Heitzenrater, Wesley And The People Called Methodists

This essay is on “How Methodism came into Being” is based on the information I read in the assigned text book written by Richard P. Heitzenrater, Wesley and the People Called Methodists. I will address the four topic assigned. These topics are (1) the background/context of the movement and (2) to answer the question, “What was the Methodist movement?” The third is to identify the movement’s key historic figures and (4) the significance of their respective contribution to the movement. The first question addresses the background/context of the movement. To address the background of the movement, one might visit the home of Susanna and Samuel Wesley, the parents of John and Charles Wesley in Georgia during the 1700’s. This couple had
In the mist of his confusion, John Wesley started to focus on the Pietisms of traditional holy living. It was Jeremy Taylor suggestion to him that the first rule of holy living is care of one’s time and with that he suggested he keep a diary. It was also Taylor’s suggestion that caused Wesley to discover that holiness was an inner reality which indicates that true religion starts in the heart and God’s law touched every phase of his life. It was after his recognition of himself as a good Christian that historians and biographers could see a change in Wesley’s writing which placed emphasis on holy order for holy living. It was also in his writing that his struggle with his definition of “Christian” became evident and “Methodist” begin to appear. It was this spiritual quest for holiness and his understanding of God’s grace and mercy that provided the focus for Wesley’s
Mary’s on January 1, 1733 and a letter from Morgan’s father gave the Oxford stage (Wesley Movement/Methodist) new direction. This group’s took on a new focus of spirituality which was one’s soul needed to be renewed in the image of God. The group’s spirituality was on an inward state of the soul that would be reflected in one’s Christian lifestyle. (Heitzenrater: Pg. 53) It gave new definition to Wesley’s doctrine on holiness, Christian perfection, which became the hallmark of Methodist theology in the eighteenth century. It was from the pamphlet anonymously produced called the Oxford Methodists (1733) that the group became “the Methodists” a term first given in derision but Wesley turned and used to his advantage. Wesley used the “Morgan Letter” to help explain Methodism at Oxford which help increase growth in the Methodist movement. The Georgia Stage of the movement started after the death of his father. It was while in London working on the publication of his father’s book that John Wesley was approached on the subject of going to Georgia as the pastor of the new colony. He felt that it was a perfect escape from where he was or where he wanted to be. John felt that being in Georgia would allow him to carry out his father’s dream and implement his singular desire of pursuing Christian