Why April 2nd is Methodism’s real birthday?
On April 2nd, 1739 John Wesley submitted to “be
more vile” and preach outdoors. Influenced by his friend, George Whitfield, he
saw how people who would not darken the door of their parish church flocked to
hear the message of hope proclaimed in the streets. How they sought to flee the
“wrath to come” and embrace faith in Christ as a way of life. We celebrate
Aldersgate day as the nd
is when the awakening spurred action and Methodism became a missional movement.
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Methodism Becomes a Movement |
On April 2nd
Methodism became missional; it moved beyond the doors of the church. Wesley
wrote that before April 2nd he would have “thought the saving of
souls almost a sin if it had not been done in a church.” When he witnessed the
spiritual hunger of the people, coming out by the thousands, to hear Whitfield
proclaim the gospel it quickened his soul. Wesley realized that the parish
churches had all but abandoned those beyond their doors. Whole segments of the
population would face a Christ-less eternity, and a spiritually destitute life
were the gospel not shared with them where they lived and worked. If these
people would not come to the seats of the sanctuary, then the gospel had to be
taken to the streets of the cities and towns. When chastised by the bishop of
Bristol, Wesley rebutted with the now famous quote, “the world is my parish.”
Not only did Methodism become missional that day, it became a movement.
On April 2nd
Methodism became a movement; it started a spiritual revolution that would
change the course of history. By moving beyond the doors of the sanctuary and
preaching to the masses Wesley faced another challenge. How do you move people
from preaching to practice? We know that a decision, no matter how heartfelt,
does not make a disciple. Surely Whitfield stirred the hearts of the masses,
but it was John Wesley who created a system to help those whose hearts were
warmed to become faithful followers of Christ. Setting up class meetings and
societies, Wesley’s systematic, methodical way of thinking and practice (that’s
why we are called Methodists) created processes and procedures to encourage
disciple making. Accountability structures were put into place, expectations of
behaviors were established, and before long the
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The spot in Bristol where Wesley spoke to miners. |
But there is a problem with every movement. Every movement has the tendency to become a
monument. When the initial wave of euphoria passes and the initial momentum
slows, there is the tendency to begin building monuments to celebrate the glory
days of old. Buildings are built or bought, maintenance slows the movement, and
eventually an institution arises and the once flexible and agile movement
becomes bureaucratic and complex. Toward the end of his life, Wesley was
concerned about this very thing when he wrote:
“I
am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist
either
in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a
dead
sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly
will
be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline
with
which
they first set out.”
On this, the 275th anniversary of Methodism the
question we must now answer is has modern Methodism become a monument to a past
movement or “are we yet alive?” It is rather ironic that in the Methodist
family has become sanctuary bound. Both of Methodism’s primary founding fathers
had their most significant spiritual experience in somebody’s home. John Wesley
the organizer and theologian had his “heart strangely warmed” on that fateful
day in May at Aldersgate Street. Charles
Wesley, the hymn writer, three days prior gave witness that he had received
assurance that he was saved by grace in the parlor of a friend. They had their
most significant spiritual experience in a home but now we rarely share the
gospel on our couches, preferring the anonymous nature of the pew to the
accountable environment of our home. Somehow we have left the living room and
moved to the sanctuary for our spiritual experience. John and Charles spent
their lives in church. Sitting under the teaching of their father Samuel at St.
Andrews in Epworth, studying theology at Oxford, and becoming priests in The
Church of England. Church was not what created the movement. The movement came
when they shed the stone structures of their sanctuaries for the cobblestones
of the streets and began living and sharing their faith in the community not
just in the church. Real revival is birthed beyond the walls of the monuments
we build to the faith. It is birthed in the hearts of people sharing their
lives together and pointing others to Christ. It is time for the people called
Methodists to leave the comfort of our seats and engage the people on our
streets. To serve those in our communities most unlikely to ever give back to
the church but who need the God of the Church in their lives. We must look less
at demographics and more at people. We must return to the roots of our revival
that include fearless faith sharing, embracing the hurting and hopeless, and
caring for those least cared for. It is time for Methodists to revisit their
methods and escape the shackles of our sanctuaries to reach the corners of our
communities that need us most.
That is why today, April 2nd is really the
birthday of Methodism. Happy Birthday! May we yet live again. I remain:
Consumed by the Call,
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