Wesley Corpus

Thou art the strength of my heart, and my portion forever!" Wesley's first characteristic of a Methodist here is somewhat unhelpful. While it does a good job of describing a characteristic of the Methodists - a living relationship with God through the Holy Spirit - this characteristic is not peculiar to Methodists. Wesley knows this. He's trying to describe Methodists as ordinary Christians. When this tract was written, Methodism was not a church, but what we today would call a “parachurch organization” (like the American Bible Society, Campus Crusade, etc.). This point then, distinguishes the Methodist not from other Christians, but from nominal Christians. A nominal Christian is one who checks the “Christian” box on the survey form, may go to church on occasion, but there is little or nothing in the way of an ongoing relationship with God. In fact, in Wesley's day, many preachers thought it was odd - bordering on the heretical - to think an ordinary Christian would have a relationship with God. Wesley, to the contrary, taught that it was the privilege of every Christian. This is why when we take our young people through Confirmation we're not out merely to give them something akin to a diploma. It's not just about acquiring knowledge, it's entering a relationship with God and learning how to talk about that relationship and grow in it. Question: What are the main things that help you know God better? What are you doing to develop your relationship with God? As a leader in the church, what can you do to (a) help people come into a relationship with Christ, and (b) begin to take responsibility for their own spiritual growth? 6. He is therefore happy in God, yea, always happy, as having in him "a well of water springing up into everlasting life," and overflowing his soul with peace and joy.