Written by John Wesley (1703-1791), an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who was a leader in the revival movement known as Methodism. This is an excerpt from his book “Christian Perfection.”
MEDITATION:
I caution you to beware of antinomianism, which is the belief that there is no need for laws in the life of the believer. That great truth that “Christ is the end of the law” may betray us into this belief if we do not consider that Christ himself adopted every point of the moral law! Beware of thinking, “Because I have the love of God I do not need holiness,” or “Since I pray all the time I have no need for set times of private prayer,” or “Because I am spiritual I have no need for self-examination.” Instead, let this be our thought: “I prize thy commandments above gold or precious stones. O, what love I have found in your laws! All the day long I will study in it.” We must beware of self-indulgence, or of mocking self-denial, fasting, or abstinence. We cannot cry out, “Only believe, believe!” and call others “legalists” who are trying to live as Scripture teaches. We must remember that “by works our faith is made perfect.”
Written by Anna E. Rossi, a contemporary Episcopal priest, liturgist and interfaith advocate.
God of Justice,
as a city, and nation, and world,
we live outside your law:
the law that precludes double standards
and prospers second chances,
the law that shelters the homeless poor
and maintains inalienable rights for the stranger.
Show us power, and wonder, and signs.
Not you, breaking the laws of nature,
but us, breaking open the nature of our laws,
so that the possibility of abundant life
would unseal our covenant with death,
through Jesus Christ, the Crucified and Risen One.
Amen.
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