John Wesley’s Body and Soul Theology

Dear Keolumana Ohana,

As I prepare for this Sunday's service, I can't believe we will be observing the 6th Sunday after Pentecost this Sunday already. I am reminded of what it means to grow in Christ. The Season after Pentecost starts with the birth of the Church, and from there, is marked as a season of growth in Christ with an emphasis on discipleship. As we all know, the Church is having to grow and be stretched in new ways during this pandemic. 

I believe our call to discipleship and our call to grow in Christ, intricately connects with how we love our neighbor and how we love each other. This week's passage in Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 is on the Parable of the Sower. In reading the passage I imagine the growth of the seed that falls on good soil. The seed that falls on the good soil and grows to yield a crop that grows into an exponential yield over time, "100, 60 or 30 times what was sown" Matthew 13:8. I believe that is the ripple effect of people living as disciples of Christ who make the intentional decision to love God and love others. 

What that looks like during the pandemic is certainly different from what we are used to. Presence, hugs, sharing a meal, and acts of mercy are the ways in which we lived out our calling, especially in our tradition as United Methodists! With the steady rise in cases in Hawaii and around the country, now love looks like social distancing, wearing a mask, and washing our hands. 

I am reminded of our church founder John Wesley and the practical ways in which he lived out his love for Christ. One of the most widely read books in England of the 18th Century was John Wesley's, Primitive Physick. This small book contained very simple guidelines on health and homeopathic remedies for different kinds of sickness and coughs. He emphasizes things such as washing hands and the importance of exercise. These are all common knowledge today, but in the 18th century, there wasn't an emphasis on how to care for one's body, when the emphasis was mostly on the state of one's soul. John Wesley emphasized that both are important. He wrote this book because he cared for the common person and for their health and well being. His theology intersected practical ways to love, with a grounding in scripture and a desire to know God more. 

I believe John Wesley's life in many ways emulates what the Season after Pentecost is about, growing our roots deep into the soil of faith while impacting the world in a way that cares for those around us, creating a ripple effect. I urge this community to continue doing so by wearing a mask, washing hands, and practice social distancing, as we all grow to learn and love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ more!

Love in Christ,

Pastor Joy