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Introduction
John Wesley was an English clergyman who pioneered a revolution in the Christian faith and whose contributions have an impact up to date. Wesley started his ministry at the Church of England before establishing the Methodist Movement. His devotion saw his ministry grow in England and other parts of Europe and the United States. His mode of delivering sermons was loved by many since it had the proper interpretation of the scripture; his message was about spirituality and making the community better. This significantly influenced how other denominations started to deliver the sermon; the impact is still felt even in todays churches. Wesley was not shy to advise or condemn authorities for their ill policies. He is also remembered for changing the narrative about conventional medicine and divine healing; his works inspired and are still inspiring the current generations to embrace science and religion. This essay will delve into the critical aspects of John Wesleys life, his contribution to Christianity history, and the impacts his actions had then and now concerning Christianity.
The Key Aspects of John Wesleys Life
Religion is one of the aspects that was dominant in the life of John Wesley. He was a devoted man to his faith, which is evident by the history he made in Christianity history. Wesley contributed to understanding Christianity in debt and how to worship rightfully (Hattersley). Another key feature of Wesley is his love for the community; he had a passion for supporting those in need and encouraged his congregation to emulate him. In addition, Wesley stood against the infiltration of the Church of England by political appointees who had started to make the church lose its purpose as enshrined in the Bible. He advised the king, George III, of the United Kingdom against ill-fated government policies advocated for by evil ministers. Wesley also led by example by respecting the authorities while confessing to believing in the Bible, fearing God, and loving the queen. The congregation he was leading emulated what he did, which has remained in history books.
The Key Aspects of John Wesley and Contribution to History
John Wesley embraced Christianity so much to the point of differing with the leadership of the Church of England, which led to the emergence of Methodism. This came up due to Wesleys emphasis on the methodical study of the Bible and devotion. Methodism started with groups of young men referred to as Methodist or Holy Club mentored by Wesley. These Methodists were known for fasting and offering community services (Noll). Due to his growing influence, popularity, and enthusiasm, the Church of England and other churches denied him a platform. Wesley gathered the new converts into societies for spiritual growth and nourishment; the numbers kept growing as he traveled to further destinations. He drew rules for the Methodist societies to follow and ordained some clergymen to oversee these groups to avoid issues among society members.
During American Revolution, most of Wesleys preachers, who had gone to American colonies, returned to England, but the church refused to ordain them. Wesley controversially ordained them and authorized them to operate independently without control from the Church of England (Spickard et al.). This allowed Methodist groups to grow as more members were drawn from the Church of England and the newly converted from various regions of Europe and America joined the movement. Methodism became a spiritual congregation where people experienced the true gospel, spiritual growth, and empowerment.
The Key Details of John Wesley and his Contribution to History
The main key aspect that stood out in Wesley is spirituality. He called for an interpretation of the word of God in a primitive way, contrary to how the Church of England and other churches had started interpreting it. Wesley preached salvation and the interrelation between grace, faith, and holiness of the soul and life (Beardsall). He told his congregation that no one could save his soul through virtuous work but through grace that enables them to repent and seek salvation. He also reminded the people that salvation or justification comes from faith and not merit. In addition, Wesley adds that salvation comes from individual personal faith and the trust in Christ, that forgives sins and saves lives.
However, John Wesleys preaching does not substantiate whether sanctity is a work of grace or continuous work of the spirit. Believers should always seek Gods intervention in everything since none of them is sanctified (Beardsall). Unlike other religions that believed salvation was a one-time thing, Wesley taught his believers that it was an everyday event. A saved person should constantly seek the face of God for guidance at any time and in everything they are doing since sin is sometimes indefinite. Wesley believed that Christ is an ever-increasing likeness through grace and the holy spirit.
The Effect of John Wesleys Work on History
Methodism was a revolution in Christianity that changed how people believed in God by bringing a closer and more authentic interpretation of the word. Methodism taught about the sufficiency and full authority of the holy scriptures for salvation (Wesley and Outler). The Bible has everything believers would need for spiritual growth and fulfillment. The sacred spirit inspires reading and interpretation of the Bible. It is also a reminder that God has a purpose for humanity, and He is a supreme being. Wesleys preaching also taught about atonement; he reminded people that Christ died for the sins of all humans, and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Repentance and faith are other areas of focus that Methodism touches on; people should repent and seek forgiveness from Christ through faith. Repentance leads to justification, regeneration, and adoption into the family of Gods children. At this point, the person gets pardoned for all the sins, is set free, and receives new life in Christ. A saved person should always seek Gods guidance in living a holy life.
Another effect of Weslys sermon was reassuring believers that through grace, anyone who falls back into sin would be forgiven and restored to the full glory of God only through genuine repentance and faith. In addition, repentance paves the way for sanctification, regeneration, and progressively talking to God (Wesley and Outler). This is only possible when one keeps away from sin and constantly communicates with God in prayers and faith, which becomes a source of spiritual strength, nourishment, and motivation.
The Ramification of John Wesley Today
In the ancient days, Christians never believed in medicine, and it took the intervention of John Wesley to convince them; they said it was contrary to biblical teachings. Even the clergy members never trusted modern medicine; they thought it was the poison administered to people. Some of them had to take medical training to be able to administer simple medication; Wilson was part of the clergy who studied medicine (Hughes). He used his knowledge to empower people with preventive care through exercise, good hygiene, diet, and adequate sleep. He was critical of compounded medicine, which he believed was a combination of many components that could be poisonous or meant to inflate bills. He was interested in prevention as a remedy to diseases rather than treatment.
As much as Wesley believed in divine healing, he still acknowledged and advocated for traditional and compounded medicines; not everyone had faith. Personally, Wilson also took medications whenever he had pain and could still pray for divine healing; he integrated both methods. He valued recommendations and even took informative notes from a physician, even on his health; Wesley had great zeal for information. Despite embracing conventional medicine, Wesley would still criticize actions that seemed unethical. He hated overcharging patients, which would probably deny them access to healthcare.
Due to Wilsons interest and engagement in the medical field, Christians today embrace conventional medicine together with a prayer for divine healing. His efforts had and still have an impact up to this moment (Hughes). Christians can now access medication without fear of having conflict with their faith. Furthermore, his experience has encouraged people to pursue careers in the medical field while embracing their Christian faith.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this essay has talked about John Wesleys life and devotion to Christianity, his roles in the Methodist Movement, and the type of sermons he delivered to his congregation. It also describes Wesleys significance in Christianity history and the impacts of his actions then and now; this includes the authentic and spiritual understanding of the Bible. This essay also covers Wesleys perspective on conventional medicine regarding the controversy surrounding religion and science.
Works Cited
Beardsall, Sandra. Book Review: John Wesley In America: Restoring Primitive Christianity . Anglican Theological Review, vol 97, no. 4, 2015, pp. 693-695. SAGE Publications, Web.
Hattersley, Roy. The Life of John Wesley. Doubleday, 2003.
Hughes, Melanie Dobson. The Holistic Way: John WesleyS Practical Piety as a Resource for Integrated Healthcare . Journal of Religion and Health, vol 47, no. 2, 2008, pp. 237-252. Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Web.
Noll, Mark Allan. Turning Points. 3rd ed., Baker Books, 2012.
Spickard, Paul R et al. A Global History of Christians. Baker Books, 2001.
Wesley, John, and Albert C. Outler. The Works of John Wesley. Abingdon Pr., 1984.
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