Monday 24 May 2010

Background

At a quarter before nine, on 24 May 1738, John Wesley - one ofthe founders of Methodism - felt his heart strangely warmed by thesudden awareness that it was through his faith alone that he was tobe saved. Some people call this John Wesley's 'conversion'. The reality was,of course, that whilst this was an event of great significance, itwas not a moment at which a non-believer became a believer. JohnWesley was already a clergyman of the Church of England; he hadengaged in missionary work in Georgia and he was a great Oxfordscholar.

After this, the formal religion of the establishment was forced togive way to the life and light of the evangelist. And today'spassage from Paul's letter to the Romans is one of thoseexpressions of faith that is crucial to Methodist identity. Thepassage shows us something of Paul's theology as he was expressingit to the Christians in Rome. He tells of the consequences of thedivine offer of righteousness and of our acceptance of it by faith.Although he is demonstrating something of God, he is doing so witha very firm eye on God as understood in the light of Christ. Christis the means through which we have peace with God, access to grace,justification, reconciliation, and salvation from wrath.

Paul is not suggesting that as soon as a person finds faith theybecome morally perfect. To suggest so would be nonsense. It is,according to Paul, through Christ that God acts redemptively. ForPaul, Christ is not a symbol of the power of self-giving, but isthe very personification of the God-involving event. In Christ, Godis with us, and we can, together with John Wesley, know ourselvesto be loved and saved.

To Ponder

As we remember the 'conversion' of John Wesleyand consider this distinctively Methodist aspect of theology, howimportant is this element to you?

How does the Methodist Church relate toChristians of other traditions? How do we bring the particularexpressions of our traditions alongside the expressions of those ofother experiences and traditions?

In thinking about the descending Spirit of Pentecost, consider themission of the Church, both locally and globally. How do we, asindividuals and as churches, demonstrate that gracious andwelcoming aspect of God's character in our engagement with theworld around us?