Commonplace Holiness:
Wesley & Methodism
Wesleyanism
"But it is not part of my design, to save either learned or unlearned men from the trouble of thinking.... On the contrary, my intention is, to make them think, and assist them in thinking. This is the way to understand the things of God."
John Wesley (From the Preface to Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament.)
Wesleyan Theology is Christian theology that takes it’s cues from the teachings of John Wesley (1703-1791). John Wesley was a clergyman of the Church of England, who led a religious renewal movement that came to be known as “Methodism.”
At it’s heart, the theology of John Wesley stressed the life of Christian holiness: to love God with all one’s heart, mind, soul and strength and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Wesley’s teaching also stressed experienced religion and moral responsibility.
Wesley organized his followers into small groups, which met for prayer and study and spiritual accountability.
While John Wesley never intended to separate from the Church of England, the Methodist movement soon began to take on a life of it’s own, and the Methodist churches in North America and England were soon formed. The Methodist movement has had vast influence and many other Christian denominations have grown out of it (either directly or indirectly) including the AME, CME, AME Zion, Wesleyan, Free Methodist, Church of the Nazarene, and many other Holiness and Pentecostal churches.
Articles and Resources about Wesleyanism.
General articles @ this site
Some Things that Methodism Stands For (by Bishop W. F. Mallalieu)
What John Wesley Actually Said about the Bible
Eradication of the Sin Nature? Huh?
Our Mission, Our Glory, Our Power
Questions About Initial Repentance
Comments on Wesley’s Sermon on “Christian Perfection”
Steele on “Sin, Infirmity & Atonement”
books @ this site
All the books in the Old Books collection here are about Wesleyan theology and the Wesleyan teaching on Sanctification, but these two are particularly important expositions of Wesley’s teaching:
Articles on Arminianism vs. calvinism @ this site
A Chart Comparing Calvinism and Wesleyan-Arminianism
The 5 Points of Arminius (in his own words)
the thirty texts of john Wesley. Introduction. Ezekiel 36:25, 26, 29. Matthew 5:8. Matthew 5:48. Matthew 6:10. Matthew 22:37. John 8:34-36. John 17:17-23. Romans 2:29.
Wesley Quotes: The Original Design of the Methodists. The Nature of True Faith. Begetting Children for the Murderer. Wesley’s Word to Young Clergy. Neglect of Prayer. The Purpose of Christ’s Coming. Two Paths. The Whole of Christian Perfection.
off site links (These will open a new window or tab.)
A Plain Account of Christian Perfection
The Wesley Center for Applied Theology
Manchester Wesley Research Center
John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life
How John Wesley Changed America
Calvinism Examined & Examining Calvinism (blog)
The Remonstrant blog (Wesley Wong)
