The Yellow Center Line

Before the Bishop put his hands on me and the class of ordinands who stood with me, we were asked questions.  We knew the right answers and we gave them.  One always sent a light ripple of laughter across the room, "Are you in debt so as to hinder your work, or have you obligation to others that will make it difficult for you to live on the salary you are to receive?"  Regardless of our situation we all knew the right answer was "No" and so we spoke with one voice.  Another one caused us to break out in a sweat, "Are you going to perfection?"  The expected answer was "Yes" and it did not reverberate across the room with too much strength.  

 

It was, of course, one of John Wesley's historic questions.  I have not been to an ordination service in the past thirteen years and I wonder if all the change which is in the air has blown that traditional question to the wind.  I hope not.  The idea of Christian perfection has always been one prone to confusion.  Wesley never used the term "sinless perfection."  When he preached it, he spoke more of a perfection in love which pointed to a believer being motivated not by self centered desires, but a deep desire to please God.  

Years after ordination and during times when the issue was avoided because of my own confusion, someone cleared it all up by simply saying, "If you are not going on to perfection, then what are you going to?"  May my high school English teacher overlook the bad grammar, but it makes the point that if we are not going on to perfection, then we have our sights and our heart set on imperfection.  Christ never made the middle of the road an option and neither did John Wesley.  Unfortunately, it seems that many who call themselves Methodists in these days are hugging the yellow center line.