Living as a Disciple - help from John Wesley!

Information about how to live as a faithful disciple of Jesus pours out like water from a fire hydrant. There are so many ideas, suggestions and recommendations that it can make one's head spin. The vast array of choices can be paralyzing.

Here's the deal though: living as a disciple isn't that complicated. It's really about doing a few things well.

I recently re-read the rules early British Methodists (led by John Wesley) were invited to follow to help them live and grow as disciples. Do you know how many there were? Three. That's it; three!!

Here they are:

• First: By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced.
• Secondly: By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men.
• Thirdly: By attending upon all the ordinances of God.

Pretty simple stuff! Just think, if all of us as disciples would attend to those three things everyday what that would do for our lives, what it would do for our communities and world and how the Kingdom of God would grow.

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To help flesh these out Wesley gave examples. Here's the fuller version of the rules. Keep in mind that the sub points are not more rules, they are examples of the kinds of things we do to live these out. Also, these are examples of activities that were germane in 18th Century Britain. We would need to rewrite some of these to fit 21st Century America. Many of them are good even for us, however.

First: By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced, such as:

• The taking of the name of God in vain.
• The profaning the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary work therein or by buying or selling.
• Drunkenness: buying or selling spirituous liquors, or drinking them, unless in cases of extreme necessity.
• Slaveholding; buying or selling slaves.
• Fighting, quarreling, brawling, brother going to law with brother; returning evil for evil, or railing for railing; the using many words in buying or selling.
• The buying or selling goods that have not paid the duty.
• The giving or taking things on usury—i.e., unlawful interest.
• Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation; particularly speaking evil of magistrates or of ministers.
• Doing to others as we would not they should do unto us.
• Doing what we know is not for the glory of God, as:
• The putting on of gold and costly apparel.
• The taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus.
• The singing those songs, or reading those books, which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God.
• Softness and needless self-indulgence.
• Laying up treasure upon earth.
• Borrowing without a probability of paying; or taking up goods without a probability of paying for them.
• It is expected of all who continue in these societies that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,

Secondly: By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men:

• To their bodies, of the ability which God giveth, by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by visiting or helping them that are sick or in prison.
• To their souls, by instructing, reproving, or exhorting all we have any intercourse with; trampling under foot that enthusiastic doctrine that "we are not to do good unless our hearts be free to it."
• By doing good, especially to them that are of the household of faith or groaning so to be; employing them preferably to others; buying one of another, helping each other in business, and so much the more because the world will love its own and them only.
• By all possible diligence and frugality, that the gospel be not blamed.
• By running with patience the race which is set before them, denying themselves, and taking up their cross daily; submitting to bear the reproach of Christ, to be as the filth and offscouring of the world; and looking that men should say all manner of evil of them falsely, for the Lord's sake.
• It is expected of all who desire to continue in these societies that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,

Thirdly: By attending upon all the ordinances of God; such are:

• The public worship of God.
• The ministry of the Word, either read or expounded.
• The Supper of the Lord.
• Family and private prayer.
• Searching the Scriptures.
• Fasting or abstinence.