CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Recently, 50 plus scholars, theologians, and pastors from varied Methodist/Wesleyan backgrounds gathered for an event called the Next Methodism. There they produced a document called the Faith Once Delivered: A Wesleyan Witness. In the coming weeks, we will cover parts of their work in this blog. 

Paragraphs 56-63…Creation 

Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.~ Mark 16:15

We are blessed to live in a beautiful world.  Walks through the woods, sunsets painted upon the sky, serendipity in the journey – all of it begun with the Word spoken…’let there be,’ all of it the work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We take it for granted as we take the air we breathe for granted for it has always been there throughout our whole existence.  As we pause, and pay attention – we notice a few things.

Our God has ordered creation in a way which engulfs our curiosity and is recorded as the sciences.  The blessings therein and life gained through struggle give us a window into the benevolence and justice of our God.  By making creation good, God has shown us his glory.  By sustaining creation we see our God to be truly a fountain and foundation of life.  By giving us beauty through ongoing processes, we can see God’s grace.  Living in God’s creation, we see potential and purpose, promise and presence.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” Psalm 19:1

Challenge – Go beyond the paved paths of civilization and enter again upon the wild woods, walk along the bubbling brook, or gaze across the glassy lake – and ponder the wonders of our God.

Recently, 50 plus scholars, theologians, and pastors from varied Methodist/Wesleyan backgrounds gathered for an event called the Next Methodism. There they produced a document called the Faith Once Delivered: A Wesleyan Witness. In the coming weeks, we will cover parts of their work in this blog.  

Paragraphs 50-55…The Holy Spirit 

The Holy Spirit is not a passive actor to be discussed from a distance, but rather an active agent throughout all of Scripture and into our very lives.  The Third person of the Trinity draws us into God’s work as the Spirit restores the image of God in us. 

The Holy Spirit empowers our church and gives xaris or gifts for the church to be built up.  By this work Truth is revealed and power is made manifest.  Life in the Spirit, most clearly seen in the life of Jesus, brings us peace, joy, and mighty deeds. 

May the Holy Spirit reveal the fullness of God in your life this week.  Let us part now with the words of Charles Wesley:

Spirit of faith, come down,
reveal the things of God,
and make to us the Godhead known,
and witness with the blood.
‘Tis thine the blood to apply
and give us eyes to see,
who did for every sinner die
hath surely died for me.

No one can truly say
that Jesus is the Lord,
unless thou take the veil away
and breathe the living Word.
Then, only then, we feel
our interest in his blood,
and cry with joy unspeakable,
“Thou art my Lord, my God!”

“Spirit of Faith Come Down”

In anticipation of Central hosting the True^North Bible conference this evening and tomorrow (come at 5:30 to register if you have not already), here are some of John Wesley’s thoughts on Scripture.

The following is an excerpt  -from the “Preface” to Explanatory Notes Upon the Old Testament:

This is the way to understand the things of God; Meditate thereon day and night; So shall you attain the best knowledge; even to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. And this knowledge will lead you, to love Him, because he hath first loved us: yea, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. Will there not then be all that mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus? And in consequence of this, while you joyfully experience all the holy tempers described in this book, you will likewise be outwardly holy as He that hath called you is holy, in all manner of conversation.

“If you desire to read the scripture in such a manner as may most effectually answer this end, would it not be advisable,

• To set apart a little time, if you can, every morning and evening for that purpose?

• At each time if you have leisure, to read a chapter out of the Old, and one out of the New Testament: is you cannot do this, to take a single chapter, or a part of one?

• To read this with a single eye, to know the whole will of God, and a fixt resolution to do it? In order to know his will, you should,

• Have a constant eye to the analogy of faith; the connection and harmony there is between those grand, fundamental doctrines, Original Sin, Justification by Faith, the New Birth, Inward and Outward Holiness.

• Serious and earnest prayer should be constantly used, before we consult the oracles of God, seeing “scripture can only be understood thro’ the same Spirit whereby “it was given.” Our reading should likewise be closed with prayer, that what we read may be written on our hearts.

• It might also be of use, if while we read, we were frequently to pause, and examine ourselves by what we read, both with regard to our hearts, and lives. This would furnish us with matter of praise, where we found God had enabled us to conform to his blessed will, and matter of humiliation and prayer, where we were conscious of having fallen short. And whatever light you then receive, should be used to the uttermost, and that immediately. Let there be no delay. Whatever you resolve, begin to execute the first moment you can. So shall you find this word to be indeed the power of God unto present and eternal salvation.”

~John Wesley

Recently, 50 plus scholars, theologians, and pastors from varied Methodist/Wesleyan backgrounds gathered for an event called the Next Methodism. There they produced a document called the Faith Once Delivered: A Wesleyan Witness. In the coming weeks, we will cover parts of their work in this blog.

In this section, the authors work on sharing about God and about how Christians have spoken of God throughout history. God is unified and one.  God is personal and infinite.  God is relational.  Yet God is not contained by our definitions and is much more than many of the labels we have given Him.  God is more than the limited gods we have created in our own time.

Reading this section reminds me of the importance for followers of Jesus to not just read their Bibles, but to be curious about how others around the world and throughout history have articulated their faith.  Not all who worship a god or who go to church have a desire to worship the True God.  The God of the Trinity has an identity which stands out for us to adore.

Here is an excerpt from the section on God the Father:

38. The term “Father” is inherently relational. One cannot understand or speak of the Father without reference to the Son. God is eternally Father, and the Son is eternally begotten, just as the Spirit proceeds eternally from the Father and the Son. Wesley notes that Christ shares a unity of essence with the Father, being altogether “supreme, eternal, independent” and that Christ is “distinct from God the Father,” “the Word whom the Father begot or spoke from eternity” (Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, John 1:1). Something similar can be said of the Holy Spirit, who is distinct and yet, like the Father and the Son, is Lord.

Father God, draw near to us once more.  We give you praise for your creation.  We give thanks for your ongoing works.  We relish your unending love.  We thank you for the Spirit of Adoption Christ gave us in Baptism for us to know you as Father.  May your will become ours.  In Jesus name. Amen.

Recently, 50 plus scholars, theologians, and pastors from varied Methodist/Wesleyan backgrounds gathered for an event called the Next Methodism. There they produced a document called the Faith Once Delivered: A Wesleyan Witness. In the coming weeks, we will cover parts of their work in this blog.

The vast majority of people you meet believe in God.  However, we do not all believe in the same God.  Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Pagans, and others recognize the power of the supernatural in the world.  The description of the various gods differ radically.

This is why this Wesleyan document begins with the Attributes of God.  The attributes are but our attempts at comprehending God.  God as revealed in the Bible is more than we can imagine yet allows us to gaze at the beautiful mystery. To sum up the attributes, God is eternal, immutable, perfect, simple, good, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, holy, spirit, and triune. The language in the document has some theological density, but it is clear and direct on these points.

35. There is an expansiveness to God’s love for humanity that, through the Incarnation and the gift of the Spirit, invites humankind into the life of the Trinity and makes us partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). A particular emphasis in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition is the communal nature of this invitation. Human participation is not a private but a corporate experience through the communion of the Church. The historic classes, bands, and societies of Methodism are examples of how this communion is maintained and, thus, how the community of the Church is a fellowship that mirrors the loving unity of the Trinity.

Lord, our Creator and Triune God, we thank You for the ways in which You have revealed Yourself to us.  Give us eyes to see You afresh this day and wonder.  May our hearts begin to comprehend your goodness and reflect it to others.  May our community be formed to be more like the holy community of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.