Monday, March 28, 2005

10 things you would hate about John Wesley

I love this kind of stuff.
The more I read about plain old people the more I realize we are all a bunch of messed up puppies in need of a whole lot of grace. Man loves to idealize man but in the end man is fallen, even religious man.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

What an idiot! No wonder people hate God.
Neue

Anonymous said...

After I read this and thought about it for a few days, it troubled me. Not that discrediting things were said about John Wesley, but that the accusations discredit the outcome of his life, work and ministry. I think how the family members of Uriah must have talked about King David. Venom spewing, discrediting all he did and putting negative spin to all his motives. But God, though holding David accountable for his weaknesses, gave him his approval.
Which one of us would stand up to close scrutiny, much less if it was given by one with an agenda to discredit. I like a quote of Emerson, no friend of Christianity, but he said "a man should be remembered by his best, not his worst actions." I like that because I have no doubt scripture is clear that "for a crust of bread all men would transgress." Or as William Law puts it, "we are always in a state either of self-love, pride, hatred, envy, covetousness or ambition."
Or at least these states color all that we do in some measure. Part of growing in Christ is to marvel at what a follower of Christ can do with all the baggage that all men carry.
There has been in the last ten years a wholesale attack on founding fathers, men and women of God, and all things that would inspire man to reach higher. I think it is rather a naive understatnding of man. Rather, I choose to admire what is done in this state of sin we all are badgered by. I have no illusions that there have ever been men who were above sin, but what have they done in the battle?
I pray that those that know me intimately will not trumpet my glaring weaknesses when I'm gone, but will hold out the few things I tried to accomplish, not to lift me up, but to encourage others to not give up because of our weaknesses.
As I read the reactions to the article I doubt, or hope, it is not what the author wanted.
Dad

Unknown said...

Great thoughts Dad, I agree. I wasn't trying to discredit Wesley by posting the link. I think we too often think our founding fathers were supermen and not of the same caliber as us. I like to see humanity in them, not to impale them on a spick of criticism but to see we are all fighting ourselves too. That's why I love the Bible, it's all laid out there sin and all. I find encouragement not justification in seeing the weaknesses as well as the victories in fellow travelers.

Scott Patershall said...

What great dialogue! Fred, your words summed up exactly how I feel. I wish that I could express my thoughts so well. I have never thought of any man as sinless, so these articles depress me more than help me. I am looking for inspiration! I know reality all too well and I want victory! I desire to grow in Christ and marvel at what a follower of Christ can do with all the baggage that all men carry. Thanks Fred for letting me plaguarize some of your comments.

Anonymous said...

Well Scott,
That was an encouraging response.
I too, like you look for inspiration. This old world has a way of looking pretty bleak at times and when I hear or better yet see, someone do something I admire, it is such an encouragement.
Fred