December 31, 2008
Seeing in the New Year, John Wesley Style. Step 2: Make a Conscious Choice
(This post continues a series on John Wesley’s Directions for Renewing our Covenant with God)
The word “decision” is viewed with a certain degree of suspiscion in the reformed world – and rightly so. A (quite healthy) desire to see people converted to Christ combined with a deep and tragic underestimation of the sinfulness of our hearts – what the theologians call semi or full pelagianism – has lead to a highly subjective approach to evangelism focussed on squeezing out as many “personal decisions for Christ” as possible. Many of us will have attended one or another over-emotional church service where hundreds are packed into a small space to participate in long stretches of loud, extatic singing and an impassioned talk encouraging us to “accept Christ into our hearts”. In the worst cases it amounts to little more than manipulation, psychological pressure or brainwashing.
At the same time, of course, a decision has to be come to. “Choose this day whom you will serve” Joshua encouraged the Israelites (Joshua 24:15). How can Wesley help us to make the right kind of decision – and help others to do likewise?
It is a considered choice
As I said yesterday, I really can’t see the kind of decision Wesley’s looking for being made on the spur of the moment. If you’ve managed successfully to suffuse yourself with thoughts of how much greater the eternal is than the temporal, of the realness of things unseen, and the stakes involved (see yesterday’s post. For what it’s worth, in 24 hours, I didn’t manage it) well now you have to lay the whole matter before yourself. Wesley encourages you to sit down and talk to yourself, saying
“Soul, you see what is before you, what will you do? Which will you have, either the crown or the curse? If you choose the crown, remember that the day you take this you must be content to submit to the cross and the yoke, the service and sufferings of Christ which are linked to it. What do you say? Would you rather take the gains and pleasures of sin, and venture on the curse? Or will you yield yourself a servant to Christ, and so make sure the crown?”
Later on he encourages us to pester our hearts “from day to day” about this. Far from being a spur of the moment thing, Wesley advises us to sit ourselves down and think very carefully about what we’re doing. Even if the meetings the Methodists held were often very passionate affairs, it was passion undergirded by thorough reflexion. An 18th century Wesleyan Covenant service lasted for about 3 hours, with at least an hour of penetrating self examination before a sermon and the making of the actual covenant. Methodist preachers would often preach for several weeks in preparation for it. I have attended a modern Methodist covenant service – it came out of the blue and was all over in under an hour. I wonder if I wasn’t the only one who had completely forgotten what I’d so boldly promised after only a couple of weeks.
It is a conscious choice
This follows on really from the fact that it’s something you put a lot of thought into. Wesley reminds us that no-one is accidentally a Christian – it’s something you do on purpose. Wesley doesn’t share the same sunny confidence in human nature that we see so often today – he knows that the natural bent of the human heart is away from God. As such, there can be no simple decision once made that will change everything, Wesley advises rather a day to day pestering of our sinful hearts into submission to Jesus; “If your hearts would rather fly off and wave the whole business [that is, avoid coming to a decision] leave them not so… follow your hearts from day to day, let them not rest until the matter be brought to an issue [that is, decided]“
Similarly, he reminds us that there’s no middle ground; “if you remain undetermined for Christ, you are determined for the devil”. Faced with the commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, there is no neutral response. It’s a choice we all effectively make one way or another, but the Christian, contends Wesley, does so very deliberately.
It is a costly choice
Another difference about this choice and the kinds of “decisions” which are so common these days is that is hurts. Lots. It seems so counter-intuitive to underline the cost of discipleship, the pains of being a Christian, when you’re asking someone to become a Christian. Nevertheless, it’s a thread which runs consistently through Wesley’s argument. Remember, when you choose the crown, you take the cross and the yoke with it.
“This is your choosing the good part, God and the blessedness of the world to come for your portion and happiness; and in this is included your renouncing the world and worldly happiness.”
Renouncing the world and worldly happiness? Ouch! I can feel myself revolt against it. Doesn’t he want people to come to Christ? Shouldn’t we be emphasising the joy and peace that comes from believing, the strength in every trial, the eternal hope? Can’t we explain about how the world opposes us, and the devil tempts and indwelling sin gnaws away at our resolve later on when they’re more ready to hear it? No wonder he wants us to contemplate how much more important the eternal is than the temporal, who else would make this choice?
But it’s this that marks John Wesley’s “choice” from the modern evangelical “decision”, and it’s this that wins me over. Wesley isn’t asking his readers simply to make a decision for Christ. He isn’t asking them to walk an aisle or sign a card. He’s not even asking them to be counter-cultural or to accept God’s plan for their lives. He’s asking them to die that they might live.
(Image: Decision by Richard Scott 33 under a Creative Commons Licence)
