Are you an Arminian?

I came across a blog called Arminian Today which I suspect any good Methodist should find interesting.

The Methodist movement has always made room for both Wesleyan/Arminian theology and Calvanism; but these days, few Methodists give much thought to the distinctions between the two.

If you have no idea what Arminianism is, start here.

Then click here for a primer on Calvanism.

And by all means, please leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Grace and peace,
John

Worship from Taize

Through the centuries, monastic communities have been fertile ground for theologians, musicians, and those dedicated to plumbing the depths of prayer and meditation. Such communities serve as laboratories for the Christian church where methods for holy living can be tested and refined and then shared with the whole community of Christian discipleship.

There is a non-denominational monastic community in Taize, France which adapts ancient forms of Christian music and prayer for our busy, multi-cultural, post-modern life. This clip gives a small sample of the sights and sounds of Taize. As you watch, consider the breadth and scope of the Christian faith on the earth- how the love of Jesus Christ is transforming lives of people from every tongue and tribe and nation. Imagine what it will be like when we stand united as one glorious Church in the presence of Jesus Christ and sing "alleluia" with the angelic choir. And then ask yourself- how might your present spiritual habits better reflect that promise of future glory in Christ?

A Prayer from John Wesley

For those who don't know or who may have forgotten, John Wesley was the leader of the early Methodist movement, an Anglican priest, and a practical theologian. He and his brother Charles (also an Anglican priest who is most remembered for writing hymns like "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing") gave shape to the theological emphases which live on in Methodism to this day. The following is one of many prayers which John Wesley wrote for use in personal devotional time.

Grant, O Lord,
that I may look for nothing,
claim nothing,
and resent nothing;
that I may go through all the scenes of life,
not seeking my own glory,
but looking wholly unto Thee
and acting wholly for Thee.

I invite you to contemplate on Wesley's prayer and consider how God might be calling you to renewed humility so that the light of Jesus Christ might shine through you like a beacon shinning through a storm.

Grace and peace,
John

What United Methodsts Believe, part 1.

If you've spent much time at all in a United Methodist congregation, you've heard of something called the Book of Discipline. Those who have served on some of our committees or who have contemplated a call to ordained ministry know that that the Discipline is the "how to" guide which governs all the practical day-to-day, year-to-year, and quadrennium-to-quadrennium business of being the church.

But did you know that the Discipline also describes our essential beliefs as United Methodists?

Part II of 2004 edition of the Book of Discipline is entitled "Doctrinal Standards and our Theological Task" and it begins on p. 41. From time to time, this blog will explore various passages from this section of the Discipline.

For now, I thought I'd share a few statements from the opening pages which highlight the similarities we United Methodists share with other Christian groups. For those keeping score, all of the following quotes can be found in bold print on pages 43 and 44 of the Discipline. I invite you to ponder these statements; and by all means, feel free to leave your thoughts and questions in the comments section.

We hold in common with all Christians a faith in the mystery of salvation in and through Jesus Christ.

We share the Christian belief that God's redemptive love is realized in human life by the activity of the Holy Spirit, both in personal experience and in the community of believers.

We understand ourselves to be part of Christ's universal church when by adoration, proclamation, and service we become conformed to Christ.

With other Christians, we recognize that the reign of God is both a present a future reality.

We share with many Christian communions a recognition of the authority of Scripture in matters of faith, the confession that our justification as sinners is by grace through faith, and the sober realization that the church is in need of continual reformation and renewal.

I hope this is the beginning of a grand and open conversation on what it means to follow Jesus.

Grace and peace,
John