Transcript Calvin vs Wesley: Bringing Belief in Line with Practice

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Bishop’s Brown Bag Book Study
Chapter 7 – Church: More Catholic than Magisterial
Chapter 8 – Ministry: More Empowering than Triumphal
Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church
Bishop Mike Lowry, Winter 2015
Hey Wesley,
Looketh over
there!
Where?
Ha-Ha!
I madest thou
looketh!
Dids’t Thou? Don’t you mean
that God hath predestined
that I would looketh since
before time began? Surely you
don’t suggest that I looketh of
mine own free will?
Yeah, well at least I can
grow a beard.
More Catholic than Magisterial
The Nature of the Church
1.
2.
3.
4.
Faithful to historic creedal affirmations
Only one church
More invisible than visible
The Church is holy due to Christ’s work
Reformed Definition
1. “Wherever we see the Word of God purely
preached and heard, and the sacraments
administered according to Christ’s
institution, there, it is not to be doubted, a
church of God exists” [cf. Eph. 3:20]
•
•
•
Word
Sacrament
Order (implied)
2. Outside the church (elect) there is no
salvation (and we can’t be sure who is
elect even if they are in the church!)
Context Duly Considered
1. All assumed one church; the
issue was “which one?”
2. Strongly anti-Roman Catholic
church as an institution
Calvin’s Magisterial
Understanding
1. Collaboration between church &
state (state churches of Europe)
2. High teaching authority of clergy
3. A Christendom view of church
4. Strong church discipline
Faithful Beliefs, Faithful Living
1. Connection of belief & practice
2. Orthodoxy/Orthokardia/
Orthopraxis – inseparable 3
3. Allowed latitude on doctrine &
theology (within boundaries)
4. Live and die an Anglican
Catholic Spirit
1. A hallmark of Methodist
ecclesiology
2. “Now, wherever doctrine is
preached, where there is not
discipline, it cannot have its full
effect upon hearers.” (p. 101)
3. Distinguishing marks: holy,
catholic, and apostolic
Wesley’s Context
1. Radically open for its day
2. Civil authority should provide
for religious freedom
3. Church & State complementary
not collaborative as in Calvin’s
point of view
Interlude
What would you describe as the distinguishing
marks of the church? Are they one, holy,
catholic, and apostolic? Are they the preaching
of the pure word of God (the Bible), and the
proper administration of the sacraments?
Both? (#2)
What is the role of church discipline? How
important is it for the life of the church and its
members? How ought church discipline to
occur? (#4)
Ministry:
More Empowering
Than Triumphal
A Common Core
1. Both were involved
2. Both held to a high
preaching ministry
Varieties
Calvin higher teaching ministry
Wesley much more involved
missional activity
Thorsen: “Wesley represents a
more compelling role model”
(p.107)
Calvin’s View –
Context Revisited
1. Working to restore orthodox
Christianity
2. Emphasis on the “Word of God”
3. Working to establish a new or
“renewed/restored” church – the
triumph of Reformed Theology
4. Offices: pastor and teacher (Eph. 4:11)
5. Cessationism, the Holy Spirit &
Sola Scriptura
Wesley’s View –
Counterpoint
1. Episcopal – superintending structure
2. Conference/Society/Class meeting
3. Social holiness – corporate fellowship
& accountability
4. High doctrine of the Holy Spirit!
5. High understanding of the role of lay
ministers, including women!
6. Care of the poor as a constant focus
TULIP or ACURA
Calvinism and Wesleyanism
Calvinism – TULIP
1. Total depravity
2. Unconditional election
3. Limited atonement
4. Irresistible grace
5. Perseverance of the
saints
ctcumc.org/BBBS-chat
Wesleyanism – ACURA
1. All are sinful
2. Conditional election
3. Unlimited atonement
4. Resistible grace
5. Assurance of salvation
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HEARTFELT APPRECIATION
Thank you all for your
participation.
Our next topic will be Christology &
the meetings hopefully to be held in
the South or Central District
Watch ctcumc.org/BishopBrownBag
for details.
Bishop’s Brown Bag Book Study
Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church
Bishop Mike Lowry, Winter 2015