Wesleyanism - Wesleyan and Arminianism

Wesleyan and Arminianism

The doctrine of Wesleyan-Arminianism was founded as an attempt to explain Christianity in a manner unlike the teachings of Calvinism; actually, the two parts of this set of beliefs were once two separate followings. Arminianism is a theological study conducted by Jacobus Arminius, from the Netherlands, in opposition to Calvinist orthodoxy on the basis of free will. After the death of Arminius the followers, led by Simon Episcopius, presented a document concerning the Arminian beliefs to the Netherlands. This document is known today as the five articles of Remonstrance. Wesleyanism, on the other hand, was founded upon the theological teachings of John Wesley, an English evangelist, and the beliefs of this dogma are derived from his many publications, including his sermons, journal, abridgements of theological, devotional, and historical Christian works, and a variety of tracts and treatises on theological subjects. Consequently, the two theories have joined into one set of values for the contemporary church; yet, when examined separately, their unique details can be discovered, as well as their similarities in ideals.

Arminianism was officially recorded and presented to Dutch leaders in 1610 A.D., about one hundred and fifty years before the development of Wesleyanism. The doctrine is based upon five essential beliefs that are purposely biblical in nature. The first of these five points is the reason for the conflict between Calvinism and Arminianism in its basic foundation; it is the concept of free will. Arminius believed that even after the fall of humankind, all persons had the responsibility (by God's prevenient grace) to accept Jesus Christ and thus be saved. The second point of Arminianism declares conditional election. Arminius states that the choosing of the elect is based upon the foreknowledge of God as to who would believe; a person's "act of faith" was seen as the condition for salvation. It is this choosing by God's grace to accept Jesus Christ that elects one to inherit salvation. Thus, salvation is made to occur initially by God's prevenient grace and then one's free will, and only then is one chosen to be saved. Third, Arminianism explains that redemption is based on the fact that God loves everyone, that Christ was sacrificed for all, and that the Father's will is that no one perish. The crucifixion of Christ satisfied God's wrath, provided the means by which forgiveness can occur, and Christ's resurrection enables the forgiven to inherit life. However, once again, one must choose Christ in order to be saved. Hence Christ died for every person who has lived and will ever live, but only those that freely choose to follow Jesus are elected unto salvation. Fourth, the idea of Obstructable Grace states that since God does desire all persons to be saved, God sent the Holy Spirit to encourage and persuade all people to Christ. Yet, again because of free will, one may choose to reject salvation and thus resist God's will. God wills all people to be saved and worship God in spirit and in truth, but has sovereignly chosen to provide humankind with free will to freely choose to accept or reject Jesus. And finally, the practical idea that follows is that one may fall from grace; since it is one's will to accept Christ and be saved, a person may either continue in salvation and persevere in the faith or choose to voluntarily reject Christ and fall away from the faith.

In the early 1770s John Wesley, aided by the theological writings of John William Fletcher emphasized Arminian doctrines in his controversy with the Calvinistic wing of the evangelicals in England. Then, in 1778, he founded a theological journal which he titled the Arminian Magazine. This period and the Calvinist-Arminian Controversy was influential in forming a lasting link between Arminianism and Wesleyanism

Wesley is remembered for visiting the Moravians of both Georgia and Germany and examining their beliefs, then founding the Methodist movement, the precursor to the later variety of Methodist denominations. Wesley's desire was not to form a new sect, but rather to reform the nation and spread scriptural holiness as truth. However, the creation of Wesleyan-Arminianism has today developed into a popular standard for many contemporary churches. Wesleyanism well explains the two main events in the life of the believer; "saving faith," or justification, the threshold of the Christian life; and "the fullness of faith," or sanctification, as its goal. Wesleyanism also stresses good works through faith that acts by love, and the primacy of revelation in the scriptures.

The beliefs of Arminianism were influential through the generations until Wesley picked up the theories and expounded them further. Today, they have become a fused set of Christian ideals, deep-rooted basics for the life of the believer. Together, they have become a powerful set of beliefs, even for the modern Christian.