While I agree that we can’t solely rely on emotion, and that my emotions are not even the point of true worship, I have to humbly push back. I don’t think we can possibly know if, when, how, where, or why God moves. I’m a recovering alcoholic and drug addict/ dealer, whose most profound spiritual experience occurred 18years ago in a jail cell when I considered myself agnostic and didn’t know what a sacrament was. Now I teach Religion in a Catholic middle school. God’s *really* big. Thank you very much for the article. Please keep up the good work! We need you.
Hello Habitual Linestepper, found you through Teresa L...
and thought you might enjoy the following observation on early Methodism.
from Spare the Rod and Spoil the Church
by Charles E. White in Christian History: the Wesleys, Issue 59 (Vol XX No. 1)
"Though Methodism thrived on big crowds, its survival depended on the discipline of small groups" to prevent backsliding
...
Class confession
Wesley was able to practice what he preached about church discipline because he organized his followers into small groups. A Methodist society included all the Methodists in an area. It was divided into groups, or classes, of 12. The people met each week to study the Bible, pray, and report on the state of their souls. Each class had a leader who reported to the preacher in charge of the society.
Wesley published a list of questions for the class leaders to help the members examine themselves:
1. What known sins have you committed since our last meeting?
2. What temptations have you overcome?
3. How did God deliver you?
4. What have you thought, said, or done thatmight be sinful?
Qhen the questions revealed sin, the offenders were given another chance. "If they forsook their sins," Wesley said, "we received them gladly; if they obstinately persisted therein, it was openly declared that they were not of us. The rest mourned and prayed for them, and yet rejoiced, that, as far as in us lay, the scandal was rolled away from the society."
Isn't it funny how the Protestant leaders had to start re-instituting the very same things that the Catholic Church already possessed, but change them so people wouldn't notice the similarity.
And thank you for your thoughtful pledge. I haven't decided yet about accepting paid subscriptions yet. But it is a very humbling and thoughtful gesture from you. thank you
Fair and well written.
While I agree that we can’t solely rely on emotion, and that my emotions are not even the point of true worship, I have to humbly push back. I don’t think we can possibly know if, when, how, where, or why God moves. I’m a recovering alcoholic and drug addict/ dealer, whose most profound spiritual experience occurred 18years ago in a jail cell when I considered myself agnostic and didn’t know what a sacrament was. Now I teach Religion in a Catholic middle school. God’s *really* big. Thank you very much for the article. Please keep up the good work! We need you.
Hello Habitual Linestepper, found you through Teresa L...
and thought you might enjoy the following observation on early Methodism.
from Spare the Rod and Spoil the Church
by Charles E. White in Christian History: the Wesleys, Issue 59 (Vol XX No. 1)
"Though Methodism thrived on big crowds, its survival depended on the discipline of small groups" to prevent backsliding
...
Class confession
Wesley was able to practice what he preached about church discipline because he organized his followers into small groups. A Methodist society included all the Methodists in an area. It was divided into groups, or classes, of 12. The people met each week to study the Bible, pray, and report on the state of their souls. Each class had a leader who reported to the preacher in charge of the society.
Wesley published a list of questions for the class leaders to help the members examine themselves:
1. What known sins have you committed since our last meeting?
2. What temptations have you overcome?
3. How did God deliver you?
4. What have you thought, said, or done thatmight be sinful?
Qhen the questions revealed sin, the offenders were given another chance. "If they forsook their sins," Wesley said, "we received them gladly; if they obstinately persisted therein, it was openly declared that they were not of us. The rest mourned and prayed for them, and yet rejoiced, that, as far as in us lay, the scandal was rolled away from the society."
Isn't it funny how the Protestant leaders had to start re-instituting the very same things that the Catholic Church already possessed, but change them so people wouldn't notice the similarity.
And thank you for your thoughtful pledge. I haven't decided yet about accepting paid subscriptions yet. But it is a very humbling and thoughtful gesture from you. thank you