Ya know, if I were the father of some great sect, some great uprising that had or was spreading like wildfire, I might be tempted to be concerned about the life of such a group. But, John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, was not. Here's what he said: “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. 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 both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.” (Mag. 1787, page 100)
Seriously, folks, there are two types of weirdness here. First, Wesley's concern about the dead religion. He sees that it is alive "right now", then in that time. Why would he raise the concern that it might become a dead sect. Second, that folks who had known such great passion and compassion would become dead. Sad, so sad. I wonder what Wesley would say about those folks who name themselves Methodist either in actual title or in beliefs?
