Part Two- The Wesleyan Quadrilater-what???
I think the first time that I heard the phrase “the Wesley Quadrilateral,” was in my fourth grade confirmation class. What I remember about this was that there were four “tests” or ““guidelines” by which a Methodist should make decisions: Scripture, Tradition, Reason, Experience. Learned it. Never heard of it again for 16 years. I was in seminary. In my first of several courses on Methodist theology. It was there that I found out that the “beloved” Methodist Methodology by which all good Methodists should make decision would not have been familiar to Mr. Wesley at all…
The term “Wesley Quadrilateral” is a term that, we are (or should be) at least a little familiar with… it is a term that directly relates to the “peculiar” that is “the set apart way” that we, as a United Methodist people, do theology… it is what should be used when we study, teach, discuss, argue about and interpret God and God’s action and involvement in the world, the church, and in our individual lives…
But, the term did not originate with John Wesley. It was, in fact, “coined” by, one of the most renowned Methodist scholars of the 20th century, Dr. Albert Outler of Southern Methodist University. In 1964, Dr. Outler first used the word in his introduction to his scholarly work on John Wesley.
In the introduction, Dr. Outler theorized that John Wesley used four different sources in coming to theological conclusions: Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience.
It is important to note that no one piece is more important than the other… It is never Scripture or Tradition or Reason or Experience…all four “tests” are essential to sound theological thinking. When all four of these “tests” are met, then, God reveals God’s self to us through each one. You see, each contributes to our understanding and experience of who God is and how God has acted in the past… is acting now… and will act in the future.
When fully employed, using the Quadrilateral gives us a proven way of exploring, growing in, and living our faith in Jesus Christ. This way of thinking is also a characteristic that distinguishes The United Methodist Church from other Christian denominations.
My Aunt Helen had a beautiful antique armoire. In it was all of my Granny MacK’s china brought over with her from Scotland in the 20’s. The house had flooded and the carpet in the dining room needed to be replaced. When the carpet guys moved the armoire, they grabbed it from the sides…you see, armoires like that were all held together by the wooden pegs with which they were joined and the springs which held the framework together. An armoire like that is supposed to be moved by the base, its foundation…and, never to be pulled by the sides…of course, when they pulled it errantly, the whole thing cam crashing down.
I think this is an excellent metaphor for the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.
From the beginning of the story given to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, theological reflection has been one of the church’s most important tasks. Now, let’s be careful here…when in this context the word “church” is used…it is not “church” as an abstract institution… Rather, this is the gathered community of people who have been baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
We share in the liturgy of the Baptismal Covenant. {in The United Methodist Hymnal (pages 33-39)} In this liturgy, the church is described in the following ways: “Christ’s body”, “the family of Christ”, and “the household of God.” The Church of Jesus Christ is, first and foremost, a “community…koinonia….you are going to hear a lot of that term in the next few weeks…a community of love and forgiveness.” This is an affirmation that the God who became one of us in Jesus Christ is the source of the love and forgiveness given and received.
When we find our identity as a “church” in this way, there is only “us”…you and me… and, all in the Christian Communion throughout the world… TOGETHER in Christ! In a time when there is so much attention focused on things that polarize and divide, denominationalism and schisms within denominations, it is my belief that we would better serve the Kingdom of God by uniting in the beliefs and truths that we hold in common.
You see, church is not something that we “do” on Sunday morning…it is who we are… it is the community of the baptized dispersed into the world each and every day of the week.
What we do on Sunday is “come together” to worship, to learn, to fellowship. There is a church in New Orleans. It is one of the largest congregations in Jefferson Parish. The church meets every Sunday…for worship only…there is no Sunday School…” Church…that is the Sunday morning experience…is the least of what happens in the life of that “Body of Christ.” For when worship ends…service begins. Each member/participant of the church is part of a small group in the community at large… some of these small groups are 20 or more miles away from the church… and, it is in and through these small groups that study, prayer, mission happens.
Though this is a “non-denominational” church, I believe that its methodology comes really close to what Brother John meant when he initiated first societies, then classes…then connected groups of disciples…
Please do not misunderstand: Weekly worship is in no way “anti-climatic;” it is (or should be) a catalyst…an inspiration…a celebration of what God is doing in the lives of the faithful…
How would it be if, every Sunday, every Sunday, at the close of worship we would depart to serve as Christ’s hands, heart and feet in the world… we would leave as Christ’s brothers and sisters to Christ’s brothers and sisters (Romans 8:12-17) into the world as people who are forgiven, loved, and free?
One pastor has said it this way: “In worship, we are fed on His word in prayer, hymns, Scripture, and sermon. He invites us to His table where sins are forgiven and He gives himself to all who will receive him in the bread and cup. Christ then blesses and sends his sisters and brothers, the church, into the world to be his witnesses and channels of his grace for a hurting and broken world.”
What has this to do with the Wesley Quadrilateral? It is through intentional theological reflection that we, the people of the church, understand more clearly who we are and whose we are…and who and how we are to be in the world.
Theology and doing theology is the work of the whole people of God. It is not, and was never intended to be, something “left to the professionals.” In God’s reality, all of God’s people are theologians. One of my biggest concerns that I have as a UM pastor, is that in too many ways, we have become “an elitist and distant” connection.
In my first appointment (at Church Point UMC), I once led a whole Bible Study on Moses and the Ark. About 15 minutes after the women left, I realized that throughout the study I had talked about Moses and the Ark…not Noah and the Ark. Not one single person stopped me. I called one of the members and asked, “why?” Her response? Well, you went to seminary, we thought you knew something we didn’t.
The purpose and goal of doing theology is to lead people and the church toward holiness of heart and life. Period. In other words, theological reflection is one of the means through which individuals and the baptized community grow in loving God, loving neighbors, and loving one another as Christ loves us. Love is the guiding principle and goal.
The emphasis on love means that there is no doctrinal test that people must pass before they are admitted as members of The United Methodist Church. There is no catechism or doctrinal confession that guards the doors of this church. “There is only one condition previously required of those who desire admission into these societies: ‘a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins.’… Such a society is no other than a ‘company of men [and women] having the form and seeking the power of godliness, united in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other work out their salvation’” (The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church – 2004, ¶ 103, page 72).
Someone once said, “Methodists are Christians who seek to know and love God through loving those whom God loves as God loves them.”
One of the things that make us “uniquely” Methodist is our approach to Christian life and faith. One of my favorite Methodist “bloggers” is Steve Mansker, a UM pastor. This is how he describes our being “uniquely” Methodist:
“The quadrilateral, therefore, is an expression of this uniquely Methodist approach to Christian faith and life. We take doctrine seriously but we do not allow it to determine ‘who is in and who is out.’ We leave that up to God and God’s grace given freely to the world in Jesus Christ. Through our doctrine, we see that, becoming a Methodist emphasizes both belief and behavior, faith and life.”
Wesley was a prolific writer… if you want a testimony of this, I may still have my leather-bound 14 volume set of his “John Wesley’s Works” (sermons, writings, journal, and letters). In addition to these, available to us, also, are: the Hymnal, the Book of Worship, and the Book of Discipline. Wesley was, above all, a practical, pastoral theologian. Basic United Methodist theology all boils down to “knowing and experiencing the love of God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength and living out that love by loving the neighbors as ourselves.” By the way, Mr.Wesley nor Dr. Outler said this…Jesus did.
Wesley insisted that scripture is the first authority and contains the only measure whereby all other truth is tested. When asked about the inerrancy of scripture, Wesley said, “It was delivered by authors who were divinely inspired. It is a rule sufficient of itself. It neither needs, nor is capable of, any further addition.”
Secondly, Wesley wrote that, “it is generally supposed that traditional evidence is weakened by length of time, as it must necessarily pass through so many hands in a continued succession of ages.” Tradition is scripture bearing “the test of time.” Wesley insisted: “Do not undervalue traditional evidence. Let it have its place and its due honor. It is highly serviceable in its kind, and in its degree”.[6] Today, we are to look at our theology through the lens of more than 2000 years of history with Jesus and the apostles. Certainly, throughout the ages, the “church” has experienced times when she has “gotten it right” and “gotten it wrong” nevertheless there is an unbroken chain drawing us into fellowship with those who have finished the race, fought the fight, and who now reign with God in his glory and might.
A third test, is reason. The 18th century, Wesley’s day and time, was, after all, part of the Age of Enlightenment…a time known as a “cultural movement of intellectualism.” While Wesley was “un homo unius libri”… a man of one book…the Bible… he was an avid reader and student…influenced by many of the contemporary writers of his day… Wesley wrote: “Now, of what excellent use is reason, if we would either understand ourselves, or explain to others, those living oracles”.[7] He states quite clearly that without reason we cannot understand the essential truths of Scripture. Reason, however, is not a mere human invention. It must be assisted by the Holy Spirit if we are to understand the mysteries of God.
Last, Wesley held that experience is the strongest proof of Christianity. “What the scriptures promise, I enjoy”.[8] Again, Wesley insisted that we cannot have reasonable assurance of something unless we have experienced it personally. John Wesley was assured of both justification and sanctification because he had experienced them in his own life. What Christianity promised was accomplished in his soul. Furthermore, Christianity is the completion of all those promises. Although traditional proof is complex, experience is simple: “One thing I know; I was blind, but now I see.” Although tradition establishes the evidence a long way off, experience makes it present to all persons. As for the proof of justification and sanctification Wesley states that Christianity is an experience of holiness and happiness, the image of God impressed on a created spirit, a fountain of peace and love springing up into everlasting life.
All of these work together, to move us toward a “holiness of heart and life.” This “holiness of heart and life” provides for us a rich and vital way for seeking truth, knowing, loving, and serving God, and for making disciples of Jesus Christ.
revtlmack 