The Almost Christian

Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” (Acts 26:28)

     This sermon and the next one "Awake Thou That Sleep" (written by his brother Charles), in many ways, go together. They go together because both are in response to the dead, un-transformation, religion that John and Charles saw all around them in 17th century England.  Seeing the kind of 'fat cat' Christianity that caused people to attend service, take communion, and even read scripture but not be changed, caused both of the Wesley brothers great concern. 

     In Luke 12, Jesus tells a parable about servants being ready for their master's return. He concludes the parable with the famous line "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required." Wesley knew that many people in the Anglican Church had been given much. They had been given much in terms of knowledge and opportunity to respond to God's redemptive and life transforming love. In the same way, we live in a country and time when knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is readily available. Through these challenging sermons, particularity this one and the  next, Wesley's hope was to wake people up to the powerful and life transforming message that was all around. Wake them up so that they would not end up like King Agrippa and be presented the Gospel and end up only being 'almost persuaded.' Perhaps in studying these sermons, the Holy Spirit can waken us up as well!
     This post will be broken down into the two segments that Wesley has in his sermon. The first is a description of what he means by an 'Almost Christian.' The second is what it means to be an 'altogether Christian.' These two segments will be brief overviews of what Wesley said and will be colored with my interpretation of them. I would like to encourage you to read the whole sermon here for a more in depth understanding of Wesley's theology.

The 'Almost Christian'

     For Wesley the first thing that is implied in being an 'almost Christian' is what he called 'heathen honesty.' Today we would probably think of folks that are not Christians or only nominally define themselves as Christians, but are still honest people. These are folks that pay their taxes, do not lie, cheat, or steal. People who fit into the category of an 'honest heathen' will even give to the needy, out of their access.
     Upon reflecting on this I think of folks who say "I'm a good person, isn't that enough?" With this kind of thinking I can see at least three issues. First, how good is 'good enough?' Is the litmus test 'people who are as good as me and better?' It seems that we, at least I, tend to give ourselves a little too much credit. Allow me to give an example. If someone cuts you off in traffic they are worthless, should be forced to give up their licence, or are clearly doing it just to make you mad. On the other hand, if you have stuff on your mind, are in a rush, or are in a fog from being tired what right does that jerk have to flip out on you when you make an honest, innocent, traffic mistake?
     The second is, motivation. When asking people who may be 'honest heathens,' there are certainly many responses. Some folks really don't know why they feel compelled to do kind things (I would argue it is the Image of God within them trying to express itself). Others say things like, "So others will like me," or "The best way to get hope is to give hope." The problem with this motivation is that it does not encourage us to be unselfish loving people, but selfish people doing loving things.
     While this seems harsh, think about it. I am not saying these people run around thinking "I don't care about anyone but myself so I will only help others if it helps me," consciously. However if the only reason I am doing something is to get something out of it I am really serving myself and it is only incidental that it is blessing others. Besides that, what happens when others mock us for doing the right thing, and, when we give, we get less than we sacrifice! Wesley touches the nerve of this in his sermon by saying:

"they extended not only to those little offices of humanity which are performed without any expense or labour, but likewise to the feeding the hungry, if they had food to spare; the clothing the naked with their own superfluous raiment; and, in general. the giving, to any that needed, such things as they needed not themselves" (italics mine).

     The final issue that I believe in this attitude is that assumption that all God want's from us is to be 'nice people.' As if God wants us to just be nice people, who only say nice things, and the goal of life is to have everything be nice, easy and uncontroversial. While there is nothing wrong with being 'nice,' what God is really after is transformation. Paul reminds us of this by saying "anyone in Christ, is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
     This leads to the second thing that Wesley believed was implied in being an almost Christian which was what he called 'the form of godliness.' Originally, I believed Wesley was going to go on and speak of people who went to church and called themselves 'Christian,' but did not lead transformed lives. However, for Wesley, to have the 'form of godliness' meant a lot more. These are folks who earnestly desired that transformation I just mentioned. They not only give out of their access or when it is easy. Instead the person with the form of godliness "labors and suffers for the profit of many, that by all means he or she may help some."
     Indeed, to have the form of godliness, one not only goes to church on a regularly basis but also avails him or herself to 'the means of grace.' Meaning, they pray in public, private, and in their family. This person reads the scripture and sincerely wants to conform to God's desires for his or her life. This person, not only, shows all the outward signs of wanting to obey God, but sincerely wants to in his or her heart.
     After this description we are left wondering, can anyone be an 'altogether Christian?' Wesley predicts this by saying that it may be asked "Is it possible that any man living should go so far as this, and, nevertheless, be only almost a Christian? What more than this, can be implied in the being a Christian altogether." Wesley's answer is yes for two reasons. First, it is what he saw in the scriptures. Second, it is what he experienced himself. Wesley admits that he lived as an almost Christian for much of his life. He tried to fight the good fight but, in the end, he tells us, "my own conscience bore me witness in the Holy Ghost, that all this time I was but almost Christian."

Questions:

1. What is the difference between being a 'good person' (honest heathen) and a 'transformed creature in Christ (an altogether or even almost Christian)?'

2. Do you ever wonder if you are indeed an altogether Christian? If so why?

3. When assessing our own position in terms of being a 'good person,' why do we tend to have such a distorted perception?

Altogether Christian

     So what more could be involved in being an altogether Christian. Does Wesley think we need to memorize all of scripture to be a 'real Christian?' Is Wesley going to go on and say that we have to work harder to earn God's love and, therefore, salvation? Perhaps he will tell us that we have to agree with him and understand every fine point of doctrine in order to be called 'altogether Christian.' No, none of that is what Wesley thought caused one to be an altogether Christian. In fact, thinking that we have to earn it may even militate against the three simple things that Wesley does mention.

     The first is the love of God. An all permeating love for God that fills our entire heart and life. A love that Wesley describes as "enabling us to desire nothing but God and His love." If I may interject my own understanding, I believe the love Wesley talks about is loving God for His own sake. Put differently, loving God, not for what He can do for us, but for who He is! This kind of love begins when realizing that "this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins." In my experience, this kind of love begins with gratitude in what God has done for us and grows. It grows into loving God, for His own sake! Loving God because He is worthy of love!

     The second is loving our neighbor as ourselves. This is the kind of love that seeks good for those we know, those we have yet to meet and even our enemies. This is a kind of love that is born out of being conformed to the image of Christ. When we see others, not as objects, but as fellow bearers of the image of God we do not want their destruction, but their restoration. Just as Christ died as a ransom for many, we would be willing to lose our lives for the sake of another. This is, indeed, a hard teaching. However, I think Wesley rightly sees it not only in the commands of Jesus, but in Jesus' example.

     How does one have such love of neighbor and God? The final thing that Wesley considers in being an altogether Christian is that which holds together, and enables the other two. The final aspect Wesley considers is faith. As was discussed in the last post it is more than mere belief in orthodox doctrine. Instead, it is a faith that trusts. It trusts that if we confess our sins to God, and rely on Christ's merit on the cross, we will be forgiven of our sin and released from its power. Releasing us from sin's power causes our faith in Christ to be one that "purifies the heart, from pride, anger, desire, from all unrighteousness." The kind of trust that grows a love in us that does not come from us, "love stronger than death" as Wesley tells us. Faith that trusts in our sinful self dying in Christ's crucifixion and our new self, our true self, being enlivened in Christ's resurrection power.  

       I would add, it is the kind of faith that trusts in God more than our feelings or present circumstances. Faith that even though at times we feel like, and may presently be, an almost Christian, if we trust in the Lord, and stay in the means of grace, God will bring about transformation! 

     Wesley concludes with a series of penetrating questions. He encourages us to reflect by asking ourselves

"Am I of that number? Do I so far practice justice, mercy, and truth, as even the rules of heathen honesty require? If so, have I the very outside of a Christian the form of godliness Do I abstain from evil, --from whatsoever is forbidden in the written Word of God? Do I, whatever good my hand findeth to do, do it with my might? Do I seriously use all the ordinances of God at all opportunities And is all this done with a sincere design and desire to please God in all things?...Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart? Can you cry out, "My God, and my All?" Do you desire nothing but him Are you happy in God Is he your glory, your delight, your crown of rejoicing And is this commandment written in your heart, "That he who loveth God love his brother also?" Do you then love your neighbour as yourself Do you love every man, even your enemies, even the enemies of God, as your own soul as Christ loved you?"

     If we cannot answer yes to these questions, Wesley's answer, and the answer of scripture is not to try harder. Instead it is to have faith in Christ Jesus. Faith that trusts that he will bring about the transformation that will enable the Holy Spirit to witness to our spirit that we are, by Christ's merit and power, children of God.

Questions:

1. Why is it difficult to so fully trust in God?

2. How does God's love for us inform how we ought to love other people?

3. How does love of God and love of neighbor naturally flow out of faith that trusts in Christ's crucifixion, death and resurrection?