In our time it is common to hear about the resurgence of Calvinism. It seems with popular Calvinist speakers such as John Piper, Albert Mohler, and others, Calvinism has been enjoying a resurgence especially among younger evangelicals. The appeal to Calvinism has to with a reaction, I believe, in part to the emptiness of postmodernism that has been spoon fed to us by secular media, secular academics, and the likes of the emergent and seeker sensitive movements in the evangelical church. Evangelical seminaries and universities have been bastions for Calvinism for quite some time.
Yet this has not always been the case. In fact, by the turn of the 20th century theology was largely in favor of Arminianism. With the rise of the Holiness movement and then the Pentecostal movement, Arminianism was clearly the front-runner in terms of theology and in theological movements. From the time of John Wesley onward, Arminianism began a steady climb to the top where it would dominate for nearly 150 years. This is amazing considering that Calvinism had “defeated” Arminianism at the infamous Synod of Dort. Wesley had brought not just Arminianism back to the Church in terms of debating it and writing about it but he brought a fire to the Arminian camp that had been lacking for some time. And this fire would burst Arminianism from upon England to the shores of America where it would dominate American theology up until modernism in the early 20th century began to weaken the Arminian church, particularly the Methodist Church.
How did the early Methodists defeat Calvinism and what lessons can we learn from them that we as modern reformation Arminians can apply today?
- Passion for God and His Truth
John Wesley was a man on fire for Jesus. He burned with a passion to see the entire world set free from sin by the grace of God given in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Wesley spread that fire through the early Methodists. For example, John Fletcher, Wesley’s associate, would often teach the new disciples the doctrines of Methodism, which would include Arminianism. Fletcher, however, would often end his talks by speaking on the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) and he would say to his classes: “Now there is the theory. Follow me to my office and see the practice.” Fletcher would then lead his students to seek God for Him to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh.
For the early Methodists, experience flowed hand in hand with doctrine. Unlike many of their Calvinist counterparts in those days, the early Methodists burned with a zeal not just for sound doctrine (which was Arminianism) but they burned to live holy lives that honored and glorified the risen Son of God (1 Peter 1:15-16).
It is not enough that we be convinced of the doctrines of Christianity or the doctrines of Arminianism but we must burn with a zeal for Jesus that points others to His truth (Matthew 5:13-16). We are to hold out the truth of God to a dark world (Philippians 2:15-16). We are to shine for Jesus (Daniel 12:3). We must not merely teach sound doctrine but we must live it as well (1 Timothy 4:16). Our lives should testify that Jesus is Lord of our lives and that we are seeking to obey Him completely (Luke 6:46-49).
- Disciple God’s People
John Wesley made much over his “Class Meetings” which were our modern small groups or Sunday Schools. These Methodist classes trained their students to follow their methods (and thus this is where the name Methodist came from). Wesley strongly believed that Christians should have strong spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Scripture, evangelism, singing, etc. He passed these classes on to others that he discipled.
The early Methodists spread Arminianism from England to America by discipleship. These Methodist classes taught sound evangelical Arminianism, and the fires of revival spread. Early Methodist missionaries such as Francis Asbury took the gospel throughout the southern portions of the United States. Asbury’s famous “circuit riders” would take the gospel of Jesus all across the barren wilderness of the United States spreading God’s salvation and the doctrines of Arminius. From the tip of Florida to the top of Maine, the gospel spread all across early America as Methodist riders preached God’s Word.
However, the early Methodists also were cautious to not just set up Methodist churches without also emphasizing discipleship. Taking from John Wesley, the early Methodists understood the implications of Matthew 28:19-20 and they obeyed Jesus’ words to disciple new disciples. They did not shy away from battling Calvinism in the hearts of men by teaching the truths of Arminianism.
- Countered Errors with Truth and Did Not Shy Away from Debates
The word “debate” in our day and age is associated with arguments. But to the early Methodists, they rightly knew that if in fact their doctrines were true, then nothing could defeat them. As Paul wrote, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). If what we are teaching and preaching is true and is based on the authority of the Bible then we need not fear.
The early Methodists took on Calvinism from the highest posts in colleges to the smallest church meeting places in North Carolina. They did not shy away from declaring the gospel and from declaring the doctrines of Arminianism. They did not shy away from decrying Calvinist doctrines such as unconditional election, determinism, and perseverance of the saints. In Wesley’s journals he wrote often about various encounters he had with Calvinists such as his good friend George Whitefield. Wesley never backed down from his debates with his friend Whitefield, and though they disagreed, Wesley and Whitefield remained friends throughout their lives though they often parted with tough words for one another to dwell on.
Yet the early Methodists learned too from Wesley’s debates with Whitefield in that they knew that perfect love conquers. They sought to obey Proverbs 15:1 and they sought to obey 1 Peter 3:15-16 in that they didn’t allow their debates to detract them from their passionate pursuit of holiness (Hebrews 12:14) and world evangelism (Mark 16:15-16). Debates can be profitable, but we need not allow them to rob us from preaching the gospel to all the nations (Luke 24:47-48).
[Link to original post and comments on Roy Ingle’s website.]
