The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 2012, states, “John Wesley believed that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason”
(Our Theological Task Paragraph105 Theological Guidelines: Sources and Criteria) .
We continue our worship series this Sunday called Quadrilateral with our attention on Reason. Our worship will be rooted in Romans 12.1-3 and the United Methodist Book of Discipline.
On “Reason” from The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 2012 (Our Theological Task Paragraph105):
Although we recognize that God’s revelation and our experiences of God’s grace continually surpass the scope of human language and reason, we also believe that any disciplined theological work calls for the careful use of reason.
By reason we read and interpret Scripture.
By reason we determine whether our Christian witness is clear.
By reason we ask questions of faith and seek to understand God’s action and will.
By reason we organize the understandings that compose our witness and render them internally coherent.
By reason we test the congruence of our witness to the biblical testimony and to the traditions that mediate that testimony to us.
By reason we relate our witness to the full range of human knowledge, experience, and service….
Nevertheless, by our quest for reasoned understandings of Christian faith we seek to grasp, express, and live out the gospel in a way that will commend itself to thoughtful persons who are seeking to know and follow God’s ways.
What responses come up for you when you hear the statement above on Reason from The United Methodist Church?
Make time to read Romans 12.1-3.
When have you grown in faith through “the renewing of your mind”?
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