In an act of overt plagiarism, this article will take from the founder of Methodism, John Wesley’s sermon “Almost A Christian”. After all, if we are to pinch inspiration, let us steal from the best.
“That was me!” Wesley confesses when he describes the almost Christian. “I did go thus for many years, as many of this place can testify; using diligence to eschew all evil, and to have a conscience void of offence; redeeming the time; buying up every opportunity of doing all good to all men; constantly and carefully using all the public and all the private means of grace; endeavouring, after a steady seriousness of behaviour, at all times, and in all places.”
The marks of the almost Christian include having the “outside of a real Christian,” in Wesley’s striking phrase. “doing nothing the gospel forbids.”
The almost Christian does not swear, use bad language, avoids sexual sin, even of the mildest kind. He works hard so that he blesses others. he does good to all.
Perhaps surprisingly, He goes to church. a lot. “He constantly frequents the house of God; and … behaves with seriousness and attention in every part of the solemn service. More especially when he approaches the table of the Lord, it is not with a light or careless behaviour, but with an air, gesture, and deportment which speaks nothing else but “God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
And he leads family prayers.
What’s missing? Wesley calls it “sincerity “- but that word might mean something deeper than what that means to the modern reader. “Sincerity, I mean, a real, inward principle of religion, from whence these outward actions flow.
A fear of punishment is what can cause someone to be an almost Christian.
But on the other hand, “A real design to serve God, a hearty desire to do his will: it is necessarily implied, that a man have a sincere view of pleasing God in all things: in all his conversation; in all his actions; in all he does, or leaves undone,” is what Wesley is looking for.
“I was that guy:” Wesley responds to the question of whether somebody can be so good in being almost a Christian, without being one.
So he gives his listeners a guide to what a Christian is.
- A love of God ” He that thus loves the Lord his God, his spirit continually “rejoiceth in God his Saviour”
- A love of neighbour, especially enemies.
3. Real faith that brings repentance. and love.
4. Faith that “purifies the heart”
“Hell is paved with good intentions”, Wesley quotes. meaning that is good intentions are not enough. Practising justice, mercy, and truth, “as even the rules of heathen honesty require”?” is not enough.
A lively religion of the heart is what is required.
“Hast thou faith in his blood? Believest thou the Lamb of God hath taken away thy sin, and cast them as a stone into the depths of the sea? That he hath blotted out the hand-writing that was against thee, taking it out of the way nailing it to his cross? Hast thou indeed redemption through his blood, even the remission of thy sins? And doth his Spirit bear witness with thy spirit, that thou art a child of God? “.