“The Almost Christian”
John Wesley Sermon Series
(taken from John Wesley on Christian Beliefs, The Standard Sermons in Modern English, Vol. 1, Abingdon Press:2002)
Matthew 19:16-22, Luke 6:46-49, Matthew 7:21-23, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Acts. 26:28
June 29, 2003
INTRO
Last year, one of the “Hot Topic” sermon requests was simply, “Are Christians today really Christian?”
It’s an interesting question because it was something that needed answering over 200 years ago as well.
If you’ll read the introduction in your bulletins (47-49), John Wesley stood before a group of seminarians at Oxford and tried to answer it. In short, he laid out the difference between “Almost Christians” and “Altogether Christians.”
The message was well excepted. In fact, immediately after his sermon presentation, “The Almost Christian” went into print, and became the basis for a major part of our United Methodist Discipline to this day.
I. Let’s look at his sermon a little more closely. First, we need to define terms…
THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN
…Almost Christians have some sense of right and wrong, truth and justice, a set of common virtues.
Wesley said, “even the heathens gave the things they could spare to those in need even without the
full knowledge of God.”
…Almost Christians often look like altogether Christians by practicing the fruits of the Spirit.
Wesley words again, “the almost Christian does nothing that the gospel forbids. He or she does not make wrongful use of the name of God, but blesses others and refrains from judging them. They do not swear oaths, they speak with a simple yes or no. They do not desecrate the Lord’s Day or even permit it to be defiled by their guests. The almost Christian avoids adultery, fornication, and unchaste behavior—even the slightest word or glance that tends toward these things.” Overall, almost Christians do not participate in social interchange that is not useful or constructive.
…Almost Christians abstain from wine, which leads to debauchery, and from carousing and gluttony.
…Almost Christians avoid strife and altercations, always seeking to live peaceable with everyone.
…Almost Christians do not willingly harm, hurt, or grieve anyone. In every situation almost Christians act a speak by the golden rule.
…Almost Christians help friend and foe, assisting evil folk and good folk, whenever they have the
opportunity they work for the good of all.
…Almost Christians correct evil people, instruct uninformed people, and comfort those in distress.
…Almost Christians faithfully attend worship, giving attention to every part of worship, not asleep or in a
comfortable posture, as though they assumed God were asleep,
…Almost Christians , by sincerity, feel an intense need to serve God, and also desire to do His will.
…Almost Christians are almost “altogether Christians.”
On the face of it, it looks almost impossible to be even a decent "almost Christian" doesn’t it? What greater standard then could there be for the altogether Christian?
ALTOGETHER CHRISTIAN
Wesley laid out three characteristics…
1 – the Altogether Christian has a love for God.
Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength” This kind of love completely lays hold of the entire self. It claims affection, fills the entire capacity of the soul, and engages the full range of its abilities. Those who abide in love, find that God abides in them. A love for God is at the core of the Altogether Christrian.
2 – the Altogether Christian has a love for others.
Jesus also said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Wesley said, “If anyone should ask, ‘Who is my neighbor?’ we reply plainly. Your neighbor is every person in the world, every human being created by God, the maker of us all. In short, we are to live lives of love for others, just as Christ lived and loved for us.
3 – the Altogether Christian is grounded in faith.
Scripture speaks an abundance of good things about this spiritual virtue. John said, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God.” “To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.” “This is the victory that conquers the world – our faith”
Jesus even said “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believe him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
Wesley said that Altogether Christians have a “steadfast faith and confidence in Christ to save us from everlasting condemnation. It is a certain faith and confidence that one places in God, trusting in the merits of Christ that one’s sins are forgiven and that reconciliation to God has occurred. From this faith proceeds a heart that loves him and obeys his commandments.”
II. Now that we have these definitions, where do we god from here? Let’s look back at our Scripture lesson and try to identify…
In Matthew 19:16-22…
…where would we put the rich young ruler? an Almost Christian or an Altogether Christian?
When I think of this man, I think of Jesus’ words in Luke 6:46-49 when he explained the basics of foundation construction using two builders as examples. One who built on the rock and the other who built on sand. I can’t help to think that there are many who believe their foundation is stable because of their good workss, but they lack the love and faith necessary to become the Altogether Christian.
…where would we put the disciples? What about in that disciples? Almost or Altogether?
It’s interesting to note that when the rich guy didn’t make, Peter asks in v. 27, “Lord, We have
left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
Jesus’ answer, simple yet complex, “everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or other or children or field for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
….where would we put the little children that came to Jesus just before the passage we read this morning? Jesus told everyone to hear that “the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
WHERE WOULD WE PUT OURSELVES...ALMOST OR ALTOGETHER?
What facilitates the transition from one to the next?
It’s a difficult question in that it asks us to not only realize our limitations, but also requires us to turn our complete selves over to the one who is the author of love, and the sustainer of faith.
Ezekiel 37:1-14 tells the story of the valley of dry bones. Ezekiel was convinced that the bones were worthless. He was convinced that what almost had been was now altogether impossible.
But the Lord told him to prophesy…
The first time he prophesied, the bones became to rattle and come together, flesh and muscle surrounding
them.
The second time he prophesied, they began to breathe and come to life, standing on their feet, a vast army that was once dry bones.
God told Ezekiel, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They complain that their hope is gone and they feel cut off” Prophesy to them saying “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live.”
Prophesy my love for them, tell them about faith, and they will live!
GOOD NEWS VS. BAD NEWS
Although we don’t like to hear it, there is some bad news…
Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them ‘I never knew you, depart from Me…”
It’s not that Jesus didn’t want to know them. In fact, he gives us every chance to come to a relationship of forgiveness and spiritual leadership with him. But without that relationship, all the promises he’s offerred to his believers, those whom he knows, are unavailable.
The good news…we know what’s God’s will is for us…
we love him, first and foremost
we love one another,
we practice our faith in light of that love.
And by doing this we come into that closer relationship with Christ.
Wesley ended this sermon by saying…
“The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ now stands in our midst. “The Lord who is the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, will forgive wickedness rebellion and sin”…May we all move beyond merely Almost Christians. We can become Altogether Christians. Then, we will be justified through faith by the redemption that his in Jesus, know that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoicing in anticipation of the glory of God, we experience God’s love poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.”
May it be so. Will you join me in prayer?
Heavenly Father, Gracious Christ, Sustaining Spirit…
We don’t want to be just “almost Christians” anymore.
We want to love you with all that we have.
We want to show that love to our neighbors near & far.
We want to practice our faith in a way that is pleasing to you.
Gracious God, there are so many with good intentions, but someone has said that even “hell is paved” with
those. So we ask ourselves the questions…
Do we love God?
Do we love our neighbor?
Can we say that we believe Christ loved us so much that he gave up his life for us?
Can we have faith in that atoning blood he shed casting our sin aside, nailing it to the cross?
Do we truly believe that we have redemption, a clean slate, if we only ask?
Does God’s Spirit bear witness with our spirit that we are a child of God?
Forgive us when we fail. Forgive us when we fail short of your plan for our lives.
Forgive us when we do the things that grieve you most, even when we know better.
Forgive when we become to “almost” instead of “altogether.”
Help us to never lose heart in the battle.
For your grace, and your mercy, and your direction, and your peace, we give you thanks for you are the one who created us, redeemed us, and sustains us in your almighty power…Amen.
#595 – Whether the Word Be Preached or Read (to the tune of Faith of Our Fathers #710)
Benediction –
As we go from this place, may the transition be obvious…may our love for God and others be evident…may our faith continually lead and provide…may the world know that we’re not just “almost” but indeed, by Christ and Christ alone, we are “altogether.” Amen.
Note: If for any reason you did not find this sermon helpful, please let me know by contacting me at gb@clergy.net. Your input will help me personally and my congregation as I learn professionally.
