Get Radical
Does the love of God make any difference in today’s world?
That’s the question Howard Snyder addresses in this radical book about the radical John Wesley, arguably the preeminent revolutionary of authentic Christianity in the West. He was despised and persecuted in his day for bringing the message of God’s love to the teeming masses of England’s poor and disenfranchised. Still today he remains an object of attack from rabid defenders of institutionalism. This recent posting at Christianity Today magazine site is a classic attack on Wesley’s Love Ethics (from Christianity Today’s Web site):
From: Dr. Michael A. Smith Posted: November 21, 2007 8:21 AM As something of a Wesley scholar, I believe that much of what we view as truth about Wesley has come from a revision of history re-written by the Methodist church. I have tried and failed to look at Wesley from the standpoint of his being an Enlightenment thinker. As a contemporary of Newton and others he fought against intellectual freedom and advanced the sola scriptura (the Bible as the only source of truth). While we exhaust the Bible, we must guard ourselves from the tempation of worshipping the Bible as the ultimate truth. In effect, Wesley was an early fundamentalist who denied the doctrines of the Reformation such as election and predestination and purported the heretical teachings of Jacob Arminius. The Council of Dort declared Arminius to be a heretic. His teachings take away the very characteristics that make God to be God. Wesley was a dictatorial leader and very unbending in church discipline. While his life had purpose, he had little or no balance.
Somewhat miffed, I offered Mr. Smith some food for thought:
From: Keith McCallum Posted: November 25, 2007 12:14 AM Despite Dr. Smith’s derogatory words about Wesley, the fact remains that he is one of the most influential voices in biblical Christianity, with spiritual fruit unparalleled by anyone of his era, or since. I find it incredulous anyone could consider themselves a scholar of Wesley and miss the obvious import of his life or disregard the tens of thousands of poor, suffering, orphaned and disenfranchised whose lives were salvaged by Wesley. If Wesley “took away the very characteristics that make God to be God,” then it’s certainly fair to say God would love to see more such men Smith would label as having “little or no balance.” Wesley was one with the “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27 (NASB)
Wesley’s enemies have never been able to quell the overwhelming impact of God’s love poured out through this man’s life and Bible teachings. Snyder extrapolates powerful insights into this man’s Love Ethics which are directly applicable to the effort here in northeast Ohio Xenos, and it’s a book well-worth every dollar paid.
From a review from Amazon.com:
Howard Snyder’s third book in his series regardng renewed church life (The Problem of Wineskins and Community of the King) focuses on the contribution of John Wesley to the renewal of existing church patterns. After first giving a brief history of the conversion of Wesley and the growth of the Methodists, Snyder then brings Wesley face to face with today’s church.
The fundamental issues at stake in Snyder’s arguements are:
1) How do you renew the church without destroying it?
2) How do you gain an apreciation for the apostolic faith in a contemporary context?
3) How do you touch people that the current tradition of the church doesn’t touch?
Beautifully, Wesley addresses all of these. It is amazing that Wesley’s voice is as fresh today as it was two centuries ago. In Radical Wesley, Snyder brings this voice out with clairty and alacrity to our current situation. I heartily recommend this to those who are searching to address the gospel in light of post-moderism.
- Angry, Spiritual Spiderman
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Interesting…where did you stumble upon this book? Is it old? Have you been using it all along with Love Ethics?
Hey Keith,
I am actually very excited about reading this book; I first got interested in Welsey last Feb. while reading his commentaries on some passages; then I looked into some of his childhood stories;
the five views on sanctification had the Welseian perspective – which I noticed focused more on love as primary over the other fruits of the Spirit.
I can’t wait to delve into this book. Will it be available at the welcome booth or should I order it on my own.
BTW – I am focusing on the irrationality of my heart – what an emotional – confused – thing it can be at times.
Thanks for your loving kindness.
PS Your wife Rocks!
Joe, as to “have I been using this with Love Ethics..?” I simply would answer, “No. I’ve been standing on this for decades.” And by that I mean, there aren’t many books in the modern era–really, only a handful–with truly revolutionary implications. Snyder pumped out two such books: “A Problem of Wine Skins,” and this one. These became very much the foundation of our thinking early in Xenos, and I heartily recommend reading them, but with this caveat: don’t read if you’re enamored with the status quo.
And Lisa, you too should definitely read. It’s right up your alley. But no, I’m not getting these for our Info Booth–it seems like they’re pretty expensive, and really only something which a few select minds can digest. But certainly yours is one!
If you’re at all interested in Wesley, you should read the “Heart Strangely Warmed” biography. It’s powerful.
Currently, amazon is offering Snyder’s Wesley used for $12.
I found it at half.com for under 5 – in almost new condition. Thanks Joe for looking into that.
And the SUPER SHOPPER AWARD goes to……LISA BEEEECH! Awww, thanks for playing, Joe! You’ll receive some lovely parting gifts!
I had lunch the other day with this Dwane from South Street where I mentioned this book, and he not only remembered it, but was also quite animated about how much it helped his own ministry efforts (along with “A Problem of Wineskins”, Snyder’s 1st book in the 3-book series). Indeed, it is a basic and foundational book that all good radical Christians should have in their library and fixed in their hearts.