Opinion of John Wesley

[Free Speech Enjoyer]

I'm not an expert on him, but I started reading a little about him today.  From what I learned, he seems like a genuine FF of his time, both for his doctrines and his activism.

I'd seriously consider joining the UMC if their official positions on some issues weren't so conservative.

[DC Al Fine]

I can't get behind his theology, but otherwise FF.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

As true a FF as the Founding Fathers were. As a former Wesleyan I have nothing but respect for the good he did for American Christianity.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Awesome man and theologian.  My pastor, in a Southern Baptist Church no less, mentions John Wesley quite a bit in his sermons.  His brother Charles Wesley was a great hymn writer, as well, and many of his hymns are still sung in churches today.

[ilikeverin]

I'm not an expert on him, but I started reading a little about him today.  From what I learned, he seems like a genuine FF of his time, both for his doctrines and his activism.

YEP

I'm happy now to be at an Episcopal church that matches Wesley's doing more than the UMC does as a whole

Honestly, though, the UMC is such a big-tent organization you can still find some Methodist churches that stick to Wesley's deeds and thoughts rather than becoming Moderate Hero Church.  Search for Reconciling Methodist churches.

[Free Speech Enjoyer]

I'm not an expert on him, but I started reading a little about him today.  From what I learned, he seems like a genuine FF of his time, both for his doctrines and his activism.

YEP

I'm happy now to be at an Episcopal church that matches Wesley's doing more than the UMC does as a whole

Honestly, though, the UMC is such a big-tent organization you can still find some Methodist churches that stick to Wesley's deeds and thoughts rather than becoming Moderate Hero Church.  Search for Reconciling Methodist churches.

Would you, by any chance, know if some ELCA Lutheran churches are "Wesleyan" in any sense?  (Probably wiser to ask BRTD this question. )

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Generally positive, and I think most posters here would prefer him over Calvin. Calvinism is so bleak it seems to me to be a blot upon Christianity.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Massive FF, as was his brother Charles.  My family was largely Methodist before my grandparents became Adventists in the early 70s.  If there were any Methodist churches that were sabbatarian and weren't so fire-and-brimstone in their view of God, I would possibly be interested.

[ilikeverin]

and weren't so fire-and-brimstone in their view of God

lol??

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

and weren't so fire-and-brimstone in their view of God

lol??

If the local SDA radio station I often listen to is any guide, one of the core tenets of Seventh Day Adventism is an interpretation of the punishment of sinners at the end of time that considerably different from standard Protestant views.  The eternal punishment that will be meted out to them is eternal in the sense that it will never be revoked, not that they will be perpetually be burning in hellfire.  They'll be burned once and then perpetually be ashes according to SDA theology.  While Methodists generally do not emphasize it to the same degree as Baptists and Pentecostalists, nor do they do so to the same degree as they once did, some Methodists do still emphasize the fire and brimstone of everlasting suffering for unrepentant sinners.

I don't agree with everything that station broadcasts, but it is usually interesting and if I were one who believed in taking the Bible as 100% literal, SDA would be a reasonably good church to belong to.  Not perfect, but I don't expect to find perfection here on Earth.

It is a shame that the other Seventh Day Churches tend to be rather sparse.  The closest non-SDA Sabbatarian church I've been able to locate is a Seventh Day Baptist church in Charleston, which is a two hour drive away. It doesn't even make sense for me to consider visiting them to get a sense of that church's doctrine since I'm not convinced that which day is the Sabbath is important, especially here in the Americas where there is some question as to which day really is the seventh day.  SDBs are more diverse than SDAs, so the only thing I can be 100% sure of is that they are Sabbatarian and Baptist, but that can still cover a lot of ground doctrinally.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

and weren't so fire-and-brimstone in their view of God

lol??

If the local SDA radio station I often listen to is any guide, one of the core tenets of Seventh Day Adventism is an interpretation of the punishment of sinners at the end of time that considerably different from standard Protestant views.  The eternal punishment that will be meted out to them is eternal in the sense that it will never be revoked, not that they will be perpetually be burning in hellfire.  They'll be burned once and then perpetually be ashes according to SDA theology.  While Methodists generally do not emphasize it to the same degree as Baptists and Pentecostalists, nor do they do so to the same degree as they once did, some Methodists do still emphasize the fire and brimstone of everlasting suffering for unrepentant sinners.

I don't agree with everything that station broadcasts, but it is usually interesting and if I were one who believed in taking the Bible as 100% literal, SDA would be a reasonably good church to belong to.  Not perfect, but I don't expect to find perfection here on Earth.

It is a shame that the other Seventh Day Churches tend to be rather sparse.  The closest non-SDA Sabbatarian church I've been able to locate is a Seventh Day Baptist church in Charleston, which is a two hour drive away. It doesn't even make sense for me to consider visiting them to get a sense of that church's doctrine since I'm not convinced that which day is the Sabbath is important, especially here in the Americas where there is some question as to which day really is the seventh day.  SDBs are more diverse than SDAs, so the only thing I can be 100% sure of is that they are Sabbatarian and Baptist, but that can still cover a lot of ground doctrinally.

I would consider becoming an SDB, except that there are no churches anywhere near me.  I guess I could always be a Progressive Adventist instead.