Why Methodist Need to Preach Wrath, Peace, and Purpose

[@PracticalChristianLessons]

Thankyou for watching! Another important Scripture in this discussion, if the entire witness of Scripture itself wasn't enough, is Romans 1.16-18. As Thomas McCall points out in Chapter 2 of his work "Forsaken: The Trinity and the Cross, and Why it Matters" Paul's preaching of the Gospel in which he finds no shame comes directly attached to the proclamation of coming judgement.

[@plainspokenpod]

You're getting better at this! Thanks for lining out this case. Do you know of any Methodist preachers of any sizable ministry, in any of the denominations, that does a good job at this?

[@PracticalChristianLessons]

Thankyou! I'm not tapped into a ton of Methodist preaching (I try to keep up with a handful of churches), only so much time in the day and full time job plus full time school plus everything else cuts into time. But no, not really. My church has this past year in a few sermons as Andrew has preached through Exodus and Romans, and addressed the issue very directly as part of doing these. But as you probably know we haven't reaffiliated with another Methodist denomination yet. I've looked for sermons on Jude & Revelation, on the purpose of the Church, all sorts of topics. And I find again and again the focus isn't on judgement. I hear about being a dead church, and needing to pursue the Lord. But when going through Revelation where is the talk of what it means to have the lampstand taken away? Where is the warning of judgement? In purpose I hear about outreach, bearing the name of God, shining His light, to call people in. But I rarely hear the express call, to turn from sin and flee the wrath of God. It's always turn from the world to life in God, but when you phrase it like that you leave off an important part. I hear about the Methodist zeal for holiness, but not about fleeing from the wrath to come. I'm sure there are Methodist who still preach on it, but it seems to be so few and far between. And honestly it hurts a bit inside to know so many have just let this important part of the gospel message just fall away.

[@PracticalChristianLessons]

Also if you ever find the secret to making more time so I can try and listen to more preaching let me know😂

[@plainspokenpod]

@@PracticalChristianLessons I also spend my time in other ways. We make time for what is most important to us. I think you're doing a good job. I don't think there are many examples of good Methodists preaching on this. I asked, though, hoping you knew more than I did!

[@PracticalChristianLessons]

​@@plainspokenpod Thankyou! All the good I do is purely God and what He has done and is doing through me, all the bad is my own. I know Bixby Methodist had a sermon Fleeing the Wrath to come and the Methodist Societies meetings purpose as pursuing Scriptural holiness last year. My friend has just started there and says they don't pull punches in their preaching though the subject of God's wrath itself hasn't come up yet (he's only been there a few weeks). They might have some good stuff on it. I'll keep on the look though, and Lord willing prayers this focus will return to the Methodist as a whole.

[@nicklausbrain]

Hello sir. I should note that being eschatologically universalist does not mean denying the wrath, judgment, and hell. However, I do agree that there is unfortunately plenty of such among modern Christians. I think that even if in eons to come "God may be all in all", to allow other people to live in sin passively and face the fiery purge is not very Christian of us. My view on this matter is shaped by David Bentley Hart and Andrei Kurajev. Blessings! / from a methodist living in Estonia /

[@PracticalChristianLessons]

Universalism being, the idea that all will go to Heaven? Just to make sure we are working with the same definition.

[@nicklausbrain]

⁠@@PracticalChristianLessonsuniversalism is a doctrine that all shall be saved

[@PracticalChristianLessons]

@@nicklausbrain So, if it teaches all will be saved, how does that not deny Hell?

[@nicklausbrain]

@@PracticalChristianLessonsbecause it does not see hell as a place (neither heaven as a place) but the purging fire of Gods presence. I believe you can find this definition in “on the soul and the resurrection” by Gregory of Nyssa

[@PracticalChristianLessons]

​@@nicklausbrain Ah yes I am familiar with Gregory's view, similar to Origins (which makes sense). But I would still call this view heterodox and quite seriously lacking on the severity of the Biblical witness to what Hell is. The witness implies a lasting darkness, however you explain what goes on in Hell it doesn't seem to be temporary. But I'm happy to have a discussion on that should I ever make a video on it.