He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8).
If your heart is as my heart, if you love God and all mankind, I ask no more - "give me your hand." -John Wesley
10 days ago we welcomed our second child, Wesley Timothy. Watching a child birth, and watching the developed body adjust to its new environment, is nothing if not humbling.
We named our son Wesley because it is a strong Christian name, and one we liked. Our two (pretty simple, right?) criteria.
The Wesley brothers were evangelical pioneers, bringing God's story of humanity and redemption to a new world. As Episcopalian priests, they had one giant problem -- America was trying to get away from England.
Hence the Methodist movement in America. "Methodists" they were called, because of their precise methodology of studying God's Word.
One of the endearing qualities of Wesleyan theology was their humility in understanding. While they understood that man was eternally separated from God outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ, they understood there were many understandings of peripheral issues that sincere Christians held, and these should not separate the fellowship of the Church.
300 years later John Wesley's word are more important than ever for us, and me, to hear.
When God created the universe (or multiverse), He created Wesley Timothy. And he humbled his Dad, and helped him understand he doesn't need to, or can, understand the totality of His written revelation. And He has helped him understand John Wesley's words: If your heart is as my heart, if you love God and all mankind, I ask no more - "give me your hand." In this way, the Catholic and the Protestant, the Arminian and the Calvinist, and yes, even the Trinitarian and the Mormon/Jehovah's Witness, can continue their journey side-by-side to Jesus Christ. To paraphrase one man's words, if we have but everything in common, and not Jesus Christ, we have nothing in common... but if we have nothing in common, yet Jesus Christ, then we have everything in common. Amen!
