Weekly Grind - Wesleyan Quadrilateral
I think it is very important for each of us to continue to try to deepen our understanding of our own faith. Not only does this move us closer to God, but we are also better able to help others move toward God. We all move forward in our faith together.
There is great way of looking at our faith, a methodology called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. This was not a term John Wesley himself used, but rather an understanding of the way he went about his reflections of spiritual matters coined by Albert C. Outler. There are four components, but I would contend that it is not a true quadrilateral because scripture is held above the other three. Regardless, taken together, these four perspectives can give us a very deep understanding of virtually all areas of our faith. They are:
Scripture - the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments
Tradition - the history of Christian faith from Christ and his followers to our congregations today
Experience - the actual thoughts, actions, and events of our lives
Reason - rational and sensible interpretation
Think through all the various ways that these four valuable perspectives can affect each other.
Scripture is of course held above the other three. But think about what scripture you are actually reading. If you are not reading the original Hebrew or Greek, you are reading a translation. So which translation? Different denominations may have a tradition of a preference different of one version or another. Your particular experience may be with a translation that is easier for you to read and understand. Our reason can help us sort out which version may be useful for reading in a Sunday morning service to a congregation, or for personal reflection, or for an in-depth bible study.
Have you ever heard someone mis-quote scripture or use it to make a point that is very different from the context it was written for? Any group of people can develop a tradition of using various parts of the bible for one reason or another. Each of us have had experience that either supports or refutes someone else's point of view. Through reason we can come to understand how variations have come about and what can be gained or lost through the differences.
Each of us are responsible for our own point of view and for the impact it makes in our life. We are also called to look after each other and make sure that God's will is becoming a reality for all people. When we assume that our understanding is complete, we are probably wrong. When we assume that someone else is wrong, we probably lack understanding.
This business of faith is a complicated and never-ending journey throughout our life. We have a chance with our lives, with each decade, with each year, with each season, with each month, with each week, with each day, with each hour, with each minute, with each breath, to move toward God or away from Him. Our lives, our actions, our words, our thoughts have the power to change.
Let us spend what we are given wisely.
Be Blessed,
Michael
There is great way of looking at our faith, a methodology called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. This was not a term John Wesley himself used, but rather an understanding of the way he went about his reflections of spiritual matters coined by Albert C. Outler. There are four components, but I would contend that it is not a true quadrilateral because scripture is held above the other three. Regardless, taken together, these four perspectives can give us a very deep understanding of virtually all areas of our faith. They are:
Scripture - the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments
Tradition - the history of Christian faith from Christ and his followers to our congregations today
Experience - the actual thoughts, actions, and events of our lives
Reason - rational and sensible interpretation
Think through all the various ways that these four valuable perspectives can affect each other.
Scripture is of course held above the other three. But think about what scripture you are actually reading. If you are not reading the original Hebrew or Greek, you are reading a translation. So which translation? Different denominations may have a tradition of a preference different of one version or another. Your particular experience may be with a translation that is easier for you to read and understand. Our reason can help us sort out which version may be useful for reading in a Sunday morning service to a congregation, or for personal reflection, or for an in-depth bible study.
Have you ever heard someone mis-quote scripture or use it to make a point that is very different from the context it was written for? Any group of people can develop a tradition of using various parts of the bible for one reason or another. Each of us have had experience that either supports or refutes someone else's point of view. Through reason we can come to understand how variations have come about and what can be gained or lost through the differences.
Each of us are responsible for our own point of view and for the impact it makes in our life. We are also called to look after each other and make sure that God's will is becoming a reality for all people. When we assume that our understanding is complete, we are probably wrong. When we assume that someone else is wrong, we probably lack understanding.
This business of faith is a complicated and never-ending journey throughout our life. We have a chance with our lives, with each decade, with each year, with each season, with each month, with each week, with each day, with each hour, with each minute, with each breath, to move toward God or away from Him. Our lives, our actions, our words, our thoughts have the power to change.
Let us spend what we are given wisely.
Be Blessed,
Michael
posted by McHonza at 10:01 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home