Mister Wesley’s Methodism
Sermon By
Thomas F. Bracewell, OSL
Henderson & Little Oak
July, 1995
Scripture Lesson: OT: I Samuel 10:9-10, 16-24.
NT: II Timothy 4:10.
The Introductory Statement
Theology in the Methodist tradition is clear on one thing in particular. Bishop Mack Stokes, an Asbury man; Graduate of Duke and Boston Universities and who was himself one of the great teachers of preachers at Emory University hit the nail squarely on the head when he stated, "Backsliding is something which United Methodists preach and all denominations practice".
If there is one person within the sound of my voice tonight that has not backslidden in their faith, either through thought, word or deed, in either sins of commission or omission, then he or she is extremely blessed and is a candidate for Sainthood. Even the best of humankind live in sin, which for Christians is not the ideal state. Therefore, we are warned to watch for signs of sinfulness and work constantly not to fall into its grasp.
Tonight I want to address four major tenants of John Wesley’s pure Methodist theology. In doing so I remind you that United Methodists, in the majority, believe these philosophical doctrines, but we Methodists also allow the freedom to express ideas that might seem at a variance to these through the basic religious freedoms we so jealously defend.
The Sermon Proper
Even before I entered the ministry and while still a bright-faced youth in high school, I was exposed to the mystery of the Unpardonable Sin. This came mainly through Roman Catholic relatives who feared greatly for the salvation of the Protestant line of Carmichaels in our family on my mother’s side. While these concerned family members could never fully explain to my satisfaction what this unpardonable sin was exactly, the Bible, on the other hand, gives some excellent guidance.
When the Pharisees said that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Satan (Matt. 12:24), Jesus gave a strong answer in saying, "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven; but whoever speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or the age to come" (Matt. 12:31-32). And what is this sin against the Holy Spirit, or as we are prone to say, denying the Holy Spirit?
United Methodist beliefs teach that the only unpardonable sin is that for which we do not or cannot repent. The Pharisees in Matthew were so defiant of Jesus that they called God’s work the work of the Devil. They were so stubborn that they had essentially become hopeless.
Christ was speaking of people whose pride was so great that there was indeed no hope for them. United Methodists reject the dogma of preaching designed to frighten people into believing they might have committed the unpardonable sin. As Mack Stokes puts it in his book Major United Methodist Beliefs, " If you fear that you may have committed the unpardonable sin, you can be sure that you have not done it." He further points out that individuals involved in such sin never care enough to worry about it. Many years ago I asked Doctor Stokes (before he became a Bishop) who would be an example of one who committed the unpardonable sin. He got that little twinkle in his eye and answered, "Tommy, just think about it, the despots like Hitler and Stalin, many ancient Emperors and rulers, some Presidents, most politicians, and all lawyers."
The second tenant United Methodists do not accept is the doctrine of "What is to Be Will Be." We believe it is God who created us with freedom. Historical facts prove beyond any doubt that God does not interfere with that freedom. We believe as Bishop Stokes says, "..that everything happens under the rule of god..but God created people with the power to say yes, and the power to say no." The Scriptures call mankind to "Choose" to Come," to "Repent," to "Seek." This "what is to be will be" is a repugnant form of fatalism that makes us helpless to do anything under our own God-given power. We are warned not to put confidence in astrology, or predictions implying fatalism or in any belief that reduces human beings to puppets. "By Grace are you saved, and that through faith" in itself is a statement of Choice.
And that brings us to a third and major doctrine of Mr Wesley’s Methodism. Some people believe, "Once in Grace always in Grace." What does that mean? Bishop Stokes again put us in focus as he writes,"It means that after we become real Christians we cannot fall away from the life of grace. In other words, it means after we are Christians we have no freedom to turn away from Christ."
In our scriptures tonight we see only two examples given in the Bible of people who started out in faith and end up tragically. (there are many more)....King Saul in the Old testament and Demas in the New.
Methodists believe that human freedom functions at all levels of grace and there is no state of grace which is beyond the possibility of falling. I personally have fallen from grace more than once by turning to powers, that, at the time seemed more powerful and more purposeful in my life. I know that this is a true tenant of our faith because I stand before you as one who has fallen more than simply a single time only to be redeemed through repentance, and restored through grace.
It is also a Methodist teaching that once we have tasted the Christian life, we are not very likely to turn away from it permanently.
With that we come to the final point tonight.... ....Predestination.
What is predestination? Essentially it is the doctrine that God alone decides who will be saved and who will not. It means some are picked out by God for salvation...ie: the doctrine of the "Elect." Methodists reject this doctrine in that we affirm the sovereignty of God and hold that only God can save, but we believe that we may or may not put ourselves in a position where God will do his saving work. We believe we are saved by the Grace of God only and that to receive that grace we must confess our sin and trust in God’s pardon through the Grace in Jesus Christ.
Mack Stokes again points out "...we United Methodists regard it both contrary to the total insight of the Bible and to common sense to suppose that God would fore-ordain that anyone go to hell." John Wesley’s Methodism teaches that Christianity is open to everyone. If this were not the case Wesley would have been content staying as a simple parish priest in the Church of England, never venturing out to preach in the fields and coal mines of England. We would have no need today to evangelize, and to send missionaries to distant shores. Those that are the elect would have it made...the rest would be lost forever. If the doctrine of the Elect had any validity, Christ would not have descended into hell for three days to preach to the lost souls that never had an opportunity to repent before His coming into the world and, just as importantly, Christ would have not commissioned his disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Methodist doctrine, scripturally based as it is, calls on everyone to choose God and Live.
This Calvinistic teaching of "the Elect," came to Methodist Churches through the merger of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Protestant Methodist Church in 1939, and was reenforced again in the merger of Methodists with the EUB’s in the sixties.
IT IS important that you know the difference between Wesleyan Methodism and the lesser doctrines of recent years. It is through the Wesleys and their clear preaching of the word and interpretation of the scriptures that we are what we are, and where we are today.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy spirit. AMEN
