Wesleyan theology

Wesleyan theology is a tradition in Protestant Christianity that grew from the work of the Wesley brothers, John and Charles, in the 18th century. It is also called Wesleyan-Arminian or Methodist theology. The teachings come from their sermons, writings, and hymns, as well as from other early leaders like John William Fletcher.

In 1736, John and Charles Wesley went to the Georgia colony in America as Christian missionaries. But they returned feeling discouraged. Later, especially John in 1738, they had deep religious experiences that changed their lives. They started a movement inside the Church of England, focusing on personal faith and living a holy life. They believed that after a person experiences the New Birth, their life should show growth in grace and victory over sin.

Wesleyan theology is named after the Wesley brothers and also after Jacobus Arminius. It places strong importance on preaching, sharing the faith, and personal experiences. Key ideas include the new birth, feeling sure of one's faith, growing in goodness, becoming fully holy, and showing holiness in everyday life. John Wesley wrote about these beliefs in his Sunday Service, using ideas from the Articles of Religion but leaving out strong Calvinistic views. This theology holds that the Bible is the main authority and agrees with the early church's beliefs about Jesus.

Background

See also: Anglican Arminianism

Wesleyan-Arminianism grew as a way to explain Christianity differently from the teachings of Calvinism. Arminianism is a study by Jacobus Arminius from the Netherlands, who believed in free will instead of strict Calvinist ideas. In 1610, after Arminius passed away, his followers, the Remonstrants led by Simon Episcopius, shared their ideas in a document called the Five Articles of Remonstrance.

Wesleyan theology started with the teachings of John Wesley, an English evangelist. His beliefs come from his many writings, like his collected sermons, journal, and other works. Over time, Arminianism and Wesleyan theology joined together, though they have their own special points and share many ideas.

In the 1770s, John Wesley, helped by John William Fletcher, focused on Arminian beliefs while arguing with Calvinist evangelicals in England. In 1778, he started a journal called the Arminian Magazine. This time, during the Calvinist–Arminian debate, helped connect Arminian and Wesleyan theology forever.

Wesley’s ideas about Christianity became more popular than Arminius’s, especially in the United States. This happened largely because of the Great Awakenings, where many people heard these ideas through preaching. Even though Arminius didn’t directly influence Wesley, Wesley used the term “Arminianism” to show his followers were different from Calvinists. Some think the best name for Wesleyan theology is “Evangelical Arminianism”.

Wesley is known for meeting with Moravians in Georgia and Germany and then starting the Methodist movement, which led to many Methodist denominations. He wanted to reform society and share “scriptural holiness”, not create a new religion. Today, Wesleyan-Arminianism is a common belief in many churches.

Methodism also had its own discussions about salvation and people’s choices. In the 1830s, during the Second Great Awakening, some critics said the Holiness Movement had Pelagian ideas. Even so, the main belief of Wesleyan theology is still Arminianism.

The biggest impact of this theology is seen in Methodist churches and the Holiness movement, started by Phoebe Palmer of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Other leaders like Benjamin Titus Roberts, who started the Free Methodist Church, and Phineas F. Bresee, who started the Church of the Nazarene, also helped spread these ideas. A changed version of Wesleyan theology also influenced other groups, like the Holiness Pentecostal movement started by William J. Seymour and Charles Parham, which includes churches such as the Apostolic Faith Church and International Pentecostal Holiness Church.

Wesleyan distinctives

Methodist theology, also known as Wesleyan-Arminian or Methodist theology, is a Christian tradition based on the teachings of John and Charles Wesley. It includes ideas from their sermons, writings, and hymns.

Definition of sin

Methodists believe sin is going against God’s known rules and that this separation from God leads to serious consequences unless forgiven. They see sin in two ways: original sin, which is a natural tendency to do wrong, and actual sin, which are the specific wrong things people do daily.

Salvation

Methodists believe salvation comes through faith in Jesus and involves several steps like repentance, faith, and justification. They teach that people can grow in their relationship with God and become more holy through God’s grace.

Assurance of faith

John Wesley taught that true believers feel assured of God’s love and forgiveness. This assurance comes from the Holy Spirit and helps Christians know they are loved by God.

Conditional security

Methodists believe that believers can fall away from faith if they stop trusting in God. They emphasize the importance of continuing in faith to remain secure in God’s salvation.

Covenant theology

Methodist covenant theology differs from classical covenant theology by focusing more on God’s grace and less on strict predestination. It emphasizes that God’s covenant of grace is available to all people.

Ecclesiology

Methodists see their churches as part of the one true church. They believe God preserves their movement because of its focus on holy living and entire sanctification.

Eschatology

John Wesley interpreted the Book of Revelation using historical and symbolic meanings. His main focus was on using Revelation to strengthen believers during difficult times rather than on predicting future events.

Evangelism and missions

Methodism has always emphasized spreading the Christian message and helping others. Methodist clergy were expected to visit people in their homes to share their faith.

Free will

Methodists believe people have free will to choose salvation. They teach that if people aren’t saved, it’s because they choose not to accept the salvation offered.

Four sources of theological authority

Methodists use four sources to understand faith: Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason. Scripture is the most important, but the other three help explain and apply its teachings.

Four Last Things

Methodists believe in Hades, a place where souls wait between death and judgment, divided into Paradise for the righteous and Gehenna for the wicked. After judgment, the righteous go to heaven, and the wicked to hell.

Sacraments and rites

Baptism

Baptism is seen as a sign of beginning a new life with God. Methodists practice three forms of baptism: immersion, sprinkling, or pouring water in the name of the Holy Trinity.

Real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper

Methodists believe Christ is truly present in the Lord’s Supper, though they see it as a spiritual presence rather than a physical change of the bread and wine.

Confession

Methodists encourage confessing sins to God through prayer. They also practice private confession to a pastor for guidance and forgiveness.

Lovefeast

Lovefeasts are special meals where Methodists share bread and drink to celebrate their faith and unity.

Footwashing

Some Methodist groups practice footwashing as a sign of humility and service, remembering Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.

Validity of Holy Orders

Methodists believe their bishops and ministers are validly ordained, following an ancient practice from the Church of Alexandria.

Prayer

Methodists place great importance on prayer, including daily prayers and special times of prayer in church services.

Outward holiness

Early Methodists practiced simple living, including plain clothing and abstaining from alcohol and unnecessary activities on Sunday.

Teetotalism

Methodists traditionally support not drinking alcohol, believing it harms individuals and society.

Fasting

Methodists practice fasting, especially on Fridays, as a way to focus on God and prepare for receiving Holy Communion.

Law and Gospel

Methodists teach that both God’s laws and the good news of the Gospel are important. They believe following God’s laws leads to a deeper understanding of God’s grace.

Sunday Sabbatarianism

Methodists believe Sunday should be kept holy as a day of worship and rest, avoiding ordinary work and focusing on spiritual activities.

Churches upholding Wesleyan theology

Main article: List of Methodist denominations

Methodism started as a movement to make changes inside the Church of England. Later, it became its own church. In America, it was called the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in Britain, it was called the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Over time, many new groups formed, especially because of different ideas about slavery and faith.

Eventually, many of these groups joined together. In 1968, two big groups came together to form The United Methodist Church, the largest Methodist church in America today. Other groups include the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, among others.

Some people believed that a special kind of faith could happen all at once. This idea led to the formation of many holiness churches, such as the Free Methodist Church and the Church of the Nazarene. The Salvation Army also began from these ideas, focusing on sharing their beliefs and helping others.

Relationship with other religions

Main article: Islam and Christianity

John Wesley believed that Christianity was the best religion because he trusted the Bible as the true word of God. He thought that other religions, like Islam, were not equal to Christianity. He also felt that the way Muslims lived their lives should remind Christians to think deeply about their own beliefs. Because of these strong views, the Methodist churches he helped start often had disagreements with people who followed other religions.