The Life of John Wesley
Summary
TLDRThis lecture delves into the life of John Wesley and the Methodist movement's emergence within 18th-century evangelicalism. Born in 1703, Wesley was influenced by the theological currents of the time, including his mother's dissenting faith and his father's Anglicanism. His strict upbringing and near-death experience at age five shaped his religious fervor. After a transformative 'heart-warming' experience in 1738, Wesley's focus on sanctification and his missionary endeavors in America, particularly Georgia, led to the Methodist Church's establishment. The lecture also touches on Wesley's interactions with the Moravians and his theological development, contrasting with George Whitfield's views.
Takeaways
- 😀 John Wesley is a central figure in the Methodist movement and 18th-century evangelicalism, yet his life and teachings are often misunderstood outside their historical context.
- 🏛️ Wesley's theological development was significantly influenced by the religious and political landscape of 17th-century England, particularly the reign of Charles II.
- 🌟 Along with his brother Charles and George Whitefield, Wesley was instrumental in shaping the Christian voice in the 18th century, especially in the context of the American colonies.
- 🌐 The Methodist movement, with its emphasis on revival and personal holiness, played a crucial role in the democratization of the Christian life and the formation of American evangelicalism.
- 👨👩👧👦 Born in 1703, Wesley was one of 19 children to Samuel and Susanna Wesley, with his mother's dissenting background influencing his religious views.
- 🔥 A formative event in Wesley's life was a childhood house fire from which he was dramatically rescued, an experience he later interpreted as a divine call to service.
- 📚 Wesley's time at Christ Church, Oxford, was marked by intense study and a growing interest in the application of God's law to personal holiness.
- 🙏 The 'Holy Club' at Oxford, which Wesley led, was known for its rigorous spiritual practices and social work, earning them the nickname 'Methodists'.
- 🚢 Wesley's missionary journey to the American colony of Georgia was marked by personal and professional challenges, including a failed relationship and conflicts with the community.
- 💔 Wesley's 'conversion' experience at Aldersgate in 1738, where he felt his heart 'strangely warmed', represented a pivotal moment in his spiritual journey, emphasizing the conquest of sin over justification by faith alone.
- 🌱 The Methodist Church that Wesley would eventually lead combined elements of English dissenting theology, German Lutheran Pietism, and a focus on sanctification and personal holiness.
Q & A
Who is John Wesley and why is he significant?
-John Wesley is a significant figure in the history of Christianity, known as the founder of the Methodist movement within the 18th-century evangelicalism. He is significant because he, along with his brother Charles and George Whitefield, shaped the Christian voice in the English-speaking world during the 18th century, influencing both colonial America and the post-Revolutionary era.
What was the context of John Wesley's rise within the Methodist movement?
-John Wesley's rise within the Methodist movement was influenced by the theological ideas of the 17th century, the reign of Charles II, and the cultural, political, and social changes of the 18th century, including the democratization of the Christian life and the breakdown of old European confessional churches as they moved into the new world.
What were the characteristics of the 'Holy Club' that John Wesley was a part of?
-The 'Holy Club,' also known as the Methodists, was a group that met for rigorous spiritual practices, including prayer, reading Psalms, fasting, and social work such as prison ministry. They were known for their serious approach to their Christian faith and were often mocked for being too serious about their religion.
How did John Wesley's upbringing influence his religious views?
-John Wesley was born into a religious household; his father, Samuel, was a pastor, and his mother, Susanna, was the daughter of a dissenting pastor. Their strict household rules and emphasis on education, particularly in Greek and Latin, as well as spiritual life, significantly influenced Wesley's religious views and his later commitment to a life of sanctification.
What event during John Wesley's childhood is often cited as a significant moment in his life?
-At the age of five, John Wesley was saved from a house fire by neighbors. This event is often cited as significant because Wesley himself later interpreted it as a divine intervention, referring to himself as a 'brand plucked from the fire,' which he saw as a sign of God's plan for him to lead a Reformation and revival in the church.
What was the turning point for John Wesley during his time at Oxford?
-While at Oxford, John Wesley's turning point was his immersion in reading about the Christian life and the application of God's law for personal holiness. This led to a nuanced understanding of sanctification and contributed to the origins of the Methodist movement.
Why did John Wesley travel to the new world?
-John Wesley traveled to the new world to engage in missionary work, particularly with the intention of ministering to those who were moving to Georgia to start over, as well as to the Native Americans. His passion for social justice and the desire to do good works in a radical way drove this decision.
What were the two major crises John Wesley faced while in Savannah?
-The two major crises John Wesley faced in Savannah were his loss of nerve and trust in God during a storm at sea, where he was outdone by the calmness of the Moravians, and his relationship with Sophie Hopkey, which ended with him withholding communion from her and her new husband, leading to his expulsion from Savannah.
What was the significance of John Wesley's experience at Aldersgate on May 24, 1738?
-John Wesley's experience at Aldersgate on May 24, 1738, is considered his conversion experience. He described it as a moment when his heart was 'strangely warmed' as he heard the preface to Luther's Romans commentary read aloud. This event marked a significant shift in his understanding of the Christian life, focusing on the eradication and conquering of sin within oneself.
How did John Wesley's views on sanctification differ from the Lutheran perspective?
-John Wesley's views on sanctification were distinct from the Lutheran perspective in that he emphasized the importance of conquering sin in one's life, which was more aligned with the dissenting and Baptist traditions focused on holiness. Unlike the Lutheran emphasis on justification by faith alone, Wesley's conversion experience and teachings leaned towards the emotional and experiential aspects of faith, influenced by Pietism.
Outlines
🔍 Introduction to John Wesley and the Methodist Movement
This paragraph introduces John Wesley, a key figure in the 18th-century evangelical movement, and the Methodist movement's rise within it. It discusses the misunderstandings surrounding Wesley and the importance of understanding his historical context. The paragraph also highlights the influence of theological ideas from the reign of Charles II on Wesley's beliefs. It sets the stage for exploring Wesley's role in shaping the Christian voice during the Revolutionary era, especially in America, and mentions the challenges of the time, such as slavery and the democratization of the Christian life.
👨👩👧👦 John Wesley's Family Background and Early Life
The second paragraph delves into John Wesley's family life, emphasizing the strict and religious upbringing he received from his parents, Samuel and Susanna Wesley. It mentions the large number of children in the family and the educational and spiritual focus within the household. The paragraph also recounts a dramatic story from Wesley's childhood, where he was saved from a house fire, an event that he later interpreted as a divine calling to lead a religious reformation.
📚 John Wesley's Education and the Beginnings of the Methodist Movement
This paragraph discusses Wesley's academic achievements at Christ Church, Oxford, and his early career as a lecturer. It highlights his growing interest in the Christian life and holiness, leading to the formation of a group known as the 'holy club' or 'Methodist Society.' The group's practices, including prayer, fasting, and social work, are described, as well as the public's reaction to their strict and devoted lifestyle, which earned them the nickname 'Methodists.'
🚢 Wesley's Missionary Journey to Georgia and Challenges
Paragraph four describes John Wesley's missionary venture to Georgia, USA, where he aimed to minister to debtors and Native Americans. It details the hardships he faced during the sea voyage, including a storm that tested his faith, and the subsequent failure of his mission in Savannah due to personal and interpersonal conflicts. This section also touches on Wesley's encounter with the Moravians and the impact of their faith on him during the journey.
🔥 Wesley's Conversion Experience and the Emergence of Methodism
The final paragraph explores Wesley's 'conversion' experience at a Moravian meeting in London, where he felt his heart was 'strangely warmed.' It discusses the significance of this event in his spiritual journey and how it led to the development of his theology of sanctification. The paragraph also outlines the blending of Wesley's dissenting background with the pietistic influences from the Moravians, which would shape the Methodist Church's distinct approach to Christian life and holiness.
🌟 The Impact of John Wesley on Protestantism and Holiness
The sixth paragraph reflects on the lasting impact of John Wesley on Protestantism, particularly in the areas of Arminian theology and the focus on sanctification. It contrasts Wesley's views with traditional Lutheran teachings and highlights how his experiences and beliefs reshaped the understanding of the Christian life within the Methodist denomination and beyond.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡John Wesley
💡Methodist Movement
💡Evangelicalism
💡Sanctification
💡Holiness Movements
💡Great Awakening
💡Arminianism
💡Lutheran Pietism
💡Dissenting Churches
💡Social Reform
Highlights
John Wesley is a central figure in the Methodist movement and 18th-century evangelicalism, yet his context and doctrines are often misunderstood.
Wesley's theological ideas were shaped by the religious and political landscape of the 17th and 18th centuries, including the reign of Charles II.
John Wesley, along with his brother Charles and George Whitefield, were instrumental in defining the Christian voice in the 18th century.
The Methodist movement influenced the cultural, political, and social decisions of the Revolutionary era, including the development of American evangelicalism.
Wesley and Whitefield are considered the first British 'invasion' of a robust Christian life understanding in the American colonies.
John Wesley was born in 1703 and was the 15th of 19 children to a pastor and a mother from a dissenting pastor's family.
Wesley's upbringing was strict, with a focus on education and religious devotion, influenced by his mother Susanna.
A significant event in Wesley's life was a childhood house fire from which he was dramatically rescued, an experience he linked to his divine calling.
Wesley's educational achievements at Christ Church, Oxford, included graduating with a BA and MA and becoming a lecturer.
Wesley's time at Oxford was marked by a deepening interest in the application of God's law to his life and the pursuit of holiness.
The 'Holy Club' at Oxford, which Wesley led, was known for its rigorous spiritual practices and social work, including prison ministry.
The term 'Methodist' was initially a derogatory label due to the group's strict methods and focus on sanctification, but Wesley embraced it.
Wesley's missionary work in the new world, particularly Georgia, was driven by his faith and a desire to help those starting over.
Wesley's relationship with Sophie Hopkey in Savannah ended badly, leading to a scandal that forced him to return to London.
Wesley's 'conversion' experience at Aldersgate in 1738 was a pivotal moment, where he felt his heart was 'strangely warmed'.
Wesley's understanding of conversion was not about justification but about the eradication and conquering of sin in one's life.
Wesley's theology combined elements of Lutheran Pietism, English dissenting traditions, and a focus on holiness and sanctification.
The Methodist movement under Wesley's leadership represented a new era of Arminianism and a distinct perspective on the Christian life.
Transcripts
in this lecture looking at John Wesley
and the rise of the Methodist movement
within the new evangelicalism of the
18th century
John Wesley is a man that is both widely
known and yet often misunderstood it's
not that we don't know much about him
it's that at times those who claim his
name as part of their theological or
denominational heritage or even those
from without who might have trouble with
some of his doctrines don't spend enough
time understanding the context the way
he flows out of the 17th century into
the 18th century in the ways that the
theological ideas of descent coming from
the reign of Charles the second and
Beyond really shapes
Wesley's understanding of the Christian
life and of salvation John Wesley though
and his brother Charles as well as
George Whitfield or three the most
important men to really shape the
Christian voice in the grammar during
the entirety of the 18th century and
given that this is the Revolutionary era
and that there are so many decisions
being made both culturally politically
and socially particularly in the new
world with things like slavery becoming
ingrained as part of the American
identity as well as the democratization
as we call it of the Christian life the
breakdown of the old established ways of
being a confessional church from Europe
as it moves into the new world as there
is this melting pot not only of
ethnicities and languages but also the
melting pot of different denominational
trends and given the Wesleyan and
Whitfield Ian's understanding of revival
really shapes the context of what would
become American evangelicalism the
Wesley's in Whitefield I always say were
really the first British Invasion not so
much like the Beatles but here in this
case more like the invasion of a new
British robust understanding of the
Christian life and of the need for
revival and revival istic preaching
though we are used to discussing
nondenominational movements in the
charismatic movements and
all these things from the 20th century
you really have to understand that the
Methodist movement shaped so much of the
early days of both colonial America and
the post Revolutionary era of what it
meant to be doing Church here in North
America so to begin with we're going to
look in this lecture at who John Wesley
was what was his rise to become a
preacher in a revivalist and an
organizer of the Methodist Church and
then in our next lecture we're going to
look at more of John Wesley's theology
and we're going to contrast that with
the theology of George Whitfield but for
now we look at the man John Wesley
Wesley was born in 1703 just as the 18th
century was dawning in the city of
Epworth it was the 15th of 19 children
to Samuel and Susanna Wesley now know
it's not the case that they had 19
little ones running around
unfortunately the tragic circumstances
of so much of child-rearing during this
day meant that only 9 lived beyond
infancy still though 19 children 9 of
whom live is a pretty staggeringly high
number this is part of the ethos of this
day this is a day before birth control
but also this is a day when so many
infants died that it was not uncommon to
have a significantly large number of
children at least by the standards of
the modern world
Samuel and Susannah are a real powerful
combination as parents for young John
and Charles Samuel himself was a pastor
there in the city of Epworth
and he was a well educated man he had
studied at Oxford
Susannah though gets the lion's share of
the attention I always say Susannah is
one of the great three mothers of the
church no not so much for what she
herself writes or says or does but for
the way that she nurtures her children
the three mothers by the way in my
estimation or Constantine's mom Helena
Agustin's mom Monica who almost
literally chases down Augustine for the
faith and here with Susanna Susanna was
the daughter of a dissenting pastor now
by this point we've carried ourselves
through a lot of that material we've
noticed how from Charles the first on
down to Charles the second after the
restoration you have arised this group
this more or less in a Baptist inspired
or at least the impulses within a
baptism are renewed here this group
called the dissenting group a wide
variety of all different kinds of
stripes theologically and culturally who
took issue with the established church
so right then and there you can see that
Susanna is not something to be trifled
with let's say in terms of her faith she
takes it seriously
both Samuel and Susanna raised their
children in a very very strict household
all kinds of rules and regulations
things that were again somewhat common
in this day and age but Susanna's
application of these rules were pretty
significant some find them to be a bit
harsh but this is a different century
and in this day and age it was not
considered to be too harsh
the children were well educated it was
assumed that they would be tutored by
their parents in both Greek and Latin
Susanna kept charge of their spiritual
life as often as once a day she would
sit down for a little bit of time with
each of her children to assess how they
had been that day and to discuss the
things of God not a whole lot is known
about John's early years there is one
more
apocryphal story it's a true story but
the implication of it is certainly
apocryphal and that is in 1709 at the
age of five some embers fell upon the
roof and the entire house went up in
flames all of the family and the kids
except for John made it out of the house
by the time they noticed that Little
John Wesley was there on the second
floor in a window the staircase to reach
him was itself up in flames and the
house was really in danger of burning
down on top of them some neighbors one
man sitting on the shoulders of another
managed to grab him out of the
second-story window
saving his life and John really does see
this and he actually creates some of the
mythology here as part and parcel to the
serious call God had upon him he
describes himself as the quote brand
plucked from the fire and as the later
years were on and as his ministry grew
he always looked back to moments like
this but this one in particular as
examples of God's unfolding of his plan
that he would lead a Reformation and a
revival or the church not only in
England but in the new world John went
on to Christ Church Oxford in 1720 one
of the preeminent colleges there in the
city of Oxford he was a really
precocious student he graduated with his
BA and his MA and eventually he becomes
a lecturer there in a fellow teaching
Greek and the New Testament one of the
real turning points for him personally
was it was during this time that he
began to read all kinds of things on the
Christian life and on the application of
God's law to himself for the sake of
holiness now it's important to note here
dissenting churches in a Baptist
churches in a number of churches and
theological traditions now in the
English context are not going to have
this Lutheran allergy to discussion of
the law of holiness and the Christian
life Wesley is often credited with
inspiring and starting holiness
movements as they would eventually be
called Wesley himself as we'll see in
our next lecture talked about something
called Christian perfection and even in
the context of what he calls his
conversion
there is this belief that the Christian
life is not really begun until you have
conquered sin now he is at times a bit
ambiguous here does he mean pure
perfection
or does he mean something like Christian
victory over gross sin where we see
sanctification worked out the complexity
of the problem that was so ironclad for
Luther between justification on the one
hand and sanctification on the other as
we said in our lecture on Luther he put
these two as far as the east is from
west as John is studying at Oxford
though he's reading a number of texts
and subjects on the Christian life and
he really begins to nuance his
understanding of how God's law ought to
be applied to his life after some time
in Oxford though he is called to be a
pastor in a neighboring village with his
father so it goes back to the area of
Epworth and he's a pastor for two years
only at the end of that is he called
back to Oxford at the urging and
prompting of one of his connections
there to return to join up and take a
junior fellowship so that he would not
lose his lectureship at Oxford it's
during the second stint in Oxford again
as a junior fellow that the origins of
the Methodist movement really Gunder way
Charles Mosley had moved to Oxford by
this point he was a younger brother and
he had taken up his studies while he was
there though Charles and a couple of
others began to you might say have a
small group together or an
accountability group together they met
in the morning and they would pray and
do all kinds of things together almost
always focusing on the Christian life
and sanctification when he arrives there
again himself John really takes the
reins of this and this movement what
would eventually be called the holy club
takes on a new serious tone on most days
they met from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. to
pray read the Psalms and do a number of
different spiritual devotional practices
it's almost you might say like they're
living a monastic life Wednesday and
Friday they fast there are honest vows
taken that they will ideally not marry
and will commit themselves radically to
the gospel they also began to do social
work this is one of the more
underappreciated things about Wesley
they started going to prisons in doing
prison ministry they really reached out
to the least in their midst over time
though they began to attract he might
say the wrong kind of attention it's not
that people were necessarily opposed to
sanctification in the context of Oxford
rather you might say that people were
relatively unconvinced that this was
even good at all this is again the 18th
century this is what you're starting to
see a malaise and a lack of conviction
about being really serious about your
Christian life however for those who are
Christian overtly Christians there in
Oxford they start to use words that
should be very familiar to us if we know
our 16th and 17th century history they
begin to be called things like the
enthusiasts which is a code word an
enthusiast is exactly the word that
Luther used to describe those who were
reformed now in the context of Luther's
day he's referring to the sacraments by
this point though in the 18th century an
enthusiast was more of one of these
dissenting radicals and so the holy club
and the Wesley brothers and a couple of
others are being mocked and scorned for
not telling the line of traditional
religion they're too serious about their
faith they gain some attention as well
because one in their myths died
prematurely in quite suddenly and people
began to blame the fact that he had
fasted and done all these more excessive
things at least according to the
standards of Oxford in this day and that
that might have hastened his death now
there is no evidence of this
Wesley himself points out that the man
had stopped fasting for a year and a
half before his death there's no way
that that had caused anything but it's
that attention though from the death of
one of the members where the name
Methodist comes from there was a
pamphlet that described these quote
Oxford Methodists and in a letter around
this time
Wesley actually refers to the name
Methodist you might say as a badge of
honor they were being called the
Methodists and something of a play on
words that these were men who thought
that they could through a certain method
through a certain devotional practice
affect their own sanctification
Wesley takes it as a badge of honor he's
saying fine call us the Methodists we
are people who care about the method of
sanctification and about the progress in
the process of the Christian life as
this spiritual experience deepens Wesley
ends up taking up a missionary activity
to the new world again he seems to be
driven by his faith to want to go and do
good works in a more we might say
radical way what was happening about the
same time is there's a very important
member of parliament by the name of
egill Thorpe and Oglethorpe like Wesley
was really committed to the least of
those in their midst
oppan hopes passion was for the
cessation of what was known in this day
as debtors prison those who got into
debt depending on how much could be
thrown into prison and until the debts
were paid back you often would stay in
that prison now obviously you can see
the problem right here if you are in
prison how in the world are you going to
pay back your debts in a manner of
speaking it was essentially a death
knell to someone's life or their career
well Okafor really lobbies hard against
this excessive penalization of falling
into debt a number of debtors prisons
are shut down
however the problem is is you're
spilling all these prisoners out onto
the streets now with no money still in
debt technically speaking and often they
were unhireable well Oglethorpe actually
puts a proposal before Parliament in
which some southern lands in the new
world will be established as a new
colony to rehabilitate those who had
fallen into debt and who needed just
simply from an economic standpoint a new
way of life and so in 1732 the state of
Georgia is founded through the action of
Oglethorpe in order to provide a place
for people to come and start over well
the city of Savannah as it would
eventually be called was one of the
first places where they landed Wesley
decides that he is going to join up with
this group he's going to go and minister
to those who are moving to the new world
to start over and he hoped he was going
to do missionary work amongst Native
Americans no again it need to be noted
not everyone who moves to
during this time is themselves a debtor
in the worst possible sense rather this
is a haven for them others came for
economic reasons etc but the central
purpose of it was to be a place again to
start over and it speaks to Wesley's
passion here he wants to go to where
those who have in part just come out of
prison or maybe those who are starting
over all kinds of reasons that people
are moving to this new area of Georgia
but Wesley decides that he is going to
move there and he is going to become the
pastor of this new fledgling community
unfortunately it all went downhill
pretty fast there are a number of
stories that really provide us evidence
that Wesley's world you might say is
beginning to unravel just a bit on the
boat right over actually and we've noted
this in a few places a trip across the
sea in this day and age was really
pretty chaotic and hectic until the
discovery of instrumentation to be able
to measure longitude it would not be too
extreme to say that you're essentially
sailing blind you know where you are in
terms of latitude based on the horizon
on the Sun and other kinds of things but
you have no idea how far you've made it
across the Atlantic Ocean how much more
time is left and it could be frankly
pretty nerve-racking we noted in our
lecture on the 18th century let a trip
over the Atlantic could take anywhere
from 21 22 days
at its best to a whopping three months
to get all the way across the Atlantic
Ocean depending on currents depending on
the winds the ships during this time
were also not necessarily massive well
what happens during the trip is Wesley
losses frankly some of his nerve his
patience and his trust in God is tested
on the boat with him were a number of
people who we will talk about in a
minute known as the Moravians their
leader this time was made the name of
August Spangenberg Spangenberg is coming
to the new world in part to find a place
for the Moravians to have new land and
new opportunities in the new colonies he
actually heads straight for Pennsylvania
at some point where he founds the first
Moravian Church in America he also is
the man who founds the city of
nazareth in pennsylvania Spangenberg in
other words is vitally important in a
very key figure in this Moravian
movement well the Moravians again coming
out of Lutheran Pietism are
significantly passionate and confident
you might say about their salvation and
about their place should God decide to
take them home at one point there was a
storm that erupted and Wesley losing his
lunch quaking and shaking and fearful
there on the boat was struck by how
peaceful and calm the Moravians were
during this ordeal they were singing the
Psalms together quite patient realizing
that should their life be forfeit that
they rest in Christ meanwhile Wesley
again is just simply shaking like a leaf
that's a real crack in the armor here's
a man who frankly had probably a good
bit of pride he knew he was about his
serious faith and yet here when it was
actually tested when he thought his life
was up he was bested by those from the
Moravian Church the second major crisis
that Wesley comes across while they're
in the city of Savannah is his
relationship with Sophie Hop key Wesley
arrives to the area Savannah and he's
mentoring essentially you might say as a
high churchmen he's big when liturgy
he's big on the Book of Common Prayer at
this point of course he is an anglican
pastor an Anglican priest he follows the
Book of Common Prayer he does all kinds
of different things very much you might
say from the high churchmen perspective
well as you can imagine in the colonial
period there were all kinds of folks
there in the new world who were not
necessarily positive on the state church
or the traditional way that things were
being run he seems in other words to
have chafed relationally with a few
people his relationship was simply
hockey though is a real microcosm of
where Wesley's personality is going he
is attracted to her he even seems to
have a certain amount of love for her
he wants to marry her at some point but
eventually he comes to the conclusion
that they are not meant for each other
and then Sophie aapki almost with a
little bit too much haste marries
someone else there in the community the
issue though is
that Wesley is also their pastor and so
in a real foolish move applying the
strict letter of the law from the
Anglican service and the liturgy Wesley
as the pastor sensing notice sensing
that Sophie's concern for the matters of
the faith had grown a bit dim now that
she was happily married meant that he
should withhold communion from her not
just um her though but also from her new
beau
this is retaliatory obviously the next
service he withholds communion from her
and from her new husband and it sets off
a chain of events that eventually gets
Wesley kicked out of Savannah he has to
flee and he runs with his tail between
his legs back to London so much so for
the missionary going off to do so much
good it's around this time where a real
depressed morose and a beat-down Wesley
remembers the Moravians who had been on
the ship with him heading over to
Savannah when he's back in London and he
actually attends on one evening the 24th
of May 17:38
a Moravian meeting there in the city of
London at a place called Aldersgate now
you recall from a lecture on lutheran
Pietism that there is this movement
towards not works but towards the
emotional life towards the passionate
true christianity as people like Spencer
and others began to talk about in
Germany a century before well they're
Aldersgate there was read aloud the
preface to Luther's Romans commentary
again Luther the great man about the
gospel and Wesley describes this
actually as his conversion and he says
quote my heart was strangely warmed it
is some halfway point between a
pietistic emotional response and
something that Wesley would go on to
describe later as a conversion - he
thinks the actual Christian faith now
there's been all kinds of
head-scratching about this and fights
and debates the biggest problem of all
is how do you understand a man who has
been about the Christian life his entire
life who has been a pastor for years who
has been a missionary to the new world
and who has sought the things of God and
rested on salvation
at least all these years how can you
describe this in 1738 as his conversion
well the answer is in part that Wesley
himself describes it as a conversion the
central problem though is when Wesley
describes what that conversion is it's
very clear he's not talking about
justification or a sinner's prayer he
says in a letter that what he has
converted to and what he believes
conversion is is finally the eradication
and the conquering of sin in your life
he says sin had ward within him and
because of this conversion as he calls
it in 1738 sin no longer dominated him
now again from a Lutheran perspective
from an early Protestant perspective
that sounds suspect that sounds you
might say Pelagian leaning something
like this
but where's Wesley coming from he's
coming from this dissenting in a Baptist
relatively holiness focused
sanctification focused perspective even
though he's been an Anglican all these
years there is certainly almost a DNA
within him that is seeking not so much
the conversion through the sinner's
prayer or through resting alone on the
works of Christ but rather this yearning
for conquering sin in his life well in
1738 he has found this now the question
is is how does pietism link up with this
dissenting movement there in the English
context well in part the answer is that
connection happens you might say
personally in John Wesley's life what do
I mean well I'm often asked to describe
what EV angelical ISM is because Evan
Jellicle ISM in the modern context and
in the historical context is Protestant
but it also has different impulses and
it doesn't at times you might say feel
quite the same well without being too
pejorative or too overly simplistic when
asked what Evan Jellicle ISM is
historically I often say it's the
Protestant understanding of
justification in particular that of
Luther with the Stingley and
understanding of the sacraments
virtually no evangelical in
the context of the Americas particularly
not after Wesley tends to believe in a
pure physical eating of Eucharist
so they trends wing lien and that
combination syncs up with the pietistic
movement of the emotional life of
regeneration small groups and revivalism
how do all those things come together
well in this case in the person of John
Wesley they come together in his life
here's a man who was raised by a mother
of a dissenting pastor he had himself an
Anglican and now he has described his
conversion with these Piatt 'test
from the Moravian Church not only that
but in that same year
Wesley takes a pilgrimage to Haran hoot
where Count von Sansa Dorf had founded
the Moravian Church from the very
beginning Wesley you might say will
combine a number of different
theological and ecclesiastical ament's
within his own self-identity he will not
simply become Moravian again he's going
to go on to establish the Methodist
denomination but he will incorporate all
kinds of ideas about how German Lutheran
Pietism should be shaped in the context
of holiness now as we'll see
particularly when we look at our next
lecture the shift the change in the
person of Wesley is that Wesley is not
Lutheran he has very little concern
frankly for Luther's concern about the
differentiation between justification
and sanctification if anything Wesley is
alter committed to the subject of
sanctification in a way that would make
him fundamentally opposed to the
Lutheran faith that you do not seek
sanctification because to do so would be
to justify or at least appear to be
justifying yourself by works now as
we'll see in our next lecture that's
unfair to describe Wesley as being non
Lutheran however with the coming of John
Wesley and with his conversion here and
with his rise eventually to be head of a
new Methodist Church you see a new day
dawning where the Arminian perspective
as it was known a century before from
the Senate of dort and from the Dutch
regions gets reshaped and remoulded to
come the Weslie and holiness and our
minion perspective on the Christian life
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