John Wesley Beliefs

“Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life” (Buddha). Religion has dominated the world since the creation of time; the need for a higher power to rule and comfort people is in great abundance. People in society feel the needing and longing for some sort of supreme being. Humans tend to need explanations for the unknown in the world so they focus on a larger than life answer. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, strove to maintain his non-conformist attitude during a time when religion had ran stale; one man was able to produce a new denomination focused on faith and evangelistic-style preaching all the while clinging tenaciously to his ideas and great integrity.

John Wesley, the founder
John Wesley, born in Epworth England on June 17, 1703 (CCE Library), was the fifteenth of nineteen children. His survival seemed miraculous as eight children were pronounced dead at infancy. Wesley’s parents, Samuel and Susannah, strove to maintain their place in the church even after both of their fathers were ejected from the Church of England in 1662 for being part of the Puritan clergy. Wesley was never really introduced to the Puritan life because his mother vowed membership to the Church of England at the age of thirteen. Despite the hatred showed toward him because of his father, Samuel Wesley served at the Epworth Parish during his childhood up until his death in 1735 (New World Encyclopedia). John Wesley was often accused of being his parents favorite. The issue of John being the favorite in all actuality was a
Upon reading the Bible and its many interpretations John Wesley came to the realization that salvation is brought only by God the father and not by good deeds. After finding this out he led a very well oriented revival using the almighty Lord to ultimately reform England. John Wesley was different in his belief, he believed that there was no religion but social religion. Wesley strove to make a point that faith is grown in each and every person after our participation in the present church community. He also believed that we are greatly “nourished and equipped” for mission and service all over the world (Graves). It is claimed that during this revival and many others that John Wesley was able to ride and preach over 20,000 miles a year while in ministry (Fedele, G). His methods of preaching were so effective that it is speculated that he helped spare England from the kind of revolution that had recently occurred in France (Graves). Although John Wesley did not mean to create a different denomination in doing so he helped so many people. The beliefs of the Methodist congregation are key in what made it valued over the Church of England. Methodists also believe they should live a life full of service,