Reflections From Sunday Evening

I am in the middle of teaching The Wesleyan Movement to Course of Study students at St. Paul School of Theology. I get to work with a great group of students. I find myself learning more by teaching than if I were in the classroom.

The Wesleyan Movement is fascinating (at least it is to me). John Wesley began to encourage people to "flee from the wrath to come." That was all it took to be welcome in a Methodist society. Soon a movement began. Should they have written a "mission statement" it would have read - "to spread Scriptural Christianity throughout the land and reform the continent." In reality the movement had that effect!

This is our tradition. Over time our "movement" has become an "institution." In an article by Tim Keller the distinctives of a movement and an institution were given. A movement is marked by
1. Sacrificial commitment;
2. Generous flexibility;
3. Innovation; and
4. Spontaneous generativity (energy is generated within).

An institution is marked by rules, regulations and procedures. An institution does not necessarily have a shared vision.

Looking at our movement from a historical perspective the impact has been amazing. We face the challenge in our times of recapturing some movement momentum.

We find tastes of the Wesleyan Movement from time to time and from place to place. Today in worship there was a sense of "movement." When the people of God find themself in the presence of God a movement of God becomes possible.

It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too.