John Wesley, the main promoter of the Methodist movement religious
The explosion marked the beginning of Protestantism and Lutheranism, had long-term effects at different times, at the time was a model, however for the early eighteenth century, apathy and dullness of the Protestant sermons, ceremonies and Anglican, had discouraged many parishioners, who saw religion as a weekend duty and little else. But what emerged in the eighteenth century, another movement started at an English university, came to mean a different model of Christianity that has influenced many religious movement until today, and has greatly influenced the way of living Christianity.
all started when a group of University of Oxford, founded a sort of order to which they called the "Holy Club." The group was originally formed by brothers John and Charles Wesley, James Harvey, who would become a famous writer and two other characters that little else is known, Kirkam Robert and William Morgan. Eventually they were joined by George Whitefield. The purpose of these young people was to preserve the moral and spiritual cleansing, which was falling apart as was observed in the England of the time. Apparently used to practice fasting and prayers at intervals of time ordered, and a methodical study of the scriptures. Those were just the beginning of what later became a movement that grew as a few in a relatively short period of time.
John Wesley, was born on June 17, 1703, within a large family, composed of Samuel Wesley, an Anglican minister and his wife Susanna Wesley, who came from a devout family and in addition to John and Charles, had another seventeen children. John was the fifteenth, but as was common in those days, especially in a family not many resources, John lost ten of their brethren, before becoming an adult.
His mother apparently instilled appreciation for the Bible, she was responsible for the education of all children, to whom he taught to read and write, apart from the Bible stories and other core subjects. Some of the children of Wesley, were outstanding students applied, including Charles and John himself. Thus his father thought he should receive a college education and delivery, first at Charterhouse and University then at Oxford, where he soon John highlighted by its nature a spiritual leader. Shortly thereafter there is also joining his brother Charles, four years younger and this is who in 1725 founded the famous university club, which soon joins his brother John, at first, the club formed by some of the more serious students, met for prayer, Bible study and comment on what they had read and pondered. Other students in mockery dubbed the group as "the Holy Club," but they willingly accepted the name.
In 1732 he joined George Whitefield College, a young energetic and great qualities of oratory and acting, although religious bit at first, soon takes a turn in your life by reading the book A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life William Law, it made him reflect and resulted in a call to the spiritual and an unusual interest to the religious. Suddenly showing interest in the club of the Wesleys and joins them, starting
com ideology, and giving the group more than a touch of religious activity, and soon added other meditations fasting and acts of the club.
\u0026lt;---- George Whitefield, born in 1714, the son of an innkeeper who ran an inn in Gloucester, England. With only two years left fatherless and his mother se encarga tanto de su educación, como de la posada. A una edad temprana, descubrió que tenía pasión y talento para la actuación y el teatro, su madre pensaba para ese entonces que su hijo se dedicaría a la farándula. Por ello hizo esfuerzos por darle una buena educación y lo matriculó en el Crypt School de Gloucester, mas tarde lo enviaría a la universidad de Oxford. Debido a que era una familia mas bien pobre y la matricula de Orxford era muy alta, ingresó en una modalidad que para aquel tiempo era aprovechada por los estudiantes de escasos recursos, entró como "Servitor", aquello significaba hacer servicios especiales a otros estudiantes que le pagaban por ello, entre otras cosas, se encargaba de despertarles, keep their books and other humble.
Shortly before John Wesley received his doctorate in Oxford, with about 29, and Charles with 24, George joins them to join the Club. He finished his studies in 1735, began his life devoted to being named minister of the Anglican Church by the Bishop of Gloucester. The style of giving sermons, left no one indifferent and soon Whitefield, became famous for his powerful speeches, full of emotion, a style, of course oblivious to the seriousness and sobriety of Anglicanism, but apparently it attracted a large audience But the bishops did not like. Then came a timely trip to America, taking advantage of a situation concern to the leaders of the Anglican Church. In 1698, Thomas Bray, the Anglican bishop of London issued a report on the status of the Anglican Church in the American colonies. That report realized as the Anglican Church in America had little spiritual vitality and was in a poor condition and lack of organization. It is therefore requested to organize a system to strengthen it by sending pastors and ministers who attended and Anglicanism through enhanced compared to the significant increase of Baptists, Congregationalists and Quakers.
Thus, in 1702 King William III signed the institution then known as the Society for the Propagation of Gospel (USPG), whose purpose was to organize and maintain a church united with England. Since then, he regularly sent ministers and missionaries to open and establish churches but with time, this core of Anglicans in America form the greatest part of what became named the American Episcopal Church, with a line of bishops of the way Catholic teachings but mixture of Lutheranism and Anglicanism.
Thus the Wesleys to the year 1735, while Whitefield was appointed as an Anglican minister, were sent by the company USPG to open and support the churches in Georgia. But a harrowing experience on the boat they were traveling, put them in touch with a group of Moravian carrying fleeing persecution in Europe. The situation was as follows as have, apparently, along with Wesley, traveled a good group of Anglican ministers, and many other travelers were prominent among a large group of Moravian Brethren from Germany, which dealt with the other crew members contempt, without them showed a hint of bitterness. It happened that suddenly befell a big storm and there was panic among the crew of the boat, except among the Moravians, who kept his composure and maintained a calm and serenity that attracted the attention of young Anglican missionary.
So soon established a good friendship with them, which familiarized John with some of their beliefs, but also with some of the teachings of Luther, since that time the majority group of Moravians, who belonged to the group in question had all embraced the luternismo., you may even have had some closer to the views of pietism of Jakob Spener.
John was sent to the city of Savannah in Georgia as a chaplain. Apparently the former chaplain had set the bar too high or otherwise, had left a bad taste in the congregation, so he found a cold, bleak answer, so that discouraged large way. Discussions with the Moravians and disappointment at the outcome of his trip, John Wesley made doubted its continuity in the work. His brother Charles, who served as secretary to the Governor Oglethorpe was in trouble for taking on the methods of the governor, who had recently banned slavery in its lands, but liberal convictions, not to prevent the flight of many African slaves to Florida, lured by the offer of the English who were promised freedom if they fled north, as a strategy to weaken the northern states, the result of the decision of Oglethorpe, was a lot of labor in the fields Cotton scarce and the settlers had to start paying employees, making the area economy was affected, of course freedom of Africans was welcomed by much of the population. But on the other citizens viewed the governor as a dictator, who played with the assets of the community as their own, referring to the law of freedom of slaves. Charles supported the slave against the governor, which brought serious disputes. Meanwhile the city was George Whitefield, to serve as a minister in the local church, with new spirit Whitefield, wanted to raise local spirituality and almost succeeded, at least his sermons fill the church were also established an orphanage, "Bethesda Orphanage, which still exists today. But Charles Wesley joined in their particular dispute with the governor and therefore had to leave the next year the work begun there with the Wesleys. Again in England, set out to make a change to the Anglican Church and do it from the pulpit, Protestant ideas of the Moravians, had influenced his teaching, in the case of John Wesley, began to know the writings of James Arminius and these writings influenced greatly, he suggested the need for action because there was no general salvation only by being baptized member of a church, as claimed by Anglicans, or a selected group for salvation as taught by Calvinism, but needed a will and action of the individual who approached God, began to use the term born again, as the key to salvation. While they continued to meet, by fasting and meditation, as they did in college. Soon the methods and teachings of Wesley and Whitefield's sermons attracted the attention of church authorities and were criticized harshly.
Some mockingly started to call them Methodists, a name which later became accepted as religion. Soon they were scouting locations for their own preaching, reaching as was the case Whitefield, organize speeches outdoors, where it attracted hundreds and sometimes thousands of people who were thrilled with his fervent sermons. Bristol is said that some 20,000 people, mostly poor workers crowded and tough to hear some of his sermons, it is not known if it was there or in another place where John Wesley found himself as the uncontrollable tears of many, Seizures and intemperate expressions of joy or sorrow visibly showed how strong these people were notorious for deeply shaken by the earnest words of Whitefield. Many talk of a new revival experienced by John in 1738, along with the Moravian Brethren, as the beginning of his ministry and his new faith. But it is difficult to establish when he gave his life a radical change in any case began in his native England, not America. His main belief was that a disciplined life made you please God. Over time they established some basic guidelines that would identify his work intense prayer, the preaching of the Word in very strong and alive, supernatural manifestations, and a greater involvement of believers in the ministry .
Although initially it worked and moved the masses, over time the preacher's zeal and active participation of all members in the ministry declined. Not the emotion of the Methodist meetings were to evolve into more and more fields of emotion with the rise of Pentecostal movements, within the heart of the most radical. Although John Wesley really did not intend to organize a new movement away from the Church, in fact it was not until after the 70's which established the absolute separation was a result of certain events in the new continent.
truth however is that for those early years, Anglican leaders themselves who were responsible for separating the Methodists and away from churches and temples, causing them to approach people more directly in meetings who organized mass in the open field, which showed the true spirit of Methodism. But those initial members are not fully shared all their ideas, indeed, some of them, as Charles Wesley did not want to be away from his church, and was ready to leave and be considered a heretic. John and George, if they were willing to assume that with all the consequences, although the latter did not share the ideas Arminian John and often argued about the matter.
soon, despite the differences, were seen as traveling evangelists in the manner of George Fox and the Quaker movement, established in various parts of rural England, where churches often built themselves the center or place of meeting rooms in some cases, these pastors thinking of traveling. In some of these temples, established classrooms for use as schools, to teach reading and writing to illiterate majority, so they could read the scriptures. They also prepared other group members with more experience for the work they did, as it had become so great that they could not alone. So many trained lay ministers, Whitefield himself, in the late forties, was able to establish in Wales with the help of some of these lay ministers prepared for that, establish what would become known Login as Calvinistic Methodist or Methodist Church, with himself as leader.
Over a period of time these disputes on the predetermination of the faithful, created a rift between the two leaders, but never hold a grudge, in fact Whitefield himself wanted his funeral to be led by Wesley. Thanks to its good college education, John Wesley, could write many books and pamphlets on various topics, mostly theological course. This method of writing, although not new, won to expand its scope, establishing his own publishing house, to make books available to everyone cheap, that earned him some good income served to r
elanzar further its work of evangelization.
\u0026lt;------ Charles Wesley, very reluctantly followed his brother in that way path that meant abandoning his church and being called crazy fan, or Methodist, his main contribution to the new movement was in the composition of hymns, since it had the qualities of leadership of his brother John, nor the eloquence of George Whitefield, but he wrote many religious songs, said that about six thousand hymns, some of which are still sung in many Methodist churches and in many evangelical denominations, among them include " Loving Savior, "" Hear a son in high regard "" Blow, trumpets and "Only divine love sublime," "Look down from heaven" "The Risen Lord" . Another of the great musicians of his time, George Frederic Handel , put music to some of his hymns. Charles was also the author of 63 books of poetry, material that is part of his monumental Wesleyan Hymn Books consists of 13 volumes and regrouped between 1868-1872, is considered one of the most prolific poets and English-language writers of his time.
Some of the key phrases that Wesley did in his sermons, it is worth noting that: " of all preaching, which generally evangelical preaching is called a harangue dull, or even encouraged, on the sufferings of Christ, or salvation by faith, not strongly inculcate holiness is the most harmful. "(Sermons Wesley, T1 )
This shows Wesley the importance given not only to use big words but moved to action and practical actions in the life of the subjects.
Soon Methodism reached
become a powerful movement, which sought transform the religious life of all of England. There were many who saw a new light on the discourses of Wesley and Whitefield, the latter with its powerful voice (according to some sources at one time came to gather up to about 80.000 people), and its ability to engage the emotions and move the masses to a simple conversion. In those meetings there was mass baptisms, en masse, as in the case of the Anabaptists, the Methodists accepted because they had contracted in childhood in their own churches and their teachings differed little from any Protestant church, but motivated people action.
Meanwhile, John Wesley, began to organize the new church began creating certain "classes" or "bands", naming them "local preachers" and "class guides." As says, the system resembled that of the Jesuits and their small communities or groups. Once a year, Wesley's calling for a "conference" where there were training sessions in the doctrines of the movement and behavior and work was expected of the "Methodists," that way the Methodist ministers taught this method in their respective parishes.
A famous religious institution prayer is that we here set out in the documents of Wesley, which is used as a liturgy on special occasions of formal worship in Methodist: Christ has many services to be made. Some are easy, others are difficult. Some bring honor, others bring reproach. Some fit with our natural inclinations and interests people, others are opposed to both ... But the power to do all these things is given us in Christ, who strengthens us.
... I no longer belong to me but I am yours. Put me Lord for what you want, put me the range of who you want to make me do, make me suffer, let me be employed by you or be left for you, exalted for you or humiliated for you, let me fill me, let me empty myself, let me have all things, let me have nothing; freely and wholeheartedly offer all things to thy pleasure and disposal ...:
The method emphasizes the biblical holiness as they explain, involves much more than personal piety, love of God is always linked with love of neighbor, a passion for justice and renewal of life in the world, so let him clear himself Wesley and Whitefield, in making many works to the most disadvantaged, and is one of the things that any method must be considered.
On the other hand, as doctrinal, bring few surprises and little or no layer of non-Christian tradition came to remove the Wesley movement. The method shares the belief accepted by Catholics, Anglicans and Protestants of the Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The immortal soul, hell fire, the sky as a destination for all faithful. In fact, there are many differences with respect to any other confession of Anglicanism emerged as the Congregationalists, or Presbyterians, except for some organizational ideas. We also accept the Bible as a witness to God's activity in creation, comprising the merciful intervention in the dramas of history, and teach the consummation of the Kingdom of God at some future time. Moreover, the Methodists also recognize the two sacraments traditional Anglicanism: infant baptism and Communion. Methodist doctrine also insists that personal salvation always involves Christian mission and collective service to the world.
In terms of organization, Methodists use the terms "Circuits," which are formed by a small group of congregations, "District" as a confederation of various circuits, and in each of these classes, a leader in charge.
But while the move to the fifties and was formed by tens of thousands of members, may actually exceed 140,000, but received a boost and full independence, when missionaries arrived in America, where Methodism gained a new dimension. Both
John Wesley, George Whitefield, traveled many times to America, after his first and unsuccessful journey. They managed to organize small communities, but it was late 1760, when two Methodist preachers emigrated to the British colonies in America willing to form partnerships of their movement in the new world. One of the first was Philip Embury who began his work in New York, soon, Captain Webb, the British Army, he joined this and organized a society together in Philadelphia and elsewhere in Pennsylvania and throughout the entire East Coast.
For 1770, two other missionaries arrived from the British connection, Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmoor. Soon after, would Francis Asbury, who eventually became one of its biggest boosters. Reorganized Asbury Methodist work in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Great was the success it had among the Puritan community, Congregationalist and Presbyterian, so much so that pastors and priests of these churches were angry and there were many and heavy fighting. Almost at the same time that Embury began his missionary work in New York, an ordained minister and sent by the USPG, call
Robert Strawbridge ado Methodist work began in Maryland, where he ordered and organized a circuit, many assistants training influence that would become the early leaders of American Methodism.
At this moment in history Methodist in Anglo-America, with the notable exception of Robert Strawbridge, none of the missionaries or the Methodist preachers had been properly ordained according to the Anglican church tradition, on the other hand, the vast majority of adherents to American Methodism continued to receive the sacraments early as Baptism and Eucharist at the hands of Anglican ministers established, since the conversion to Methodism did not require a renaming of these.
In the south the thing began to change soon, because according to increased the number of members, and among these births were not seeking the baptism in any of the established churches, whether Anglican, Presbyterian or Congregationalist, they began to celebrate baptisms and other sacraments themselves, in the classical manner, but in their own churches, increasingly needed less contact with the church of origin.
When war came in 1775 for American independence, most of these early missionaries, left the colonies. Even John Wesley encouraged to make that decision and why many missionaries returned to England and fled to Canada, only Francis Asbury stayed in Delaware during that turbulent time. But the fact is that only could be maintained a short circuit of Methodist churches and ministers that had hardly cared for.
In the south, things were different and Methodism in southern Maryland, and had been nurtured by ministers appointed from the community, did not have the influence of the British church, and much of it depended, therefore did not suffer the flight that took effect in the north. But this caused a rift between what would be the faction of Asbury, given to union with the Anglican church, at least when making the initial sacraments, and Southern preachers who did not want anything to remind them England. Asbury tried to resolve the crisis by persuading Southern preachers of Wesley expect a resolution on this crisis sacramental.
The answer took a while to arrive, it was not until 1784 when the Methodist leader took action, but he did decisively. Dr. Wesley sent Thomas Coke, who chose as his successor, the newly established nation from 1776 it was called the U.S. Wesley's purpose was to form an independent American Methodist Church, but following the same rules and communions that of England. The local Methodist Circuit met in late December 1784, Dr. Coke had orders to appoint as the first superintendent Asbury geneal of the new church, and so it was decided, although Coke, superintendent shared that for a while. Later
also accepted the appointment of bishops, although with some differences with respect to Anglicanism and the Anglican and Welsh Methodism itself, so that from then you could talk about the birth of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Something that displeased to Wesley himself, who in England avoided this kind of charge.
For this reason there were several divisions and schisms, especially in the south, they did not want to accept Asbury and Bishop least one set of them resemble the Catholic and Anglican churches, of which shunned. Among dissidents came James O'Kelly, who opposed the appointment of bishops and in 1793 formed his own group, which first called Republican Methodist Church, then I would draw just Christians, but they still know from the outside as Methodists; Soon Many members joined O'Kelly, but there were also disputes in this new religious group, one of them was the introduction of numerous members from the Baptist church, and some Calvinist influence, with which it began a series theological discussion on the inappropriateness of infant baptism or the default, that caused a schism within the small Republicans Methodist community, leading to the creation of the Church of New England.
leaders of the restoration of New England, as they called themselves, were Elias Smith and Abner Jones. Smith was a Baptist preacher, also dissatisfied with Calvinism, concluded that all theological systems were wrong and that Christians should be guided by scripture alone, saw in Methodism system closer to the scriptures, but not everything, so decided to break with this and create your own confession. Abner Jones also influenced by the teachings of Smith, became his main supporter and preacher. In 1801, Jones organized a "Christian Church" independent in Lyndon, Vermont. Six years later the new church had 14 congregations and 12 ministers. Meanwhile, Elias Smith, in 1808, began publishing a magazine called the Herald of Gospel Liberty. The first issues of this newspaper sought the union between them and Southern Methodist. That struggle for a union of ancient methods resulted in the formation of the "Christian Connection" in the late nineteenth century, later uniting with the Congregationalists in 1931, formed the Congregational Christian Church and then in 1957 joined the evangelical churches renovated, resulting in the United Church of Christ, but all these efforts and unions other members were left out to form their own churches evangelical in nature, trained Methodists.
While the Methodists did not give undue weight to the teachings, but rather in the style of life and moral standards of conduct and piety, but eventually began a system of unification and order in their teachings. E, n 1834, seminars and opened in 1890 was founded in Washington DC, a Methodist college. But that also gave rise to some disagreements, for example in 1840, after several attempts to stay within the official method, there were several ministers who looked like the original system of Wesley and Whitefield and pushing force, were giving way to a cold, which looked nothing like those early days, so Hugh Bourne and William Clowes, resigned from their positions in the church and formed what they called the Primitive Methodist Church. The Primitive Methodists were an attempt to restore the original pattern given by Wesley. For the same reason the New Connection Methodist emerged, and Christians from the Bible that were separated from the main conference, and later these groups joined in a two mergers in 1907 and again in 1932 with British Methodists, who had no bishops to form the Methodist Church in Britain, which now has about 800,000 members.
In opposition to the bishop, then also in 1830, a strong liberal minority formed the Methodist Protestant Church. Another issue that meant
division between Methodism was slavery, and saw himself as Charles Wesley, had many disagreements with the governor of Savanna in respect to slaves, Whitefield himself, also supported slavery, even some who possessed the same were used in his famous orphanage.
Although his brother Charles for some time supported the use of slaves, then John Wesley was opposed to the inhumane treatment of people and went on to say about this the following: "being a slave is entirely incompatible with mercy, is almost too clear to need a test. In fact, it is said, "that blacks are prisoners of war saved from being killed on their land by our captains and why they buy, just to save them from being sentenced to death. Is not this mercy? ask. I reply," It's mercy, seizing men, women and children, who were at peace in their own land or houses, just to save them from death? was to save from death, who canceled his mind and will? Who promote wars, in countries where these poor creatures were taken prisoner? Are not you tell them to deliver them from death? (John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life)
However, many prominent members and converts, they had slaves and given the contribution that this system gave the economy of the areas where it developed that many ministers did allow it, even some of them came to be enslaved Africans, including some bishops.
In the south, the main branch of the Methodist conference was pro-slavery. Since the northern leaders feared more to Methodism split with the South, were reluctant to make a clear decision in this regard. However, some began to preach to the Africans working in the railways and succeed with them. This group began to have a stronger voice in favor of abolitionism. Emerged from that so-called "Wesleyan Methodists, who later became known as The Wesleyan Church, these minorities joined other Free Methodists, who were formed by abolitionists decided.
Free Methodists, for example, were particularly active in the Underground Railroad that helped runaway slaves to liberate the South. Finally, when the north was beginning to forge the idea of \u200b\u200babolitionism, in a much larger schism in Louisville in 1845, churches in the slave states left the Methodist Episcopal Church and formed the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of a slave fully. The branches of the North and South met later in 1939, when slavery was no longer a matter of debate. In this merger also involved the so-called Protestant Methodist Church, not the Wesleyans. On the other hand, some Methodists in the south, theologically conservative, and strongly segregationist, racist, opposed the merger and formed the Southern Methodist Church in 1940.
Thus we see that Methodism, but has not contributed anything in doctrinal sense, if it was an attempt to make Christianity something more practical, more meaningful and more related to the works and not just faith. On the other hand the style of loud speakers and a great personality, has been the hallmark of this movement, especially the legacy from those early Methodists, Wesley and especially Whitefield. However, its divisions and branches have given rise to numerous groups, separated by tiny differences and that, although eventually end and end to unify, create some confusion in Christianity. Unification is the only way they have left to survive as a church to the present spiritual crisis.
all started when a group of University of Oxford, founded a sort of order to which they called the "Holy Club." The group was originally formed by brothers John and Charles Wesley, James Harvey, who would become a famous writer and two other characters that little else is known, Kirkam Robert and William Morgan. Eventually they were joined by George Whitefield. The purpose of these young people was to preserve the moral and spiritual cleansing, which was falling apart as was observed in the England of the time. Apparently used to practice fasting and prayers at intervals of time ordered, and a methodical study of the scriptures. Those were just the beginning of what later became a movement that grew as a few in a relatively short period of time.
John Wesley, was born on June 17, 1703, within a large family, composed of Samuel Wesley, an Anglican minister and his wife Susanna Wesley, who came from a devout family and in addition to John and Charles, had another seventeen children. John was the fifteenth, but as was common in those days, especially in a family not many resources, John lost ten of their brethren, before becoming an adult.
His mother apparently instilled appreciation for the Bible, she was responsible for the education of all children, to whom he taught to read and write, apart from the Bible stories and other core subjects. Some of the children of Wesley, were outstanding students applied, including Charles and John himself. Thus his father thought he should receive a college education and delivery, first at Charterhouse and University then at Oxford, where he soon John highlighted by its nature a spiritual leader. Shortly thereafter there is also joining his brother Charles, four years younger and this is who in 1725 founded the famous university club, which soon joins his brother John, at first, the club formed by some of the more serious students, met for prayer, Bible study and comment on what they had read and pondered. Other students in mockery dubbed the group as "the Holy Club," but they willingly accepted the name.
In 1732 he joined George Whitefield College, a young energetic and great qualities of oratory and acting, although religious bit at first, soon takes a turn in your life by reading the book A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life William Law, it made him reflect and resulted in a call to the spiritual and an unusual interest to the religious. Suddenly showing interest in the club of the Wesleys and joins them, starting
com ideology, and giving the group more than a touch of religious activity, and soon added other meditations fasting and acts of the club. \u0026lt;---- George Whitefield, born in 1714, the son of an innkeeper who ran an inn in Gloucester, England. With only two years left fatherless and his mother se encarga tanto de su educación, como de la posada. A una edad temprana, descubrió que tenía pasión y talento para la actuación y el teatro, su madre pensaba para ese entonces que su hijo se dedicaría a la farándula. Por ello hizo esfuerzos por darle una buena educación y lo matriculó en el Crypt School de Gloucester, mas tarde lo enviaría a la universidad de Oxford. Debido a que era una familia mas bien pobre y la matricula de Orxford era muy alta, ingresó en una modalidad que para aquel tiempo era aprovechada por los estudiantes de escasos recursos, entró como "Servitor", aquello significaba hacer servicios especiales a otros estudiantes que le pagaban por ello, entre otras cosas, se encargaba de despertarles, keep their books and other humble.
Shortly before John Wesley received his doctorate in Oxford, with about 29, and Charles with 24, George joins them to join the Club. He finished his studies in 1735, began his life devoted to being named minister of the Anglican Church by the Bishop of Gloucester. The style of giving sermons, left no one indifferent and soon Whitefield, became famous for his powerful speeches, full of emotion, a style, of course oblivious to the seriousness and sobriety of Anglicanism, but apparently it attracted a large audience But the bishops did not like. Then came a timely trip to America, taking advantage of a situation concern to the leaders of the Anglican Church. In 1698, Thomas Bray, the Anglican bishop of London issued a report on the status of the Anglican Church in the American colonies. That report realized as the Anglican Church in America had little spiritual vitality and was in a poor condition and lack of organization. It is therefore requested to organize a system to strengthen it by sending pastors and ministers who attended and Anglicanism through enhanced compared to the significant increase of Baptists, Congregationalists and Quakers.
Thus, in 1702 King William III signed the institution then known as the Society for the Propagation of Gospel (USPG), whose purpose was to organize and maintain a church united with England. Since then, he regularly sent ministers and missionaries to open and establish churches but with time, this core of Anglicans in America form the greatest part of what became named the American Episcopal Church, with a line of bishops of the way Catholic teachings but mixture of Lutheranism and Anglicanism.
Thus the Wesleys to the year 1735, while Whitefield was appointed as an Anglican minister, were sent by the company USPG to open and support the churches in Georgia. But a harrowing experience on the boat they were traveling, put them in touch with a group of Moravian carrying fleeing persecution in Europe. The situation was as follows as have, apparently, along with Wesley, traveled a good group of Anglican ministers, and many other travelers were prominent among a large group of Moravian Brethren from Germany, which dealt with the other crew members contempt, without them showed a hint of bitterness. It happened that suddenly befell a big storm and there was panic among the crew of the boat, except among the Moravians, who kept his composure and maintained a calm and serenity that attracted the attention of young Anglican missionary.
So soon established a good friendship with them, which familiarized John with some of their beliefs, but also with some of the teachings of Luther, since that time the majority group of Moravians, who belonged to the group in question had all embraced the luternismo., you may even have had some closer to the views of pietism of Jakob Spener.
John was sent to the city of Savannah in Georgia as a chaplain. Apparently the former chaplain had set the bar too high or otherwise, had left a bad taste in the congregation, so he found a cold, bleak answer, so that discouraged large way. Discussions with the Moravians and disappointment at the outcome of his trip, John Wesley made doubted its continuity in the work. His brother Charles, who served as secretary to the Governor Oglethorpe was in trouble for taking on the methods of the governor, who had recently banned slavery in its lands, but liberal convictions, not to prevent the flight of many African slaves to Florida, lured by the offer of the English who were promised freedom if they fled north, as a strategy to weaken the northern states, the result of the decision of Oglethorpe, was a lot of labor in the fields Cotton scarce and the settlers had to start paying employees, making the area economy was affected, of course freedom of Africans was welcomed by much of the population. But on the other citizens viewed the governor as a dictator, who played with the assets of the community as their own, referring to the law of freedom of slaves. Charles supported the slave against the governor, which brought serious disputes. Meanwhile the city was George Whitefield, to serve as a minister in the local church, with new spirit Whitefield, wanted to raise local spirituality and almost succeeded, at least his sermons fill the church were also established an orphanage, "Bethesda Orphanage, which still exists today. But Charles Wesley joined in their particular dispute with the governor and therefore had to leave the next year the work begun there with the Wesleys. Again in England, set out to make a change to the Anglican Church and do it from the pulpit, Protestant ideas of the Moravians, had influenced his teaching, in the case of John Wesley, began to know the writings of James Arminius and these writings influenced greatly, he suggested the need for action because there was no general salvation only by being baptized member of a church, as claimed by Anglicans, or a selected group for salvation as taught by Calvinism, but needed a will and action of the individual who approached God, began to use the term born again, as the key to salvation. While they continued to meet, by fasting and meditation, as they did in college. Soon the methods and teachings of Wesley and Whitefield's sermons attracted the attention of church authorities and were criticized harshly.
Some mockingly started to call them Methodists, a name which later became accepted as religion. Soon they were scouting locations for their own preaching, reaching as was the case Whitefield, organize speeches outdoors, where it attracted hundreds and sometimes thousands of people who were thrilled with his fervent sermons. Bristol is said that some 20,000 people, mostly poor workers crowded and tough to hear some of his sermons, it is not known if it was there or in another place where John Wesley found himself as the uncontrollable tears of many, Seizures and intemperate expressions of joy or sorrow visibly showed how strong these people were notorious for deeply shaken by the earnest words of Whitefield. Many talk of a new revival experienced by John in 1738, along with the Moravian Brethren, as the beginning of his ministry and his new faith. But it is difficult to establish when he gave his life a radical change in any case began in his native England, not America. His main belief was that a disciplined life made you please God. Over time they established some basic guidelines that would identify his work intense prayer, the preaching of the Word in very strong and alive, supernatural manifestations, and a greater involvement of believers in the ministry .
Although initially it worked and moved the masses, over time the preacher's zeal and active participation of all members in the ministry declined. Not the emotion of the Methodist meetings were to evolve into more and more fields of emotion with the rise of Pentecostal movements, within the heart of the most radical. Although John Wesley really did not intend to organize a new movement away from the Church, in fact it was not until after the 70's which established the absolute separation was a result of certain events in the new continent.
truth however is that for those early years, Anglican leaders themselves who were responsible for separating the Methodists and away from churches and temples, causing them to approach people more directly in meetings who organized mass in the open field, which showed the true spirit of Methodism. But those initial members are not fully shared all their ideas, indeed, some of them, as Charles Wesley did not want to be away from his church, and was ready to leave and be considered a heretic. John and George, if they were willing to assume that with all the consequences, although the latter did not share the ideas Arminian John and often argued about the matter.
soon, despite the differences, were seen as traveling evangelists in the manner of George Fox and the Quaker movement, established in various parts of rural England, where churches often built themselves the center or place of meeting rooms in some cases, these pastors thinking of traveling. In some of these temples, established classrooms for use as schools, to teach reading and writing to illiterate majority, so they could read the scriptures. They also prepared other group members with more experience for the work they did, as it had become so great that they could not alone. So many trained lay ministers, Whitefield himself, in the late forties, was able to establish in Wales with the help of some of these lay ministers prepared for that, establish what would become known Login as Calvinistic Methodist or Methodist Church, with himself as leader.
Over a period of time these disputes on the predetermination of the faithful, created a rift between the two leaders, but never hold a grudge, in fact Whitefield himself wanted his funeral to be led by Wesley. Thanks to its good college education, John Wesley, could write many books and pamphlets on various topics, mostly theological course. This method of writing, although not new, won to expand its scope, establishing his own publishing house, to make books available to everyone cheap, that earned him some good income served to r
elanzar further its work of evangelization. \u0026lt;------ Charles Wesley, very reluctantly followed his brother in that way path that meant abandoning his church and being called crazy fan, or Methodist, his main contribution to the new movement was in the composition of hymns, since it had the qualities of leadership of his brother John, nor the eloquence of George Whitefield, but he wrote many religious songs, said that about six thousand hymns, some of which are still sung in many Methodist churches and in many evangelical denominations, among them include " Loving Savior, "" Hear a son in high regard "" Blow, trumpets and "Only divine love sublime," "Look down from heaven" "The Risen Lord" . Another of the great musicians of his time, George Frederic Handel , put music to some of his hymns. Charles was also the author of 63 books of poetry, material that is part of his monumental Wesleyan Hymn Books consists of 13 volumes and regrouped between 1868-1872, is considered one of the most prolific poets and English-language writers of his time.
Some of the key phrases that Wesley did in his sermons, it is worth noting that: " of all preaching, which generally evangelical preaching is called a harangue dull, or even encouraged, on the sufferings of Christ, or salvation by faith, not strongly inculcate holiness is the most harmful. "(Sermons Wesley, T1 )
This shows Wesley the importance given not only to use big words but moved to action and practical actions in the life of the subjects.
Soon Methodism reached
become a powerful movement, which sought transform the religious life of all of England. There were many who saw a new light on the discourses of Wesley and Whitefield, the latter with its powerful voice (according to some sources at one time came to gather up to about 80.000 people), and its ability to engage the emotions and move the masses to a simple conversion. In those meetings there was mass baptisms, en masse, as in the case of the Anabaptists, the Methodists accepted because they had contracted in childhood in their own churches and their teachings differed little from any Protestant church, but motivated people action. Meanwhile, John Wesley, began to organize the new church began creating certain "classes" or "bands", naming them "local preachers" and "class guides." As says, the system resembled that of the Jesuits and their small communities or groups. Once a year, Wesley's calling for a "conference" where there were training sessions in the doctrines of the movement and behavior and work was expected of the "Methodists," that way the Methodist ministers taught this method in their respective parishes.
A famous religious institution prayer is that we here set out in the documents of Wesley, which is used as a liturgy on special occasions of formal worship in Methodist: Christ has many services to be made. Some are easy, others are difficult. Some bring honor, others bring reproach. Some fit with our natural inclinations and interests people, others are opposed to both ... But the power to do all these things is given us in Christ, who strengthens us.
... I no longer belong to me but I am yours. Put me Lord for what you want, put me the range of who you want to make me do, make me suffer, let me be employed by you or be left for you, exalted for you or humiliated for you, let me fill me, let me empty myself, let me have all things, let me have nothing; freely and wholeheartedly offer all things to thy pleasure and disposal ...:
The method emphasizes the biblical holiness as they explain, involves much more than personal piety, love of God is always linked with love of neighbor, a passion for justice and renewal of life in the world, so let him clear himself Wesley and Whitefield, in making many works to the most disadvantaged, and is one of the things that any method must be considered.
On the other hand, as doctrinal, bring few surprises and little or no layer of non-Christian tradition came to remove the Wesley movement. The method shares the belief accepted by Catholics, Anglicans and Protestants of the Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The immortal soul, hell fire, the sky as a destination for all faithful. In fact, there are many differences with respect to any other confession of Anglicanism emerged as the Congregationalists, or Presbyterians, except for some organizational ideas. We also accept the Bible as a witness to God's activity in creation, comprising the merciful intervention in the dramas of history, and teach the consummation of the Kingdom of God at some future time. Moreover, the Methodists also recognize the two sacraments traditional Anglicanism: infant baptism and Communion. Methodist doctrine also insists that personal salvation always involves Christian mission and collective service to the world.
In terms of organization, Methodists use the terms "Circuits," which are formed by a small group of congregations, "District" as a confederation of various circuits, and in each of these classes, a leader in charge.
But while the move to the fifties and was formed by tens of thousands of members, may actually exceed 140,000, but received a boost and full independence, when missionaries arrived in America, where Methodism gained a new dimension. Both
John Wesley, George Whitefield, traveled many times to America, after his first and unsuccessful journey. They managed to organize small communities, but it was late 1760, when two Methodist preachers emigrated to the British colonies in America willing to form partnerships of their movement in the new world. One of the first was Philip Embury who began his work in New York, soon, Captain Webb, the British Army, he joined this and organized a society together in Philadelphia and elsewhere in Pennsylvania and throughout the entire East Coast.
For 1770, two other missionaries arrived from the British connection, Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmoor. Soon after, would Francis Asbury, who eventually became one of its biggest boosters. Reorganized Asbury Methodist work in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Great was the success it had among the Puritan community, Congregationalist and Presbyterian, so much so that pastors and priests of these churches were angry and there were many and heavy fighting. Almost at the same time that Embury began his missionary work in New York, an ordained minister and sent by the USPG, call
Robert Strawbridge ado Methodist work began in Maryland, where he ordered and organized a circuit, many assistants training influence that would become the early leaders of American Methodism. At this moment in history Methodist in Anglo-America, with the notable exception of Robert Strawbridge, none of the missionaries or the Methodist preachers had been properly ordained according to the Anglican church tradition, on the other hand, the vast majority of adherents to American Methodism continued to receive the sacraments early as Baptism and Eucharist at the hands of Anglican ministers established, since the conversion to Methodism did not require a renaming of these.
Francis Asbury, first bishop of the Methodist superientendente Americans.
In the south the thing began to change soon, because according to increased the number of members, and among these births were not seeking the baptism in any of the established churches, whether Anglican, Presbyterian or Congregationalist, they began to celebrate baptisms and other sacraments themselves, in the classical manner, but in their own churches, increasingly needed less contact with the church of origin.
When war came in 1775 for American independence, most of these early missionaries, left the colonies. Even John Wesley encouraged to make that decision and why many missionaries returned to England and fled to Canada, only Francis Asbury stayed in Delaware during that turbulent time. But the fact is that only could be maintained a short circuit of Methodist churches and ministers that had hardly cared for.
In the south, things were different and Methodism in southern Maryland, and had been nurtured by ministers appointed from the community, did not have the influence of the British church, and much of it depended, therefore did not suffer the flight that took effect in the north. But this caused a rift between what would be the faction of Asbury, given to union with the Anglican church, at least when making the initial sacraments, and Southern preachers who did not want anything to remind them England. Asbury tried to resolve the crisis by persuading Southern preachers of Wesley expect a resolution on this crisis sacramental.
The answer took a while to arrive, it was not until 1784 when the Methodist leader took action, but he did decisively. Dr. Wesley sent Thomas Coke, who chose as his successor, the newly established nation from 1776 it was called the U.S. Wesley's purpose was to form an independent American Methodist Church, but following the same rules and communions that of England. The local Methodist Circuit met in late December 1784, Dr. Coke had orders to appoint as the first superintendent Asbury geneal of the new church, and so it was decided, although Coke, superintendent shared that for a while. Later
also accepted the appointment of bishops, although with some differences with respect to Anglicanism and the Anglican and Welsh Methodism itself, so that from then you could talk about the birth of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Something that displeased to Wesley himself, who in England avoided this kind of charge.
For this reason there were several divisions and schisms, especially in the south, they did not want to accept Asbury and Bishop least one set of them resemble the Catholic and Anglican churches, of which shunned. Among dissidents came James O'Kelly, who opposed the appointment of bishops and in 1793 formed his own group, which first called Republican Methodist Church, then I would draw just Christians, but they still know from the outside as Methodists; Soon Many members joined O'Kelly, but there were also disputes in this new religious group, one of them was the introduction of numerous members from the Baptist church, and some Calvinist influence, with which it began a series theological discussion on the inappropriateness of infant baptism or the default, that caused a schism within the small Republicans Methodist community, leading to the creation of the Church of New England.
leaders of the restoration of New England, as they called themselves, were Elias Smith and Abner Jones. Smith was a Baptist preacher, also dissatisfied with Calvinism, concluded that all theological systems were wrong and that Christians should be guided by scripture alone, saw in Methodism system closer to the scriptures, but not everything, so decided to break with this and create your own confession. Abner Jones also influenced by the teachings of Smith, became his main supporter and preacher. In 1801, Jones organized a "Christian Church" independent in Lyndon, Vermont. Six years later the new church had 14 congregations and 12 ministers. Meanwhile, Elias Smith, in 1808, began publishing a magazine called the Herald of Gospel Liberty. The first issues of this newspaper sought the union between them and Southern Methodist. That struggle for a union of ancient methods resulted in the formation of the "Christian Connection" in the late nineteenth century, later uniting with the Congregationalists in 1931, formed the Congregational Christian Church and then in 1957 joined the evangelical churches renovated, resulting in the United Church of Christ, but all these efforts and unions other members were left out to form their own churches evangelical in nature, trained Methodists.
While the Methodists did not give undue weight to the teachings, but rather in the style of life and moral standards of conduct and piety, but eventually began a system of unification and order in their teachings. E, n 1834, seminars and opened in 1890 was founded in Washington DC, a Methodist college. But that also gave rise to some disagreements, for example in 1840, after several attempts to stay within the official method, there were several ministers who looked like the original system of Wesley and Whitefield and pushing force, were giving way to a cold, which looked nothing like those early days, so Hugh Bourne and William Clowes, resigned from their positions in the church and formed what they called the Primitive Methodist Church. The Primitive Methodists were an attempt to restore the original pattern given by Wesley. For the same reason the New Connection Methodist emerged, and Christians from the Bible that were separated from the main conference, and later these groups joined in a two mergers in 1907 and again in 1932 with British Methodists, who had no bishops to form the Methodist Church in Britain, which now has about 800,000 members.
In opposition to the bishop, then also in 1830, a strong liberal minority formed the Methodist Protestant Church. Another issue that meant
division between Methodism was slavery, and saw himself as Charles Wesley, had many disagreements with the governor of Savanna in respect to slaves, Whitefield himself, also supported slavery, even some who possessed the same were used in his famous orphanage.
Although his brother Charles for some time supported the use of slaves, then John Wesley was opposed to the inhumane treatment of people and went on to say about this the following: "being a slave is entirely incompatible with mercy, is almost too clear to need a test. In fact, it is said, "that blacks are prisoners of war saved from being killed on their land by our captains and why they buy, just to save them from being sentenced to death. Is not this mercy? ask. I reply," It's mercy, seizing men, women and children, who were at peace in their own land or houses, just to save them from death? was to save from death, who canceled his mind and will? Who promote wars, in countries where these poor creatures were taken prisoner? Are not you tell them to deliver them from death? (John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life)
However, many prominent members and converts, they had slaves and given the contribution that this system gave the economy of the areas where it developed that many ministers did allow it, even some of them came to be enslaved Africans, including some bishops.
In the south, the main branch of the Methodist conference was pro-slavery. Since the northern leaders feared more to Methodism split with the South, were reluctant to make a clear decision in this regard. However, some began to preach to the Africans working in the railways and succeed with them. This group began to have a stronger voice in favor of abolitionism. Emerged from that so-called "Wesleyan Methodists, who later became known as The Wesleyan Church, these minorities joined other Free Methodists, who were formed by abolitionists decided.
Free Methodists, for example, were particularly active in the Underground Railroad that helped runaway slaves to liberate the South. Finally, when the north was beginning to forge the idea of \u200b\u200babolitionism, in a much larger schism in Louisville in 1845, churches in the slave states left the Methodist Episcopal Church and formed the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of a slave fully. The branches of the North and South met later in 1939, when slavery was no longer a matter of debate. In this merger also involved the so-called Protestant Methodist Church, not the Wesleyans. On the other hand, some Methodists in the south, theologically conservative, and strongly segregationist, racist, opposed the merger and formed the Southern Methodist Church in 1940.
Thus we see that Methodism, but has not contributed anything in doctrinal sense, if it was an attempt to make Christianity something more practical, more meaningful and more related to the works and not just faith. On the other hand the style of loud speakers and a great personality, has been the hallmark of this movement, especially the legacy from those early Methodists, Wesley and especially Whitefield. However, its divisions and branches have given rise to numerous groups, separated by tiny differences and that, although eventually end and end to unify, create some confusion in Christianity. Unification is the only way they have left to survive as a church to the present spiritual crisis.
