of Mercies Bless you Richly in the Peace of the Christ!

[Arwen Undomiel]

I found this on the United Methodist Church's website:



The Wesleyan "Standards" in Great Britain

In this spirit, the British Methodists under the Wesleys never reduced their theology to a confessional formula as a doctrinal test. Methodism was a movement within the Church of England, and John Wesley constantly maintained that he taught the scriptural doctrines contained in the Thirty-Nine Articles, the Homilies, and the Book of Common Prayer of his national church. The Bible, of course, constituted for him the final authority in all doctrinal matters.

As the movement grew, Wesley provided his people with published sermons and a Bible commentary for their doctrinal instruction. His Sermons on Several Occasions (1746–60) set forth those doctrines which, he said, "I embrace and teach as the essentials of true religion." In 1755, he published Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament as a guide for Methodist biblical exegesis and doctrinal interpretation.

As occasional controversies arose, the need for a standard measure of Methodist preaching became evident. In 1763, Wesley produced a "Model Deed" for Methodist properties, which stipulated that the trustees for each preaching house were responsible for ensuring that the preachers in their pulpits "preach no other doctrine than is contained in Mr. Wesley's Notes Upon the New Testament and four volumes of Sermons."

These writings, then, contained the standard exposition of Methodist teaching. They provide a model and measure for adequate preaching in the Wesleyan tradition. The primary norm for Wesley's writings was Scripture, as illumined by historic traditions and vital faith. Wesley put forth no summary of biblical revelation for the British Methodists because the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England were already available.

The Wesley brothers also composed hymns that were rich in doctrinal and experiential content. The hymns, especially those of Charles Wesley, not only are among the best-loved within Methodism but also are major resources for doctrinal instruction.

Furthermore, John Wesley specified various disciplines and rules, such as the General Rules, to implement in personal and communal life the practical divinity he proclaimed.

In addition to these writings, Wesley established the conference to instruct and supervise the Methodist preachers. He produced Minutes to ensure their fidelity to the doctrines and disciplines of the Methodist movement. These writings and structures filled out the Wesleyan understanding of the church and the Christian life.

[bigsierra]

Here is a link to Methodist Articles of Religion (http://www.godonthe.net/cme/methdist/articles.htm)

[Mudfrog]

From the Wesleyan Study Bible;

The Wesleyan Perspective.

Unlimited Atonement
Free Will
Total Depravity
Prevenient Grace
Salvation by grace alone
The witness of the Spirit
Imparted Righteousness
Sanctification by grace
The possibility of backsliding
The authority of the Bible

Obviously these things need unpacking, but as paragraph headings they will suffice.

[AngloWesleyan]

From the Wesleyan Study Bible;

The Wesleyan Perspective.

Unlimited Atonement
Free Will
Total Depravity
Prevenient Grace
Salvation by grace alone
The witness of the Spirit
Imparted Righteousness
Sanctification by grace
The possibility of backsliding
The authority of the Bible

Obviously these things need unpacking, but as paragraph headings they will suffice.

This is a pretty good list of the distinctive emphases of the Wesleyan movement. Unfortunately, the Wesley Study Bible is no longer in print. It is a valuable resource if you can get your hands on a copy. So, too, is John Wesley's original Notes Upon the New Testament, on which the WSB is based.

Many Reformed (Calvinist) theologians wrongly accuse Wesley of being semi-Pelagian. But when they give him an honest hearing, they have to admit that he is, for the most part, well within the tradition of the Reformation. Those areas in which he appears to be at odds with the Reformers are, for the most part, areas in which he seeks to recover more of the tradition of the early church than do the Reformers. For instance, the Reformers were content with the pious fiction of imputed righteousness. Wesley certainly understood the importance of justification, being accounted righteous before God. But he also believed in sanctification, actually being made righteous, by grace. In other words, the righteousness of Christ was not only imputed, but also imparted to believers, enabling them, by grace, to live a life of holiness unto the Lord.

[EternalSunshine21]

Since I came to college two years ago, I've been going to a Baptist church. I do not believe that any religion is better than any other, but there are some differences. All churches are different; they teach the bible differently and their praises seem different. Now this is not the same for all cases, but for my personal experience, it is.

Methodists do seem more traditional where as Baptists are more modern. I enjoy both very much, but at first it was a bit of a change.

There are so many different view of the bible and its verses. It's your job to determine which meaning is correct, in you opinion.