Wesley Corpus

Question: Do you think this poll picture fits your experience of congregational life to any degree? If so, what might we do about it? What would Wesley have to say about it? What kinds of arguments might he use? 17. These are the principles and practices of our sect; these are the marks of a true Methodist. By these alone do those who are in derision so called, desire to be distinguished from other men. If any man say, "Why, these are only the common fundamental principles of Christianity!" thou hast said; so I mean; this is the very truth; I know they are no other; and I would to God both thou and all men knew, that I, and all who follow my judgment, do vehemently refuse to be distinguished from other men, by any but the common principles of Christianity,--the plain, old Christianity that I teach, renouncing and detesting all other marks of distinction. And whosoever is what I preach, (let him be called what he will, for names change not the nature of things,) he is a Christian, not in name only, but in heart and in life. He is inwardly and outwardly conformed to the will of God, as revealed in the written word. He thinks, speaks, and lives, according to the method laid down in the revelation of Jesus Christ. His soul is renewed after the image of God, in righteousness and ion all true holiness. And having the mind that was in Christ, he so walks as Christ also walked. Wesley’s objective was not to begin a new denomination. He remained a priest in the Church of England until his death. He took the Methodist movement to be a “back to basics” movement, getting back to simple, original Christianity. For him, it was being a follower of Jesus, seeking to live like Jesus, that mattered. From the time of Wesley until the present, Methodism has rejected the idea that there is One True Church. We recognize that what we believe and practice is mostly the same as what other Christian churches believe and practice. What are some present-day consequences of believing there isn’t “One True Church?” How is our life as a church affected by the belief that we and other churches are on the “same team?” 18.