BIBLICAL HOSPITALITY

John Wesley 1703 - 1791

Relational Connections - not only is this what Jesus said, that is exactly what John Wesley did.  And since we so clearly identify with Wesley both theologically and missionally, in my sermon this Sunday I will share how John Wesley, this great preacher, social reformer and church leader practiced biblical hospitality some 300 years ago.

For John Wesley, evangelism was an act of hospitality and church is a form of hospitality. His message was clear, "we need each other, and we should go out of our way to welcome one another whenever we gather." 

There are many, many things I appreciate about the Wesleyan-holiness way of following Jesus. It’s not a perfect, flawless way. (can’t make that claim in good conscious) It may not even be the best way. (I certainly do appreciate the richness and variety found in the various Christian faith traditions i.e. the charismatic way, the evangelical way, etc.) But the more I throw myself into the Wesleyan-holiness way, the more comfortable I am with the thought: “This is a really good way to organize one’s life around Jesus of Nazareth.”

One of the things I admire about John Wesley that has made its way into the fabric of our church is what Mildred Bangs Wyncoop (a seminary professor of mine) has identified as “Wesley’s Searching Spirit.”

There was a richness and relevance to his preaching and teaching and overall work because he was a “man of one Book” (the Bible) and he was also a man of constant exploration into the world around him.

Wesley was well versed in the classics in Greek and Hebrew for sure. But this “searching spirit” moved him to read modern literature, history, political stuff, travel, contemporary philosophy, the social sciences and even medicine. Wyncoop has made the observation that Wesley “had an interest in psychology before its formal birth in modern times . . . “(A Theology of Love. p.60)

Isn’t that a refreshing perspective? Quite frankly, it’s the Wesleyan-holiness way of following Jesus. And I love that aspect of our history and perspective as Wesleyan-holiness people. As a direct result of Wesley’s “searching spirit,” Wesley’s life and ministry was rich and effective.

He rode more than 250,000 miles and preached over 45,000 sermons.
In 1748, he founded a school for boys at Kingswood, Bristol, and wrote textbooks.
He published 233 original works on a variety of subjects.
He compiled a Christian library.
He wrote a four-volume History of England.
He wrote a book of Birds, Beasts and Insects.
He wrote a medical book
He set up a free medical dispensary.
He adapted an electrical machine for healing and cured more than a thousand people.
He set up spinning and knitting shops for the poor.
He received 40,000 pounds from his books but gave it all away.
Historians write that John Wesley saved England morally and spiritually.

Such a man deserved to be heard in the eighteenth century and deserves to get the attention of twentieth-century man. Reading the Bible . . . studying the Bible . . . exploring the Scriptures . . . searching the Scriptures are extremely important. 

These encounters with the Word are a “means of grace.” The Bible, along with prayer and the church and Christian friendships and life’s experiences are how God by His Spirit speaks to us. This is how we meet Jesus, learn about Jesus and learn how to follow Him.

But this in no way should exclude the exploration of ideas through reading and discussing and learning political science, social science, biological and chemical and physical sciences, history, psychology , philosophy and other disciplines.

Sometimes a searching spirit will lead us to other bookshelves. That, in part, is why the Church of the Nazarene is committed to liberal arts education. For a denomination our size to sponsor so many liberal arts colleges and graduate schools reflects this Wesleyan-holiness spirit. We believe educated young people are better prepared to make a difference in the world.

Granted, a searching spirit has its risks. Sometimes a searching spirit can lead to a testing of one’s faith. But I wonder: is a faith untested a strong, personal faith? I wonder is a closed mind more dangerous still?

So church . . . after you’ve read your Bible and answered God in prayer, don’t be afraid to watch the news, read a paper, surf the net, watch a movie, take a class, or read a book! Use the sanctified common sense God has given you about what you’re viewing . . . use discretion, for crying out loud. Discipline this searching spirit. Establish boundaries around it.

Please don’t squash this searching, inquisitive spirit (as some would have you do.) Discipline it for the glory of the one who put this spirit in you. That’s the Wesleyan – holiness way!

II Timothy 2:21 – “Be holy . . . be useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”