tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22889487.post3645002423040922485..comments2023-11-03T13:11:01.857+02:00Comments on Wessel's place: Thoughts for my new bookWessel Bentleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402794463827742594noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22889487.post-33316429579305747742009-12-07T14:50:52.391+02:002009-12-07T14:50:52.391+02:00Hi Mark and Wes,
Thanks for the thought provoking...Hi Mark and Wes,<br /><br />Thanks for the thought provoking post (and comments!)<br /><br />Mark, Christian perfection, as Wes points out, does need to be understood within the context of Wesley's use of the term.<br /><br />I wrote about it in my little book 'Wesleyan Spirituality - An introduction'(see 2001:4-6). He has 3 uses for the term, Biblical perfection speaks of the 'template' according to which we are to order our lives and decisions so that we may strive for what Jesus commands in Matthew 5:48 "<i>Be perfect then as your Father is perfect</i>". Perfect love is the second term that he uses to describe the attitude and intention that should be the source and characteristic of the Christian who strives for perfection. The final (and best known) term is Christian Perfection, which is the eschatological goal towards which our lives as Christians are directed. This is best expressed in the notion of 'the greatest commandment' (the <i>Shema</i> of the Old Testamnet - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul [mind] and strength", and "love your neighbour as yourself").<br /><br />This is to be fully realised in the Kingdom of God.<br /><br />Of course Wesley coined another term in the 'order of salvation' - prevenient (or preventing) grace.<br /><br />You can read a rather lengthy post on my blog about this doctrinal concept (see the comments <a href="http://www.spirituality.org.za/2009/11/are-you-saved-orthodox-perspective.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>)digitaldion (Dion Forster)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06749856358000663200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22889487.post-85423476307568942942009-12-07T09:10:59.236+02:002009-12-07T09:10:59.236+02:00Hi Mark
Thanks for the question. It is indeed a t...Hi Mark<br /><br />Thanks for the question. It is indeed a term which needs to be understood in the context of Wesley's time and theology, but I think is a concept which is present in most, if not all Christian traditions in the notion of sanctification. Different traditions understand it differently and understand it to be attainable at different points in one's journey. For instance, orthodox Calvinism sees it as being completed in the person once we have abandoned this world and find ourselves fully in God's presence. Catholics believe that justification and sanctification happen at the same time, therefore the importance placed on confession and salvation being brought through the instrument of the church. In his book "A plain account of Christian perfection", Wesley makes two points. First, we are not perfect as we all sin and fall from time to time. Secondly, we have the potential for Christian perfection and is something that every person should strive towards. We should therefore not be complacent in our sinfulness, but grow in God's grace to become more and more like Christ in our contexts. He bases this teaching on several texts, the main text being Phil 3:12. One finds for instance in the preaching of John the Baptist a proclamation of justification and not necessarily sanctification. In the Pauline texts (and other Epistles) the focus on sanctification is much more evident (Fruit of the Spirit - Gal 5, Gifts of the Spirit - 1 Cor 12,13, Spiritual maturity in Phil, Eph. 3, Growth in Spiritual allegiance - Rom. 6, 1 Jn 3:9).<br /><br />These are just some thoughts. What do you think? If you can get a copy of Wesley's book, I'll appreciate your comments on this issue.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />WesselWessel Bentleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11402794463827742594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22889487.post-88865901677038944212009-12-06T21:34:43.009+02:002009-12-06T21:34:43.009+02:00Hi Wessel,
Is Christian perfection a Biblical con...Hi Wessel,<br /><br />Is Christian perfection a Biblical concept?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com