A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life

A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life
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I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe, –that unless I believed, I should not understand.-- St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Recovering Our Methodist Missional DNA

Jay Voorhees has posted a Missional Manifesto for the People Called United Methodist. Steve Manskar, the director of Wesleyan Leadership for the General Board of Discipleship has offered his own comments on the document. In part the Manifesto states,

*United Methodists affirm the teachings of John Wesley, a man born into a Puritan household, raised in the Anglican tradition, inspired by Moravian piety, and devoted to the Arminian understanding of free grace.

*United Methodists assert that God's love, not our sin, is the most important truth we know and the starting point for the story of salvation. Everything that follows is out of response to this truth.

*United Methodists uphold the primacy of God's grace: prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying as the center of human life, empowering all to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

*United Methodists hold together the love of God (personal piety) and love of neighbor (social holiness) as the holistic understanding our salvation, embodied and lived out.

*United Methodists believe we are saved by grace alone through faith, and we are saved so we might do good works. All works of piety follow as a response to the radical grace of God.

This is good stuff. You can read the entire Manifesto here.

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