2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study to show yourself approved to God… rightly dividing the word of truth.
Reflection: John Wesley, Catechism, and History
Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro
For those of you who do not like history… bear with me today. This will be wildly simplified, but important! The Protestant Reformation was a movement in Europe in the 16th century. It, basically, was a religious movement, but it had a significant social and political impact as well. Essentially, a group of men (mostly led by Martin Luther, a German Catholic priest), protested the Catholic Church… arguing against Papal authority (that the Pope can speak with equal authority of the Scripture), and (critically) that the Scripture alone is the authority of the church and interprets itself. Protestant churches (Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and to a lesser extent Baptists… to name a few) came out of the Protestant Reformation.
The Protestant Reformation also coalesced a few doctrinal positions that were opposed to the doctrinal positions of the Catholic Church. Most protestant denominations adhered to these doctrines… not coincidentally called “Reformed doctrines.” What else would one call doctrines coming out of the Protestant Reformation?!?! Some men, notably John Calvin, were influential in developing and articulating many reformed doctrines. Why is all this important? Great question! The Catechisms (in particular The Westminster Catechisms) were an attempt, in part, to catalogue key doctrines. John Wesley (who lived in the 18th century, years after the Reformation) did not agree with some of the doctrinal positions of the Protestant Reformation and opposed those doctrines strongly (listing those doctrines here is not important). Wesley, therefore, developed what is now known as “Wesley’s Catechism.” John Wesley, cleverly, edited the Westminster Shorter Catechism, taking out the parts with which he had theological disagreement. He held in high regard the Westminster Catechism, saying it was “the choicest pieces of practical divinity which have been published in the English tongue.” The parts with which he disagreed, however, he “deleted.” Such that the Rooted devotionals honor the Wesleyan heritage and doctrines of our church, I will interact this summer with only parts of the Westminster Catechism with which Wesley agreed (which is the great majority). For us, we are reminded that it is important to have deeply held beliefs and convictions. We may disagree with one another’s biblical beliefs, but we can do so with honor and humility of spirit, as Wesley did. The hard part is to study for oneself and develop biblical convictions for the glory of God. Wesley did that, for certain.
Prayer
Lord, may we follow in the footsteps of men like John Wesley, who developed a Biblical worldview and lived them out without malice and to the glory of God.
