The John Wesley Reader on Christian Perfection.
by John Wesley
JOHN WESLEY (1703-1791) is the chief architect and source of inspiration for the modern doctrine of Christian perfection. From the year 1725, when Wesley was "exceedingly affected" and resolved to "dedicate all (his) life to God," holiness became the DNA of his spiritual temperament. For the next sixty-six years Wesley taught and proclaimed a gospel of holy love, gra-ciously given to sinful humanity in Jesus Christ, for the recovery of the di-vine image lost by the first Adam. Yet the vision of perfect love did not take shape overnight. The path Wesley journeyed in developing his theology of holiness was often arduous, at times turbulent, became personally painful at specific junc-tures, and was long. It took Wesley many years to work through the particu-lars of his theological principles and finally integrate them into a holistic theological system. For the first time all the significant writings from Wesley's pen on the subject of holiness are brought together in a reader format that tells the story how he developed his theology of Christian perfection. All periods of Wesley's ministry are included-early, middle, and late. Selections from the entire Wesley corpus are included: sermons, journal, letters, commentary notes, tracts, and other writings. Introductions offer historical context and alert the reader to major themes and motifs. Study guides are included for personal and group study. Whether one agrees or disagrees with John Wesley on the subject of Christian holiness, all will be challenged to reflect more deeply on the nature of Christian discipleship and what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Mark K. Olson is an ordained minister in The Church of the Nazarene and resides in Antioch, California. He has spent many years researching John Wesley's life, ministry and writings. His other publications are John Wesley's 'A Plain Account of Christian Perfection': The Annotated Edition and John Wesley's Theology of Christian Perfection: Developments in Doc-trine & Theological System.
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Paperback, 344 pages
Published June 25th 2008 by Alethea in Heart
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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.
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