England Before and After Wesley
It is the plain old Christianity that I teach. John Wesley
As British Methodists consider their bleak future, we would do well to remember the contribution of their founder, John Wesley.
In an excellent article Donald Drew describes England before and after Wesley. He explains what was at the heart of Wesley's world changing movement,
Wesley's central understanding of Christianity was individual redemption leading to social regeneration. He believed that the main purpose of the Bible is to show sinners their way back to God by the atoning sacrifice of Christ. This and this only he preached.
But he understood also that social changes are an inevitable by-product and a useful piece of evidence of conversion. Therefore, because of the preaching, the high moral principles enshrined in Scriptures slowly began to take root in people's minds. Wesley knew that God's Word calls for the salvation of individual souls but also gives us firm ordinances for national existence and a common social life. Under God, this was his goal, and he never lost sight of it.
