Methodism: a history of passion for the Gospel and transformation of the world.

In this seventh and penultimate week of the summer internship program we had many different appointments and precious moments of growth, learning and development. It's amazing to see how I grow even more with each passing week and how I will take great experiences of this time at the American capital. In fact, it's always been my dream to have an opportunity like this and I just praise God for the care He has always had with me! 

 But one of the most important moments of the past week that I want to highlight is our visit to one of the first United Methodist Churches in the northeastern United States - Lovely Lane UMC, a community that was pastored by the first American Methodist Bishop, Francis Asbury. 

As usual we went to Baltimore on Friday to meet this historic community. I had no idea how wonderful and profoundly enriching it could be. My first impact was soon felt as I got out of the car and looked at that huge temple with ancient architecture made of stone! It was love at first sight! 

As soon as we entered the temple we were greeted by a lady who guided us in that experience. I was extremely excited. And it was not for less. I have been a Methodist for three generations in my family, and to get to know more about the time and history of this spiritual movement that formed my personality and influenced my walk of life was contagious. 

I did not have much information or knowledge about the history of American Methodism, but I knew that the church here in the USA is the mother of my Methodist Church in Brazil. I also had a vague knowledge of the history of Bishop Asbury, famous for being the great shepherd of America and, like Wesley in England, the great evangelizer and preacher of Methodist doctrine in American lands. 

  

What was my surprise as we entered the temple, and our guide said that the first pastor of that community had been exactly Mr. Asbury. I was amazed! Bishop Asbury was at the same time Bishop of the communities in general and pastor of that community. 

  

The temple was large and built long ago to accommodate the number of people that the Methodism of Baltimore was reaching. Bishop Asbury preached the gospel with power and passion and made multitudes come to the feet of the cross. At least two services were held on Sundays to receive the greatest number of people thirsting for Christ. 

  

The architecture of the temple is fascinating. The temple itself has the capacity to gather about 1000 people. The interior of it is composed of neoclassical architecture with baroque elements. Even though it is so old, it is super-preserved. It was too beautiful to see the fruits of primitive Methodism still present in that imposing temple and its buildings.

After we got to know the temple building itself we went to the Methodist history museum, located in the basement of the church. We found several historical artifacts that were part of the constitution of North American Methodism. Clothes worn by Bishop Asbury, Bibles, photos from general conferences, and the entire history of organizational and theological development of the United Methodist Church. Panels with the history of John Wesley, George Whitefield, Francis Asbury and other leaders of the Methodist movement in both England and the United States guided people to better understand the identity and confessionality of the Wesleyan movement in general. 

One of the things that caught my attention the most and I was thrilled to see was George Whitefield's pulpit. One of the greatest preachers and evangelists in history, Whitefield was instrumental in the development of the early Methodist movement. Beside the Wesley brothers, he was responsible for the beginning of the great open-air preaching in 18th century England, going head-on against the official church's determinations. John Wesley, who until then was reticent about the possibility of preaching outside the churches, was influenced by his friend Whitefield and also began to preach to free and thus impact thousands of lives that religion insisted on ignoring. For all this the Mr. Whitefield story is incredible and fundamentally important to the Wesleyan movement. Then I approached that pulpit where this man of God preached several times and did not restrain the emotion. Knowing that the Lord has raised him in a powerful way has made me reflect on what God can accomplish even today to those who, without fear, surrender to the power of the cross. 

For all that the Methodist movement represents in its genesis, its power, passion, optimism and love for the cause of the Gospel and the miserable, I believe that today we are called to the same sentiment. We are called to preach the Gospel with authority and biblical foundation, with a sincere desire to see men and women transformed by the love of Christ and thus to transform society. The social holiness that Wesley both preached and spoke about concerned the mandate to preach Christ crucified. The father of the Methodist movement did not understand the doctrine of separate justification of the doctrine of justice. Justification and justice are faces of the same coin. We are justified first: our guilt for sin is taken by Christ and His righteousness is imputed to us. Thus, before God we are made new creatures, we are transformed from rebellious and disobedient to sons and daughters of the eternal Father. Our new position in Christ then gives us the ability to rise as agents of transformation in the world, the remission of a society also dead in its sins and transgressions. We seek justice because we have been reached by justification! We are individually achieved by grace so that we can collectively achieve a rebellious society under the wrath of God. 

  

That is the Gospel of Christ! And that is Methodism in its genesis. Let us return to Christ and the roots of our Wesleyan call. 

Lucas Toledo

Creation Justice Ministries Intern.