The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself:
“God, I thank you that I am not like other men—
robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax
collector.’ Luke 18:11
Just like the Pharisee, we often like to stand apart or to separate ourselves from others.
Sometimes we are, like the Pharisee, aware of the sin in others and perhaps even thankful
that we are “not like them.” But who or what are you like? What do others see in you that
they are thankful they do not see in themselves? Read the last sentence again and spend
some time in quiet and honest reflection.
One day, after a gospel meeting in a prison, the chief of chaplains of the prisons was
discussing with the preacher the wonderful response by the prisoners to the message of
the Gospel: "When you deal with prisoners, you do not need to persuade them that they
are sinners. Their imprisonment is a proof of it. But there are many out of jail who should
be in, and because they are out they argue all is well with them and they need no Savior."
Is everything well with you? “How goes it with your soul” is a question John Wesley
encouraged the early Methodist people to ask of each other. Luke says that Jesus told this
parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else and
in his notes Wesley comments: “he spake this parable - not to hypocrites; the Pharisee
here mentioned was no hypocrite, no more than an outward adulterer: but he sincerely
trusted in himself that he was righteous, and accordingly told God so, in the prayer which
none but God heard. The publican standing afar off would not so much as lift up his eyes
to heaven - touched with shame.”
Do you know yourself in the way the tax collector knew himself?
Might I in thy sight appear,
As the publican distressed,
Stand, not daring to draw near,
Smite on my unworthy breast,
Groan the sinner’s only plea,
God, be merciful to me! (98)
Be the first to react on this!
John Wesley (1703 - 1791)
Was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield. In contrast to Whitefield's Calvinism, Wesley embraced the Arminian doctrines that were dominant in the 18th-century Church of England. Methodism in both forms became a highly successful evangelical movement in Britain, which encouraged people to experience Jesus Christ personally.Wesley helped to organise and form societies of Christians throughout Great Britain, North America and Ireland as small groups that developed intensive, personal accountability, discipleship and religious instruction among members. His great contribution was to appoint itinerant, unordained preachers who travelled widely to evangelise and care for people in the societies. Under Wesley's direction, Methodists became leaders in many social issues of the day, including the prison reform and abolitionism movements.
John Wesley was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, with founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield. In contrast to George Whitefield's Calvinism (which later led to the forming of the Calvinistic Methodists), Wesley embraced Arminianism. Methodism in both forms was a highly successful evangelical movement in the United Kingdom, which encouraged people to experience Christ personally.
Wesley believed that this doctrine should be constantly preached, especially among the people called Methodists. In fact, he contended that the purpose of the Methodist movement was to "spread scriptural holiness across England."
Throughout his life, Wesley remained within the Church of England and insisted that his movement was well within the bounds of the Anglican tradition. His maverick use of church policy put him at odds with many within the Church of England, though toward the end of his life he was widely respected.
John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist movement which grew from the 'Holy Club' of his Oxford friends into a great religious revival. An indefatigable traveller, preacher and writer, Wesley averaged 8,000 miles a year on horseback and gave 15 sermons a week. The reluctance of the Anglican clergy to lend him their pulpits led him to give some of his sermons in the open air, a decision which enabled him to reach those among the poorer sections of society who were not accustomed to going to church.