then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. (Ezekiel 33:4)
This sermon was preached at St. Mary's, Oxford, before the facility and students of the institution. This sermon is broken into four parts. The first three parts are a discrimination of how Christianity began to exist in individuals, spread from person to person, and how it spread through the earth. The final section was the application of this teaching. Put differently, where does Christianity now exist?
It is this final section that makes this, without a doubt, John's most controversial, and challenging sermon. In this sermon he puts a challenge before those in attendance to examine themselves. Ask the tough questions, are we living in a truly 'Christian country,' is this (a nominally Christian institution) a truly 'Christian city' and 'Christian University?'
In this sermon Wesley urgently calls all the hearers to examine their hearts. Are they kind, compassionate, merciful, or, if not, are these things they desire to grow into by the grace of God? Wesley suggests that they are not in such a place. Almost as if they wanted to prove him right, they kicked him out of his Alma-mater forever. Rather than examining themselves they, chose to forbid Wesley from ever preaching there again. As we digest this challenging sermon my hope is that we would not be like the folks at Oxford.
My hope is that, rather than dismissing Wesley as a fundamentalist, madman, or extremest, we would prayerfully consider the questions he raises. Do I live in full abandonment to Christ's rule and reign? Is my life different because I call myself a Christian? In asking these tough but important questions of ourselves, perhaps we can allow the Holy Spirit to call us into an even closer loving relationship with our Creator through the forgiveness and transformation we find in Christ Jesus!
I will break the discussion of this sermon down into the four segments of it, then pose several discussion questions. If you would like to read the original text click here.
Christianity as it began in individuals
Here Wesley takes back to that first Pentecost by having us consider one of those who's heart was pricked by Peter's "bold preaching" that was referred to out of the Acts reading. This person's heart would have been pricked for the conviction of his or her sins, turned to Christ for the remission of that sin, and receive the spirit of adoption. This spirit is an inward and invisibly interaction where the Spirit witnesses to our spirit that we are children of God and in our distress we can call out to Him "Abba, Father." For Wesley this was the evidence of saving faith. The essence is that "the love of God the Father, through the Son of His love, to him or her a sinner, now accepted in the Beloved."
This love is not just the love of God in one's heart but is also the love of neighbor. It is not a puffed up love, but is humble and this love saves one from pride, lust, ambition, covetousness, and vanity. It causes the one saved to desire and be empowered to avoid evil and to do good, so much as the person is able. The world is crucified to this person in such a way that he or she desires to share their time, talents, and treasures for God's glory and the aid of neighbor.
Questioins
1. What is the closest human relationship you have ever had? How has this relationship changed how you feel, and what you do?
2. How does understanding God as "Abba" (an Aramaic word that combines the reverence of Father and warmness of Daddy) change how we view Him and how we are to relate to Him?
Christianity spreading from person to person
The Christian faith is a relational faith and is therefore transmitted in a relational way. This means that the faith spreads gradually from person to person. The impetus for a believer to share his or her faith is that, as we grow deeper in love with the Lord, we begin to have His heart for the world. We see the brokenness of this world and of the people in it. Because we have experienced wholeness in Christ we are compelled, out of compassion, to share it with others.
Wesley recognized that this sharing in the Scriptures, and in our day, is not one size fit all. Indeed Wesley says that the apostles "endeavored to speak to everyone severally as they had need." A more modern way that I have heard it stated is that we are called to "Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable!" To those who pridefully assume their own righteousness and seem to find fault in everyone but themselves, we need, at times, to speak frankly and firmly to them. This, of course, is not to hold it over the person, or to only make them feel guilty. Instead, if the Holy Spirit does use us to convict a persons heart, it's design is to point them away from their sins and toward Christ. On the other hand, if there is a person who is all torn up over his or her brokenness we do not need to confront them. Instead our role is to assure them that they have an advocate in Christ Jesus, He has paid it all, and they can be reconciled to their loving Father, and the Spirit will witness to their spirit that they have been adopted as His son or daughter.
As the early Christians shared their faith, they were not only successful in encouraging others to put their faith in Christ, but they were also successful in offending everyone else. Wesley tells us that those who were "men of pleasure" were offended because their assumptions about the meaning of life were challenged and some of their companions were converted and not longer lived as hedonists. This is such an appropriate word for us today. In our North American context, how often do folks just assume the purpose of life is to avoid pain and absorb pleasure? In other words, the mantra "If it feels good, do it" reigns for many around us. If we are allowing the reign of Christ to rule in our lives, the purity of our lives may offend them, just ask a kid in high school who tries to live in abstinence.
These early Christians also, offended "men of esteem" in Wesley's words. These were folks that were used to the red carpet treatment, they were used to folks bowing down to their power and prestige. Naturally, when Christians refused to bend their knee to people like this because they would only bow to Christ as Lord, it did not go over very well. In the same way for us, many times people will not know what to do with us when we do not bow to the Cesar of the media, political parties, or corporations.
For the early Christians the people who are most offended by the gospel are religious people. Is it not always true that the most offended at God's mercy are those who believe that they have earned it!? Just as the elder brother in the prodigal son was furious, many people at the start of the Christian movement and now, become uncomfortable when considering the possibility that God's love and forgiveness and love might actually extend to 'those people.'
Paul reminds us, but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, Because of this, we should not be surprised that Christians in the book of Acts and today, experience persecution. Wesley finishes this segment by talking about the persecution of the early church. What I often marvel at, and what Wesley seems to marvel at, is that the church not only survives but thrives in the midst of, and perhaps because of, the persecution.
Questions
1. The groups of people that the early Christians offended are often temptations we can fall into. For example, we can be tempted to value our pleasure, our power, or the power of others, or our religious 'good deeds' over our relationship with God. Which one of these temptations (pleasure, celebrity, cold religion) do we tend to fall into?
2. The gospel is offensive, when we are spreading it people will be offended. However, we want our only offence to be the gospel. How do we allow the gospel to be offensive in our lives, but not cause offence for other reasons?
3. Have you ever experienced 'persecution' for your faith? What was it like, or what was it like when you came into contact with, Christian persecution?
Christianity spreading throughout the world
In this short segment of the sermon Wesley considers what it might look like if Scriptural Christianity would be lived out in community. It is interesting to see Wesley's picture of what the kingdom of God might look like. Here Wesley does not infuse any controversial or complex doctrine into this vision. Instead it is simply a picture of people living in love of God and their neighbors. One incredible thing about Wesley's vision is that it is not a high pie in the sky vision of golden streets or pearly gates. Instead, the things Wesley seems to envision were bringing about the kingdom of God here and now. In other words, we do not need to wait to live out the kingdom of heaven. Instead we can live in love with God and peace with others in our daily lives.Questions
1. How does understanding God's kingdom as a current reality that we are called to live into change how we live?
2. What are some ways in which the kingdom of Heaven can come through us?
The Application
Now we have come to the part of the sermon that caused Wesley to never be invited back. This is the part where John asks the question, does this picture look like us? In this section Wesley endeavored to speak to the people plainly. In these plain questions Wesley is clear that he is not saying, that "the question moved is not concerning doubtful opinions of one kind or another, but concerning the undoubted, fundamental branches of our common Christianity." In other words, this is not a question of people having the most informed theological opinions on complex doctrines. Instead, Wesley is raising the question about whether we believe, practice and live out the most basic and fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith.
In this section Wesley says that this Christian life is not just to be lived out by clergy, or the professors or students studying to become ministers. Instead it is for everyone who claims the name of Christian. Here Wesley challenges all people who want to be Christians to examine themselves. Wesley asks the listeners to bring Christ's Lordship to bear in all areas of their lives. Essentially, he asks them "where are your passions, where is your time spent, and where do you spend your money?"
Admitting that he was once one, Wesley almost begs them "do not be a generation of triflers! Do not trifle your passion away on lesser things! Do not trifle away your time on a kingdom that will not last! Do not trifle your money away by investing it in a things that are not eternal." I think this is a powerful word for us in our culture. In every area, accept for our faith, people assume that if we are committed to something it will take our passion, time, and financial resources.
Imagine an athlete who claims to be committed to his or her sport. This athlete eats junk food, never disciplines his or herself to work out, and never goes to team practice. How committed is this person as an athlete? Yet someone can be considered a 'committed Christian' and never concern themselves with what kind of spiritual food they are ingesting, never dive into spiritual disciplines, and go to our 'team meetings' of worship and bible study half of the time. There is a disconnect there.
My point, and I think Wesley's, is not to cause people to try to earn their salvation. Instead, these are questions that we need to ask ourselves in terms of trust and commitment. The fundamental requirement of being a Christian is to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust that He has taken away the guilt and power by His crucifixion and trust that in His resurrection power we can live new lives. Part of trusting Jesus as Lord is being committed to our relationship with Him.
Wesley closes with this appeal to his hearers and to the Lord:
Lord, save, or we perish! Take us out of the mire, that we sink not! O help us against these enemies! for vain is the help of man. Unto thee all things are possible. According to the greatness of thy power, preserve thou those that are appointed to die; and preserve us in the manner that seemeth to thee good; not as we will, but as thou wilt!So, when we feel as if we are sinking, when our faith walk has become a crawl, let us turn to Jesus. Let us turn to Him by trusting in His Lordship and committing ourselves to growing in Him. Growing into the people, families, groups, and churches that God has called us to be!
Questions
1. What are you most tempted to 'trifle away' (passion, time, or money)?
2. When considering this challenge, how do you feel (offended, nervous, excited etc.)?
3. What are ways God may be leading you to trust Christ and become more committed to His Lordship?
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