John Wesley, the father of Methodism, was a spiritual leader who was unafraid to let the Holy Spirit work in the lives of the people who listened to him preach. It is true that he created structure for converts to meet and grow together in small group ministries, but it also true that he preached sermons which encouraged those who heard to experience the gospel and the Christ. This man ordained as an Anglican minister and who was steeped in high church liturgy did not fear emotional expressions of faith. The messages he preached were for the head and the heart.
The church today seems to fear a presentation of the gospel and the Christ which is to be experienced with the heart. Thus, sermons often end up being lectures on good theology, feel good lessons about how to be better, and appeals to be involved in some ministry of social activism. Where the church today seems lacking is in inviting its people to meet Jesus in a personal life changing experience. Not only is the baptismal font empty of water, but there are no wet tears on its altars.
The church that stands in the legacy of Wesley is concerned about numbers in the pew, money raised, and buildings built, but one which continues to be unembarrassed by the paltry number of professions of faith and baptisms each year. Such a church may survive for a long time, but it will eventually die from within like the Shakers of long ago who chose celibacy as a way of life.
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