Lenten Reflection: Wesley on Repentance

The following is an excerpt from John Wesley's sermon, The Repentance of Believers. In this season of Lent, where so many are focusing on practices to take on and to give up, this word from Wesley is a stark reminder that even attending to the "means of grace", as important as that can be, will ultimately yield nothing by way of increased love or holiness of heart and life unless the Lord alone gives the increase. Take special note of the repetition in paragraph #19, where Wesley challenges any who believe different to experiment over and over again with this to see if they discover anything to the contrary.

As has often been noted, Wesley clearly shared John Calvin's theology in at least one respect: total depravity. Human beings are utterly helpless to do anything to change, transform, or grow in holiness on their own. Such transformation is only because of God's gift of grace - period.

For the full text of this sermon, click here.

17. A conviction of their utter helplessness is yet another branch of this repentance. I mean hereby two things: first, that they are no more able now of themselves to think one good thought, to form one good desire, to speak one good word, or do one good work, than before they were justified; that they have still no kind or degree of strength of their own; no power either to do good, or resist evil; no ability to conquer or even withstand the world, the devil, or their own evil nature. They can, it is certain, do all these things; but it is not by their own strength. They have power to overcome all these enemies; for "sin hath no more dominion over them;" but it is not from nature, either in whole or in part; it is the mere gift of God: nor is it given all at once, as if they had a stock laid up for many years; but from moment to moment.

18. By this helplessness I mean, Secondly, an absolute inability to deliver ourselves from that guiltiness or desert of punishment whereof we are still conscious; yea, and an inability to remove, by all the grace we have (to say nothing of our natural powers,) either the pride, self-will, love of the world, anger, and general proneness to depart from God, which we experimentally know to remain in the heart, even of them that are regenerate; or the evil which, in spite of all our endeavours, cleaves to all our words and actions. Add to this, an utter inability wholly to avoid uncharitable, and, much more, unprofitable, conversation: and an inability to avoid sins of omission, or to supply the numberless defects we are convinced of; especially the want of love, and other right tempers both to God and man.

19. If any man is not satisfied of this, if any believes that whoever is justified is able to remove these sins out of his heart and life, let him make the experiment. Let him try whether, by the grace he has already received, he can expel pride, self-will, or inbred sin in general. Let him try whether he can cleanse his words and actions from all mixture of evil; whether he can avoid all uncharitable and unprofitable conversation, with all sins of omission; and, lastly, whether he can supply the numberless defects which he still finds in himself. Let him not be discouraged by one or two experiments, but repeat the trial again and again; and the longer he tries, the more deeply will he be convinced of his utter helplessness in all these respects.

Wine labels and metaphors for Ministry

I would never have guessed they would have anything in common until I saw the label on this South African wine just a few days after I had heard the same expression used as a metaphor for ministry in multicultural contexts.

Either way, both the wine and the ongoing ministry in Christ's wonderfully diverse church bring a smile to my face.

Reconciliation requires speaking truth and practicing forgiveness

As Edward Gilbreath has already pointed out, this story has already made the news and has been making its way across the internet - but I am another one of those who had not seen it.

I share it here again and pray for stories like this to multiply. And as for people like this, with the courage to speak truth and practice forgiveness - well - Lord, may their numbers increase. This is the stuff that gives me hope and keeps me going.

How appointments are made in North Alabama

Ok, so I don't think I have ever seen anything like this: a bishop posting an online video explaining a new approach to how appointments are going to be made.

At first, it didn't sound like much new (ie. "we are going to make mission the priority" - is this not what the UMC has been saying "on paper" and "in theory" for quite some time?) ... but then ... there were specific statements that seemed to put ladder-climbing, salary, and seniority on notice.

Two other things of interest:

1) North Alabama has come up with a "First 90 Days" plan for every new appointment. (I am interested in what this might look like) and

2) Moving pastors meet with triads - three District Superintendents rather than one.

The page that explains this is here. The video is below. I will be interested in seeing how these changes are received and implemented. Whether or not folks like these shifts or not - with so many of our bishops and conferences changing the way things are done with little or no explanation, it is refreshing to at least see attempts like this to open up the process and share how decisions are being made. Clergy morale might still suffer for those who tend to do more hand-wringing then others, but I have a suspicion that the majority of our UM clergy would prefer for leadership to shoot straight so everyone knows whats up, where they stand, and what direction the conference and larger connection is headed in.

Welcoming Immigrants and Reflecting on Multicultural Ministry

Here is a recent article written by Natalie Gott, who recently visited at Reconciliation UMC. She reflects on how the church today is called to welcome immigrants.

I particularly found these "Questions to Consider," located on the website article's side bar, helpful ones to ponder and pray over for anyone interested in muliticultural and cross-racial ministry:

• Does the presupposition that multiculturalism happens when others flow into white institutions further perpetuate white cultural dominance? Why not whites joining immigrant or ethnic institutions?

• What theological convictions and ecclesiological practices are foundational for churches desiring to become multicultural? Is it necessary to first name and wrestle with stereotypes and power dynamics inside and outside of the church?

• Churches often worry about alienating current members when seeking to attract new ones. This is a legitimate pastoral concern, but what does it say about the proclamation and witness of the church that members default to considerations about their own alienation and discomfort?

How do I love thee, Durham?

I love Durham. I have lived here now for over 15 years: four while I was in Divinity School (90-94) and the last eleven (97 - 2009) since I was appointed back here by Bishop Marion Edwards to help start what later became Reconciliation United Methodist Church.

"How do I love thee ... let me count the ways ..." is the take this former Durham resident and Duke student used to write about her shared love of the city. Hat tip: Derek Brown!

If that doesn't do it for you ... a few food blogs like Carpe Durham (revealing some of the best dives) or CookingEatingDurham (for the finer things) ... should be sure to get you salivating for some food done Durham-style.

And if you are still wondering ... take a look at one of my new favorite's - the Durham Magazine that was started last year. They now have an online calendar of music, art, and other Durham happenings.

And finally - if you still remained unconvinced how great Durham is then this video - complete with some good ole' Bull City Blues - should help you out. If this doesn't do it for you, you are beyond help.

Sorry Cary ... Raleigh ... Chapel Hill ... Durham is the place to be.

Wesley Study Bible

Ok, so I guess I am going to break down and get it. After all, the sale only goes on through February the 29th, Bishop Willimon says I should have it for Disciple Bible Study, Sue Eldon (Assistant Pastor at RUMC) already let me see how cool the cover was on hers, and I don't want to be the only Wesleyan on Facebook unable to share my own critique in Shane Raynor's group "Wesley Bible Study" that is already up to 894 members and counting.

Besides - I'm a preacher. We can never have too many Bibles, right?

Faith and Leadership

Leadership is a popular topic these days. Just flipping through February's Readers' Digest reminded me of that fact. There was a page devoted to quotes on Leadership. Here were my favorites:

"Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers." - Gen. Colin Powell


"Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." - Margaret Thatcher

"When things go wrong in your command, start searching for the reason in increasingly large circles around you own two feet." - Gen. Bruce Clarke

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently." - WArren Buffett

Some wisdom here worth considering. But what about Leadership in the Church? Leadership that relates specifically to pastors, laity, mission and ministry? That seems to be precisely what Duke Divinity's new "Faith and Leadership" website and Call & Response blog is trying to address. From what I can tell, it is a website, blog, resource, training, and networking project all rolled into one. For RUMC folk, you may recognize the executive director, Jason Byassee, whose family has been worshiping with us this past year since moving from the Chicago area.

The site has only been live for a few weeks, but there is already a wealth of content and information worth reading and sharing. Here are a few that caught my attention:

• Holy Money - In light of my own church's pledge Sunday coming up this month ...
• This reflection on excellence, along with this one and this one are good reads - all written by Bishop Carder who I like to describe as a "bishop who can bish."
• And this blog post on what clergy DO NOT NEED - to which I could only shout AMEN at my laptop screen.

Drop by, comment, or subscribe to the Faith and Leadership email newsletter. It is worth a look.

In case you need a laugh

This one is all over facebook ... but in case you are not in that corner of the web, let me share with bloggers and blog readers

Sermon Blogging: "Jesus, The Exorcist"

Preached at RUMC on February 2, 2009
Mark 1:21-28

At our Bible Study this past Wednesday night, Pastor Edgardo spoke briefly about his recent trip to Cuba. At one point during his stay, he was walking through a garden and taking pictures. He turned his camera towards a statue of Lucifer, the fallen angel, known to many as satan. Before he could snap the picture, several people in the crowd shouted to him: “No! Don’t do that! What are you doing? Ese es el Diablo! Are you crazy? You don’t take a picture of the devil!”

Needless to say, the experience of Cuban Christians is very different from some North American Christians. “Speak of the devil” – is a cute expression here; it is a subject to avoid at all costs there. People don’t want you taking pictures of the devil there, but here we paint them blue, make them the school mascot, and paste them on everything from T-shirts to coffee mugs. Talk about a demoniac in Cuba, and you might get deacons of the church to surround you with prayer and oil; speak of demoniacs and deacons here and someone will probably ask you why you are a fan of Wake Forrest basketball. Speak of exorcism there, and you are likely to hear personal stories of spiritual warfare and the power of God over evil; say the word exorcism or exorcist here and someone is more likely to ask you which movie you are referring to. When it comes to unclean spirits, demons, devils, and a true sensitivity to the presence and power of evil in this world – Cuban and North American Christians are worlds apart.

But it is not just Cuban Christians that have a heighted awareness of unclean spirits and the “not to be trifled with” power of evil; it is the majority of Christians both today and across time - all the way back to Jesus. Talk to Christians in Africa, in Mexico, in Asia, in the entire Global South – in fact – talk to some of the Christians sitting right next to you in the pew today and you will discover the same. The majority of Christians today and across history do not have trouble believing in healing, because of their belief in Jesus the Great Physician; they don’t have trouble believing in miracles because they believe in the signs and wonders performed by the traveling Rabbi from Nazareth; they don’t have trouble believing in demons and unclean spirits because of their belief in Jesus the Exorcist – in other words – they believe in the Jesus of the Bible.

Don’t take my word for it. Take John Wesley’s. He also believed in Jesus the Exorcist:

Wesley’s Journal entry: Tues. 23. (1739?)
At eleven I preached at Bearfield to about three thousand, on the spirit of nature, of bondage, and of adoption.

Returning in the evening, I was exceedingly pressed to go back to a young woman in Kingswood. (The fact I nakedly relate and leave every man to his own judgment of it.) I went. She was nineteen or twenty years old, but, it seems, could not write or read. I found her on the bed, two or three persons holding her. It was a terrible sight. Anguish, horror, and despair above all description appeared in her pale face. The thousand distortions of her whole body showed how the dogs of hell were gnawing her heart. The shrieks intermixed were scarcely to be endured. But her stony eyes could not weep. She screamed out, as soon as words could find their way, “I am damned, damned; lost forever! Six days ago you might have helped me. But it is past. I am the devil’s now. I have given myself to him. His I am. Him I must serve. With him I must go to hell. I will be his. I will serve him. I will go with him to hell. I cannot be saved. I will not be saved. I must, I will, I will be damned!” She then began praying to the devil.

We began:Arm of the Lord, awake, awake!
She immediately sank down as sleep; but, as soon as we left off, broke out again, with inexpressible vehemence: “Stony hearts, break! I am a warning to you. Break, break, poor stony hearts! Will you not break? What can be done more for stony hearts? I am damned that you may be saved. Now break, now break, poor stony hearts! You need not be damned, though I must.” She then fixed her eyes on the corner of the ceiling and said:

“There he is: ay, there he is! come, good devil, come! Take me away. You said you would dash my brains out: come, do it quickly. I am yours. I will be yours. Come just now. Take me away.”

We interrupted her by calling again upon God, on which she sank down as before; and another young woman began to roar out as loud as she had done. My brother now came in, it being about nine o’clock. We continued in prayer till past eleven, when God in a moment spoke peace into the soul, first of the first tormented, and then of the other. And they both joined in singing praise to Him who had “stilled the enemy and the avenger.”

Don’t take Wesley’s word for it; don’t take the word of most Christians both today and throughout the past two thousand years; don’t’ take St. Thomas Aquinas’ word for it, who wrote extensively on the assaults of demons; don’t take St. Anthony of the dessert’s word for it who testified to being tormented by devils; and don’t take my word for it either.

Take Mark and Mark’s Gospel. The Gospel according to Saint Mark is a story of spiritual warfare in the extreme: good vs. evil, sin vs. sanctification, the Spirit of Life vs. the spirit of death, wholeness and health vs. sickness and disease, sight vs. blindness, the power of Jesus vs. the wiles of the devil. Take some time this week and reread Mark 1 – just the first chapter – read it several times – take notes if you have to. It starts with the proclamation of John the Baptist in the wilderness – the one who announces that the main event is soon to come – in this corner is the old, broken down devil wielding his old tricks of temptation and deceit – but over there – stepping into the ring - there is a new contender in town, the One who comes wielding fire and Spirit.

As soon as Jesus is baptized, satan and Jesus spar for 40 days in the wilderness and Jesus exits as the victor – and from that point on in Mark’s Gospel – the devil has been put on notice. And then, in our passage this morning, Jesus travels to Capernaum, encountering the man with an unclean spirit that cries out “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

And from then on, Jesus the Exorcist travels the world – chasing the devil back into his corner again and again and reminding everyone else that the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news. The good news that satan has no power where Jesus is concerned. Where evil screams and shrieks to frighten and paralyze us, Jesus silences, rebukes, and sends the devil packing. Where sickness and disease ravage the bodies of both young and old, Jesus anoints, touches, and restores to wholeness and health. Where anger and violence seek to cover the world in blood, Jesus power seeks to cover the world with peace, bringing forgiveness, love and the real possibility reconciliation.

From Capernaum, Jesus enters the house of Simon and Andrew where he heals a mother-in-law of a fever, cures many who are sick, and cast out many demons – not permitting them to speak. In the morning, they head to some neighboring towns where he proclaims the good news in the synagogues and gets busy “casting out demons” – again! And that is only Mark 1. The rest of the Gospel is Jesus chasing satan back under the rock from which he came; Jesus casting out darkness with the soul piercing light of truth; Jesus putting death on notice; Jesus giving disciples the power to turn aside from temptation; Jesus speaking hope into the depressed, forgiveness to the sinner, welcome to the outcasts, patience to the quick-tempered, peace to the tormented, and life to the dead. Spiritual warfare? It is all over Mark – and I haven’t even left the first chapter yet. Haven’t even traveled to the final battle on Mount Calvary where satan was defeated once and for all.

Church, that is the Jesus I want you to encounter this morning. Jesus, the One who has the power over sin, death, evil, and satan. Jesus, the One of whom we sing: Jesus, name above all names ..beautiful Savior, glorious Lord, Blessed Redeemer, and Living Word. But the Jesus I want to introduce you to today is not just the Light of the Gentiles, Bread of Life, Living Water … but also Jesus the Great Exorcist – the One who casts out all fear, all unclean spirits of lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride.

Jesus, the One who would tell us and gurus on Wall Street that you can’t bail out greed, it has to be cast out in Jesus’ name. Jesus, the One who would tell presidents, kings, and nations that you can’t bomb terrorism away, but you can send it shrieking into a corner through prayer and faith. Jesus, the One who speaks to those paralyzed by fear and shame and says “fear not” for “greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” Jesus, the One who speaks to those bound in the chains of guilt and sin and says - “in my name you are forgiven … you are free … you are whole … you are loved … you are made new.” Thanks be to God.

This morning, Mark introduces us to the Jesus who can conquer the spirits of addiction with the Spirit of adoption; the Jesus who can vanquish the spirit of fear with the Spirit of faith; the Jesus who can take a nation hell-bent on war and rumors of war and make them a people of peace-makers heaven-bent towards a peaceable kingdom where swords are beaten into plowshares; the Jesus who can meet you today – wherever you are – whatever you’ve done – whatsoever unclean spirit plagues you – and can make you whole and holy in Jesus’ name.

Let us pray:

Silence, Frenzied, Unclean Spirit (UMH #264)
“Silence, frenzied, unclean spirit!”
cried God’s healing Holy One.
“Cease your ranting! Flesh can’t bear it.
Flee as night before the sun.”
At Christ’s words the demon trembled,
from its victim madly rushed,
While the crowd that was assembled
stood in wonder, stunned and hushed.

Lord, the demons still are thriving
in the gray cells of the mind:
Tyrant voices, shrill and driving,
twisted thoughts that grip and bind,
Doubts that stir the heart to panic,
fears distorting reason’s sight,
Guilt that makes our loving frantic,
dreams that cloud the soul and fright.

Silence, Lord, the unclean spirit
in our mind and in our heart;
Speak your word that when we hear it,
all our demons shall depart.
Clear our thought and calm our feeling;
still the fractured, warring soul.
By the power of your healing
make us faithful, true, and whole.

Update: Some have asked for a copy of what was used as a response to the sermon. Pastor Sue adapted these Prayers of the People from a liturgy of exorcism and consecration that I previously posted here.