Home Equipping Leaders CONTENT LIBRARY Harmony of Scripture & Doctrine

Harmony of Scripture & Doctrine

Harmony of Scripture & Doctrine

By Steve Manskar, D. Min

8. Have you studied the doctrines of The United Methodist Church?
9. After full examination do you believe that our doctrines are in harmony with the Holy Scriptures?
(August 2010)

John Wesley expected Methodist leaders to know both Scripture and the Christian doctrines. Leaders need to understand the relationship between the two. For Wesley, doctrine and Scripture sing the same song in two-part harmony. Scripture provides the melody, while the doctrines sing harmony.

Wesley believed, with the Church, that the Bible contains all things needed for salvation and holiness of heart and life.


The term harmony derives from the Greek, harmonía, meaning "joint, agreement, concord", from the verb, harmozo, "to fit together, to join." Doctrine agrees and fits together with Scripture.

John Wesley said
"I want to know one thing, the way to heaven—how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way: for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God! I have it. Here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri. Here then I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone: only God is here. In his presence I open, I read his Book; for this end, to find the way to heaven."
Taken on its own you might think that Wesley believed the Bible is the only book we need if we are seeking to know God and the things of God. He certainly believed that the Bible is essential and primary for Christian faith and life. It is impossible to know anything about God apart from Scripture because it is God’s self revelation to humankind. Wesley believed, with the Church, that the Bible contains all things needed for salvation and holiness of heart and life. He also believed that Scripture interprets itself. This means that we cannot understand the New Testament apart from the Old Testament. The whole of the Bible is interrelated and integrated. It tells a universal story of God and his relationship with his creation. When Wesley says he is "a man of one book" he means the Bible is the one, essential book needed for teaching and learning the things of God and the way of salvation. He does not mean, however, that the Bible is the only book Christians are to read and study.

Leaders in the Wesleyan traditions are homo unus libri, "persons of one book."


Wesley believed that Christians, particularly leaders and preachers, must balance their study of Scripture with books written by faithful teachers and pastors. This includes classics of Christian theological reflection, as well as his sermons and tracts. He believed that the wisdom of others helps us to interpret and understand what God is saying through Scripture. Wesley believed that Scripture is meant to be studied and interpreted in the church, the "body of Christ." This includes persons we know here and now as well as the saints and martyrs who have gone before us, whom the writer of Hebrews calls the "great cloud of witnesses" (Heb. 12:1).

Questions 8 & 9 assume that leaders are necessarily students of Scripture and theology. John Wesley expected his preachers, most of whom were lay men and women, with varying degrees of education, to people of "one book" – the Bible. And he expected them to read and study broadly the writings of the early church, the Reformation, as well as contemporary theologians and preachers. To that end, he developed and published his "Christian Library," consisting of abridgments of classics of Christian theological writing such as Imitation of Christ by Thomas a’Kempis.

Leaders in the Wesleyan traditions are homo unus libri, "persons of one book." They read, study, and pray with Scripture every day. Their lives and ministries are immersed in and shaped by Scripture.

Leaders are also persons who are shaped by and wrestle with the doctrines of The United Methodist Church (found in the Articles of Religion of The Methodist Church, The Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and John Wesley’s Notes on the New Testament and his Sermons).

Scripture and doctrine sing God’s kingdom songs in two-part harmony. Leaders are the people God has called and the Spirit has empowered to proclaim and teach these songs to God’s people so that the world will hear and receive them as good news.

Questions for Reflection & Discussion

  • How do the doctrines of The United Methodist Church harmonize with Scripture?

  • How does your congregation teach the doctrines of the church to its members?

  • How does your congregation make the doctrines of the church readily available to the members?

  • Does your congregation have copies of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church available in its library? Does it make copies of The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church and the Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church available for members to read and study?

  • Does your congregation have copies of Notes on The New Testament by John Wesley in its library?

  • Does your congregation have copies of John Wesley’s sermons available in the library?

  • If your answer to any of these questions is "No", then what does this say about the importance your congregation places upon the teaching of the doctrines of The United Methodist Church?

  • What are the titles you would give to God’s kingdom songs that Christians learn to sing when they study Scripture and doctrine together?

  • Why is doctrine important to understanding and living the mission of God and God’s church?

Please post your comments at the Wesleyan Leadership blog:http://wesleyanleadership.wordpress.com/

It’s time to register for the Wesleyan Leadership Conference
When: October 14-16, 2010
Where: West End United Methodist Church in Nashville, TN
Details & Registration: Steven W. Manskar is the Director of Wesleyan Leadership for the Discipleship Ministries.


Recommended Reading

A Disciple's Journal: Daily Bible Reading and Guidance for Reflection (Year C)
Through the featured Bible readings from Year C of the Revised Common Lectionary, this journal guides you to examine your daily response as a Christian disciple to those in need.
Available from
Cokesbury for $10.40.

Covenant Discipleship: Christian Formation through Mutual Accountability
David Lowes Watson has updated the original handbook for covenant discipleship groups. This new version should prove valuable in leading existing groups to a deeper level of discipleship, and newcomers to a fresh discovery of the best of the Methodist tradition.
Available from
Wipf & Stock Publishers for $17.60.

Accountable Discipleship: Living in God’s Household
This book focuses on pastoral leadership in the Wesleyan tradition. Those who read and study this book will be invited to discover their own ministry as pastoral leaders.
Available from
Cokesbury for $12.00.

A Perfect Love: Understanding John Wesley’s ‘A Plain Account of Christian Perfection
What makes this version unique is that the author has edited Wesley's text and updated his language for the contemporary reader.
Available from
Cokesbury for $11.20.

Mainline or Methodist: Rediscovering Our Evangelistic Mission
Trying to be both mainline and Methodist is a deadly combination. In fact, it's a leading cause for the denomination's spiritual and numerical decline.
Available from
Cokesbury for $10.40.

A Blueprint for Discipleship
This approach builds on the foundation of the General Rules and the practice of "watching over one another in love" through small-group accountability.
Available from
Cokesbury for $12.00.



Upcoming Events:

Wesleyan Leadership Conference
October 14-16, 2010
West End United Methodist Church, Nashville, TN
Keynote speaker will be Dr. Scott Kisker, author of Mainline or Methodist: Rediscovering Our Evangelistic Mission. Do you want to be part of a Methodist revival in The United Methodist Church? Are you interested in joining a Wesleyan Leadership Network? Join us in Nashville on October 14-16, 2010.
www.umcdiscipleship.org/wesleyanleadership

Catapault Conference
September 22-24, 2010
Mobile, AL
Catapult Conference is a missional leadership gathering of those who desire to recapture old truths in new ways. This conference is for anyone and everyone. Community sessions reinforce the truth of God’s mission in the world. Breakout sessions equip for participation in the mission of God. Networking creates a web of innovation and encouragement for this North American mission field. Catapult sends you as an agent of transformation in your neighborhood, your church, your city, your world.
http://catapultconference.com/


Discipleship Resources

Roxburgh Missional Network:
http://www.roxburghmissionalnet.com/

The United Methodist Way

This 20-minute Flash presentation shows how following John Wesley's rules in both doctrine and practice leads to transformed lives and a transformed world. (
http://www.kintera.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=nhLRJ2PMKsG&b=5769029&ct=7941769)
Also available as a download for use in your church

John Wesley’s Sermons
http://gbgm-umc.org/UMHISTORY/Wesley/sermons/

Duke Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition
http://www.divinity.duke.edu/wesleyan/texts/

Methodist Review: A Journal of Wesleyan and Methodist Studies
http://www.methodistreview.org/

Contact Us for Help

View staff by program area to ask for additional assistance.

Related


Subscribe

* indicates required

This is a bi-monthly email where you’ll receive the highest quality resources to support your disciple-making process. Everything from Helpful Articles, New Webinar Series and Podcasts, Discounted Teaching Series, and so much more!

Please confirm that you want to receive email from us.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please read our Privacy Policy page.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.