Wesley's Introduction
WESLEY:
1. If there be any word in the English tongue as ambiguous and indeterminate in its meaning as the word Church, it is one that is nearly allied to it, -- the word Schism. it has been the subject of innumerable disputes for several hundred years; and almost innumerable books have been written concerning it in every part of the Christian world. A very large share of these have been published in our country; particularly during the last century, and the beginning of the present: And persons of the strongest understanding, and the most consummate learning, have exhausted all their strength upon the question, both in conversation and writing. This has appeared to be more necessary than ever, since the grand separation of the Reformed from the Romish Church. This is a charge which the members of that Church never fail to bring against all that separate from her; and which, consequently, has employed the thought and pens of the most able disputants on both sides. And Those of each side have generally, when they entered into the field, been secured of victory; supposing the strength of their arguments was so great, that it was impossible for reasonable men to resist them.
2. But it is observable, that exceeding little good has been done by all these controversies. Very few of the warmest and ablest disputants have been able to convince their opponents. After all that could be said, the Papists are Papists, and the Protestants are Protestants still. And the same success has attended those who have so vehemently disputed about separation from the Church of England. Those who separated from her were eagerly charged with schism; they as eagerly denied the charge; and scarce any were able to convince their opponents either on one side or the other.
3. One great reason why this controversy has been so unprofitable, why so few of either side have been convinced, is this: They seldom agreed as to the meaning of the word concerning which they disputed: and if they did not fix the meaning of this, if they did not define the term before they began disputing about it, they might continue the dispute to their lives' end, without getting one step forward; without coming a jot nearer to each other than when they first set out.
4. Yet it must be a point of considerable importance, or St. Paul would not have spoken so seriously of it. It is, therefore, highly needful that we should consider,
The nature, and,
The evil of it.
PRAYER:
Ecc 1:2-3
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?
REFLECTION:
To struggle with “Church”, her issues and the clarity of our language surrounding those issues. This is our dilemma. Oh! How Wesley must have struggled with this subject. Written in 1782, the Methodists were on the move and opening a chapel in Manchester. And within 2 years (1784) he would start ordaining American Methodists without approval of the authorities from the Church of England. The American Revolution had just ended (1781).
Pause to think of the momentous timing and juxtaposition of Wesley’s words.
Wesley offers a perspective into God’s dilemma of being in the middle: a man of God pulled by allegiance to the Church of his birthright and at the same time called by changes in the world that only the Spirit of the Lord can comprehend. Sitting now in 2022, history provides a narrative of cause and effect; but history can not express the pain of a man’s soul caught in God’s dilemmas of our times.
If one is willing to spend enough time on Wesley’s words it gives insight into both separation and unification -. I have structured the 21 points into reflective readings for discernment and to listen to what God is speaking in our day.
Contrary to the title’s use of schism, I pray these reflections neither advocate for separation nor unification. Instead, I pray that Wesley’s words shine a light into the will of God for the grace and peace of each individual reading these words. I expect each person will hear a different message. And I fervently believe that it is in this diversity, that the Spirit of the Lord will work its amazing Grace.
NEXT: 1. Let's be clear: “separation from” vs “separation in”
NOTES:
“Two years later, to help preachers work more systematically and societies receive services more regularly, Wesley appointed "helpers" to definitive circuits. Each circuit included at least 30 appointments a month. Believing that the preacher's efficiency was promoted by his being changed from one circuit to another every year or two, Wesley established the "itinerancy" and insisted that his preachers submit to its rules.[64]” [link]
Connectionalism
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