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Evangelism Bulletin 266 – A Dead Sect?
John Wesley famously said, ‘I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist… But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast the doctrine, spirit and discipline with which they first set out.’
I wonder what John Wesley would make of the People called Methodist today. Would he feel that we have lived up to his expectations and fulfilled his prayers or would he look with sadness on what we have made of a once vibrant evangelical movement? Of course, the 21st century is a different world from the one the Wesley brothers knew and the challenges are different. We have also developed deeper insights into the Bible and our theology has moved on too. But are we still as healthy and passionate about our faith in the way our forefathers were?
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