Weekly Grind - Do Good

Last week my original intention was to expand on the idea of "attending upon all the ordinances of God." That is the third expectation in John and Charles Wesley's The Nature,Design, and General Rules of Our United Societies. It is paraphrased in Reuben Job's Three Simple Rules as "Stay in love with God." But in the course of studying and reflecting on the whole writing, which is still a foundational part of our Book of Discipline, I found much to be addressed in the first expectation. "By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced" warns against many actions that harm us or others, lifted in a very direct manner from scripture.
This week we will examine the original writing behind "Do good" as Reuben Job simply puts it. The Wesley's use less direct scripture, but pull together many scriptural themes and actions:

It is expected of all who continue in these societies that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,

Secondly:

By doing good; by being in every kind merciful
after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every
possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men:


To their bodies, of the ability which God giveth, by giving food
to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by visiting or helping them that
are sick or in prison.


To their souls, by instructing, reproving, or exhorting all we
have any intercourse with; trampling under foot that enthusiastic
doctrine that "we are not to do good unless our hearts be free to it."



By doing good, especially to them that are of the household of
faith or groaning so to be; employing them preferably to others; buying
one of another, helping each other in business, and so much the more
because the world will love its own and them only.


By all possible diligence and frugality, that the gospel be not blamed.

By running with patience the race which is set before them,
denying themselves, and taking up their cross daily; submitting to bear
the reproach of Christ, to be as the filth and offscouring of the
world; and looking that men should say all manner of evil of them
falsely, for the Lord's sake.

In as much as they turned "Do no harm" toward, not just other, but also ourselves; here they point out that the good we do not only helps we seek to serve, but becomes an example of the gospel to those who see our actions. They hope to give us the awareness that when we follow God's word in Jesus' example our faith works at many levels.
John and Charles gave us essentially a shorthand version of what they saw as some of the most important ways of conducting ourselves with others and how we think about ourselves. They certainly encouraged everyone to discover these truths for themselves by reading and studying scripture. But in case you wanted to try to make some changes right away, they had a pretty good "method" for getting you there quickly.
It's really good knowing that we are part of good efforts that have been around a long time.

Be Blessed!
Michael



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