Thinking Outside the Church is part of our Wesleyan heritage . . . and in the years ahead, we may need to embrace even more of our theological past to create our future.
Consider, for example, the church itself--and how Wesleyans have always defined "the church". In other traditions, the church is sometimes regarded as a gathering of God's elect, a collection of people who had been called out of the world. In some traditions, even Christ's sacrifice at Calvary is deemed effective only for those who are elected by God's favor. God abandons the rest of humanity, or does not "call" them to redemption.
In Wesleyan theology there is an affirmation that God's grace has been, and is, effective for all humanity. Christ died for the world (everyone) and God continues to call all people. The church is not a collection of elected people, but a body of redeemed people who have responded to God's grace and who are sent by the Spirit to serve others. Instead of election, the Wesleyan way emphasizes the grace of God, the free will of humanity, and our partnership with the Holy Spirit to continue the work of Christ for the redemption of the world.
There is a difference in how we express our understanding of the world, the church, and of life itself.
For example, sometimes you will hear folks say, "Everything happens for a reason."
In Wesleyan theology, we do not see evil, destruction, war, hunger, death, or poverty as part of God's plan for humanity. Rather, we believe that much happens in life that is harsh or evil, but with God's help we can endure some hardships, change others, and work to create a better path. Much happens in life that is beyond our control, certainly, but God's grace pervades all of life (and all lives) and by faith we can set out with God, every day, to create new paths and new forms of service and healing.
How we understand God and the world around us does impact our belief about the church. In Wesleyan theology, we are not called to be "insiders", but "outsiders". Hence, we are called "out" to be the church, to serve as the church, and to look beyond the church to where God is calling us to go.
What do you think of the Wesleyan way?
Consider, for example, the church itself--and how Wesleyans have always defined "the church". In other traditions, the church is sometimes regarded as a gathering of God's elect, a collection of people who had been called out of the world. In some traditions, even Christ's sacrifice at Calvary is deemed effective only for those who are elected by God's favor. God abandons the rest of humanity, or does not "call" them to redemption.
In Wesleyan theology there is an affirmation that God's grace has been, and is, effective for all humanity. Christ died for the world (everyone) and God continues to call all people. The church is not a collection of elected people, but a body of redeemed people who have responded to God's grace and who are sent by the Spirit to serve others. Instead of election, the Wesleyan way emphasizes the grace of God, the free will of humanity, and our partnership with the Holy Spirit to continue the work of Christ for the redemption of the world.
There is a difference in how we express our understanding of the world, the church, and of life itself.
For example, sometimes you will hear folks say, "Everything happens for a reason."
In Wesleyan theology, we do not see evil, destruction, war, hunger, death, or poverty as part of God's plan for humanity. Rather, we believe that much happens in life that is harsh or evil, but with God's help we can endure some hardships, change others, and work to create a better path. Much happens in life that is beyond our control, certainly, but God's grace pervades all of life (and all lives) and by faith we can set out with God, every day, to create new paths and new forms of service and healing.
How we understand God and the world around us does impact our belief about the church. In Wesleyan theology, we are not called to be "insiders", but "outsiders". Hence, we are called "out" to be the church, to serve as the church, and to look beyond the church to where God is calling us to go.
What do you think of the Wesleyan way?
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