The inward holiness, which is emphasized by John Wesley

This is sort of interactive paper I did from the speculation regarding my reading on one specific documentation on John Wesley.

Thesis statement

John Wesley asserted that faith or belief cannot become a sole component for establishment of sanctification while the authentic faith in Jesus Christ is the most essential element. Wesley strongly affirms that by doing good, “inward holiness” can be either strengthened or achieved (p.104). Furthermore, it seems to me that he suggested that doing external works solidifies inward holiness (p. 104). At the same time, Wesley encourages the formation of a group, who fights against sin together and exhorts each other in order for Christians to achieve avoidance of wrath.

 

Body of paper  

                When we become Christians, we are thrown into the spiritual journey through which many types of self-examinations and the formation of a variety of enlightenment are established.  John Wesley was no exception to this rule. In various stages of spiritual exploration, Christians experience many hardships and obstacles originating from fallen nature to obstruct spiritual progresses. Among many struggles and abrasive afflictions in our hearts, it seems that John Wesley pointed out the self-love as first beginning stage to overcome.  By constant exercise of self-denial (p.78), he is convinced that our hearts are strengthened so that we may disengage from many types of temptations. In other words, into the fervent confrontation between fallen nature and divine nature, it is very likely that undivided affection on the prize of high calling (p.83) is the most effective weapon to defeat all temptations. To me, it is interpreted that from the list of do’s and don’ts of Christians, the don’ts list is more important than the side of do’s list. Simply put, the disengagement from many types of temptation by putting ourselves to death to those temptations is more important than the engagement with secular temptations while doing good works. Through many disciplines and spiritual exercises, it is suggested that certain changes are to be made against our inclination affected by fallen nature. Then, it seems that John Wesley advocates the active participation for doing good works to external environment.

                From different perspective, it is interpreted to me that at the beginning of Christian life, we need to act in a defensive way so that our hearts may not be overwhelmed with all kinds of temptations the fallen nature forcibly infringes on the heart. After defending ourselves from many temptations and sinful nature, an active establishment of kingdom of God should be achieved in order for us to become partakers of the divine nature. Interestingly, in this context, John Wesley thought that doing good works are needed for our inward holiness in comparison to the generally accepted understanding that only faith and grace can do this process. In addition to this, he thought that he could purify himself and achieve “union with God” (p. 104) by helping others and approaching people. It is evident that his provocative and controversial assertion is crystalized and combined with the legal understanding of faith.

                Despite Wesley’s rationale, it seems that the solitary role of faith was prevalently grounded and highly focused for spiritual journey in his time. But, it is very likely that he needed to emphasize the outward work for the balanced integration of faith and work. Based on this comment saying “I fell among some Lutheran and Calvinist authors, whose confused and indigested accounts magnified faith to such an amazing size that it quite hid all the rest of the commandments” (p.101), it is inferred that spiritual exercise, self-examination and establishment of external works are essential components as well for transitional phase from fallen nature to divine nature. In addition, his work seemed to make correction to two cases: first, is the divided heart on outward works and the second is the uninterrupted faith without works. Consequently speaking, by establishing the contemplative work of the Scriptures, self-examination and spiritual exercise such as self-denial, Christians can achieve uninterrupted faith with an undivided heart which enables them to defend against all kinds of temptations. And the inner holiness becomes perfected by establishing external works. That is to say, the union with God through the undivided and uninterrupted heart becomes larger by connecting into others through external interaction. Accordingly, the transitional phase from fallen nature to divine nature is obtained.

                At this point, Wesley talks about the community. Even if someone experiences the shift partially from fallen nature to divine nature, which molds the divided heart into an undivided heart, the individual must walk with people who have same intentions and purposes for godliness. Wesley expresses that  “a company of men having the form and seeking the power of godliness, united in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in certain dynamics and environment where Christians can avoid from evil deeds continuously and come up with fruits of Holy Spirit and repentance” (pg 108).  Further, John Wesley seems to have a deep understanding regarding spiritual warfare and works of demons even if this reading document is not written in terms of turbulent confrontation between Satan and our redeemed spirits.

Evidently, it is very true that demon inhabitations are real in our conscious and unconscious realm even if one individual is redeemed and saved in his spiritual realm. When the saved one feels gravitated toward the predisposed proclivity tarnished with fallen nature, is willingly tempted and  entertains the sinful desire in secrecy without minimal resistance, the legal entry of demons are achieved. Then, demon inhabitations are established inside of the saved one wherein inward holiness is to be threatened persistently. It is believed by Wesley that God desires for all Christians to make their inner holiness override the sinful nature so that mind and flesh may become effectual medium through which inner holiness is able to be demonstrated externally. However, once inner holiness fails to expand its territory, it is to be overwhelmed with fallen nature and power of sin. Spiritual warfare is not either a romantic or a fantasy novel. How to use our resolve is one of the most important components in achieving our salvation. If fruits of repentance and Holy Spirit are not examined for a long time, it becomes possible for these Christians to start enjoying entertaining the sinful nature in secrecy and privacy, while pretending to fight against sin. By feeding the sinful nature with sinful acts, which is established secretly and privately by individuals, sinful nature in strength can overpower inner holiness. Whereas salvation may become nullified if inward holiness fails to reach into the completion of salvation. Even if Wesley admits frequent relapses into sin (p.106) and constant peace from a sense of forgiveness (p105), it seems that his formation of theology becomes more tilted toward following after the divine nature.

Wesley seemed to have a very cautious perspective regarding the influence of sin. And one individual can become an instrument of sin that destroys the community. It is said that “then if he repent not, he hath no more place among us” (p110) in the reading material. From the perspective of a minister, it is easy to be tempted to have a mindset to increase numbers at churches. But, sometimes, pruning the branch which does not bear any fruit determinably seems more important than other activities related to growing trees. When carefully examining many Christians, there seems to be the idea that salvation is already earned and is unchangeable at the back of their mind. And it is easily seen that faith and works are compartmentalized.

In my opinion, it is time for us to focus on wrath of God. It seems to me that many contemporary Christians forget how to stand in front of God with fear and awe. And regarding the constant sin and temptations, it is highly required of us to fight against inner mind to the point of bleeding. Personally, I have fought against many types of sexual temptations and sin for 20 years. Even if I strengthened my spirit and maintained inward holiness so far, it is very true that evil spirits do many tempting works and try to arouse fallen nature deeply rooted in me. However, it becomes apparent to me that diminishing the ground fallen nature in me is possible by many kinds of spiritual disciplines, exercises and warfare. And dominion over one specific sin can enable Christians to be victorious more easily the next time they face a similar temptation. The documentation and records of John Wesley provides me with his process of spiritual formation and encourages me to focus on inward holiness which can be refined way of trusting our works in achievement of sanctification. Also, in terms of establishment of spiritual community, the record of Wesley directs me to think about the spiritual discernment so that I, as spiritual community builder, may defend souls against destructive influences of sin.