Sanctification and Transformation

I am exploring sanctification because I believe a modern interpretation might potentially have implications for ecumenism.  Today, I want to review the points I have made so far and add another. 

1. Sanctification is a continuous process that follows upon Wesley's doctrines of original sin (or prevenient grace) and justification. 

2. Perfection enables a person to stand aside and allow God's love to be present in the world through their body.  It is in consequence often something that goes unremarked.

3. It arises from a constant awareness of sin; both personal and structural.

4. "it is not what is frequently understood by that word, the going to heaven, eternal happiness.  ... It is not a blessing which lies on the other side of death."  (Wesley quoted by Runyon, page 89)

This last point is crucial, sanctification for Wesley was something here and now.  I think we would also be wrong to attribute it to a few individuals who attain what Wesley called 'entire sanctification'.  Whilst I have no doubt at all that some achieve entire sanctification, it would be counter-productive to focus entirely upon this relatively rare occurrence.

The Christian faith is not a faith for individuals; people are called into communities.  Their churches are perhaps most important but people are also called to work in communities outside of the church.  The love the collected people of God express in their communities is as much the work of sanctification as that displayed by certain individuals.  Indeed, the collective expression of God's love in the world is far more significant and for a variety of reasons should not be overlooked.

For one thing, it is the only evidence of the existence of God we have.  All love comes from God, and the love Christians express is the most direct evidence we have that there is anything at all behind the words and stories.  Furthermore, this love expressed by communities and in communities is God's way of transforming the world. 

Hatred is not the opposite of love; that is indifference.  It is through prayer that Christian communities identify those things that are forgotten.  The Latin American liberation theologians wrote of non-people, people not seen by the rich and powerful as people at all.  The slave trade is another example of people not seen as people.  The new city dwellers during the early industrial revolution were referred to as 'hands'; not thought of as people at all.

Moreover when we take things for granted, such as resources or the planet's ecosystems, we are indifferent.  Love is expressed as care for the whole of creation, not just for humanity.  Love is transformative because it brings everything into the light of God's love.

Two points, first this is frightening.  Bringing everything into the light of God's love reveals all our structural and personal sins.  Those responsible have to face up to what they have done.  Second, the implication of this is God works through humanity.  We are co-creators and share responsibility for the planet with God.

This will take some unpacking but I can predict one objection to this interpretation of Wesley's doctrine of sanctification.  Did Wesley believe this?  Or did he in fact see faith as something personal?  My answer is that Wesley did see things this way and there is in the history of the Methodist movement plenty of evidence of transformation in 18th and 19th century Britain.

This is by way of a cliff hanger.  From tomorrow and for at least a week there will be a new theme opening up - more details tomorrow.