Okay, let’s do a little word association exercise here. I will write a word—a name, actually—and note the image that comes to your mind. Ready?

John Wesley.

Well, what are you thinking? Chances are that we often think of Mr. Wesley as…well, so orthodox, old and wise and pious, just like the founder of any major movement should be. And yet, in many ways, the founder of the Methodist movement was on the margins of his day and ahead of his time.

In the early years of Methodism, someone asked Mr. Wesley to describe what a Methodist is. And, he did so, in a piece that he called “The Character of a Methodist.” You may find it interesting that he wrote this piece reluctantly, since he never intended to found any new sect or denomination. His focus was on calling his Church, the Anglican Church of 18th century England, to account for what Wesley regarded to be its waywardness.

Listen to what he says: “I should rejoice (so little ambitious am I to be the head of any sect or party) if the very name might never be mentioned more, but be buried in eternal oblivion. But if that cannot be, at least let those who will use it, know the meaning of the word they use.”

So, since we use the word on a frequent basis, it may be helpful for us to know its meaning, at least as it was understood by the one who started the whole ball rolling.

Wesley begins “The Character of a Methodist” by reminding us of what the character of a Methodist is not. And, this is where I find him to be wonderfully ahead of his time, or perhaps in touch with a more ancient Christianity than the Christianity of rigid orthodoxy.

There have been many books written recently on the importance of diversity of thought within Christianity. Some of these books remind us that early Christians never agreed on everything and that early Christianity was characterized by much more theological diversity than most of us grew up appreciating. One such book, written by Elaine Pagels at Princeton, is called “Beyond Belief,” and Pagels reminds us that it is much easier to rally diverse people around core practices than it is to attempt to rally diverse people around core beliefs.

Of course, John Wesley has been dead for 218 years, and the world has changed mightily since that long-ago day. But, in Wesley, I find a wonderful foreshadowing of the same kind of understanding we see expressed today by Pagels and others.

So, as Wesley begins “The Character of a Methodist” by sharing what does not characterize a Methodist, here’s what he says.

“The distinguishing marks of a Methodist are not his [or her] opinions of any sort.” The “assenting to this or that scheme of religion,” the “embracing any particular set of notions…are all quite wide of the point.”

Neither is a Methodist distinguished by words or phrases. Further, a Methodist is not distinguished by any particular customs, as is the case in some other religious paths. Our religion “does not lie in the form of our apparel, in the posture of our body, or the covering of our heads; nor yet in abstaining from marriage, or from meats and drinks, which are all good if received with thanksgiving.”

Finally, a Methodist is not someone who seeks to lay the entire religion on one single point of religion, such as the understanding of salvation by faith alone. Any religion that lays the entire “stress” on one single point is a “poor, starved religion.”

So, what is a Methodist? Space does not permit me to recount all of what Wesley says, but our primary distinguishing characteristic is—you guessed it!—love.

A Methodist is one who has the love of God “shed abroad” in his or her heart. And, that love is manifest in fearless joy, deep contentment, constant prayer, purity of heart, love for others, and unity of spirit in a bond of peace.

So, how is it with your soul? How is it with your life? These were questions Mr. Wesley loved to ask. And, were he to ask this or you or me, he would not leave the conversation until we had answered. So, how is it indeed?

Are our hearts full of the love of God? Do we live with a kind of fearless joy Love has made possible in us? Are we content and grateful in all things? Are our hearts always lifted up to God? Do we crucify on a daily basis any “malign affection” within us and seek to raise up within us the fruits of Jesus’ Spirit? Do we have love for others—all others—and do we find ways to concretely demonstrate that love, most especially toward those we find it difficult to love? Do we work fervently to maintain unity of spirit in the bond of peace?

If these things are so, then we might be Methodist.

Peace & Love,
Mark Sargent
Sr. Pastor