Key points:
- Following a time of division, The United Methodist Church has an opportunity for renewal by recapturing the vision of John and Charles Wesley.
- This means being people who embrace inclusion and emphasize Christlike practice, Scriptural dynamism, spiritual growth, missional character and deep love.
- These characteristics represent what John Wesley called the recovery of true religion.
Photo courtesy of the author.
Commentaries
Following a tumultuous year, United Methodists now stand in a liminal space that separates us from the past and opens a door into a future filled with hope.
This is a particularly good moment to think about a refreshed Wesleyan vision of The United Methodist Church. A new vision of what it means to be united is emerging from the pain of schism. A number of characteristics will identify a church renewed as we recapture the vision of John and Charles Wesley.
We are called to be church of wide embrace, Christlike practice, Scriptural dynamism, spiritual growth and missional character. The prayers and the hymns of our church underscore these values and practices.
United Methodists are called to be a church of wide embrace. Those who refused to leave the church embrace an inclusive vision of our community. Everyone is welcome; everyone is invited to share their gifts. A collect — or prayer — of the church reminds us why:
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace. So, clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you, for the honor of your name. Amen.
Jesus humbled himself, taking on the form of a servant. Humility is a critical characteristic of a refreshed church. Most people in our cultures view the church as judgmental, arrogant and hypocritical. We want to present a completely different image to the world. “If so low a child as I may to your great glory live,” Charles Wesley prayed, “claim me for your service, claim all I have and all I am.”
Methodists are not fundamentalists or biblical literalists. The Wesleys gave us a much more dynamic approach to Scripture. When we engage the words of Scripture and invite the Holy Spirit to be our guide, those dead words become the “living Word” for us.
Our dynamic approach to Scripture means that we take the current context seriously. The truths that have emerged through science, in particular, do not contradict the Truth of Christ. We seek the Light of Christ in Scripture in light of the emerging truth in God’s world.
The continuing United Methodist people will be characterized by their emphasis on spiritual growth. This has always been a hallmark of the Wesleyan way. This is why intimate small groups played such a major role in our origins.
If the fullest possible love in all things is our goal, then we must grow into it. It just does not happen. Fellowship provides growth. This is why John Wesley claimed that the fruits of intimate connection with others included peace, joy, love and zeal for every good word and work.
Charles sang:
Enlarge, inflame, and fill my heart
With growing, boundless love divine,
So shall I all my strength exert,
And love all with a zeal like thine.
Early Methodism existed for the purposes of God’s mission of love in the world. We pray, “All day long, great God of light, you are working for good in the world.” The refreshed church will partner with God in God’s good work and be noted for this.
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The primary practices associated with this exciting aspect of our discipleship are acts of compassion and justice. We have no mission but to serve in these ways. A refreshed church seeks to care for all and spread the word of liberation to those oppressed and abused.
The rise of xenophobia, nationalism and nativism in our nation and world will call upon our steadfast proclamation of God’s love for all people in Christ. We will need to be those in the world who transform hostility into hospitality. We will bear witness to the extravagant, unconditional and unbounded love of God.
These characteristics of a refreshed church represent what John Wesley simply called the recovery of true religion.
“What is true religion?” he asked. It is neither more nor less than love. Love more than anything else characterizes the refreshed church. True religion is the love of God and every human being, and even more, the love of the whole creation.
If this love rules the life of our whole church, shaping all our attitudes and actions, what an amazing force for good we will be in the world.
God is calling the refreshed United Methodist Church to be a people of wide embrace, Christlike practice, Scriptural dynamism, spiritual growth, missional character and deep love.
Nothing stands in the way of our being known as the most loving family anyone has ever experienced.
Chilcote is a research fellow at Wesley House in Cambridge, England.
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