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Quote: John Wesley
From long experience and observation I am inclined to think that whoever finds redemption in the blood of Jesus, whoever is justified, has then the choice of walking in the higher or the lower path. I believe the Holy Spirit at that time sets before him the more excellent way, to aspire after the heights and depths of holiness, after the entire image of God. But if he does not accept this offer, he insensibly declines into the lower order of Christians. He still goes on what may be called a good way, serving God in his degree, and finds mercy in the close of life, though the blood of the covenant.
*John Wesley, “The More Excellent Way,” 1787, in John Wesley’s Sermons: An Anthology, Ed. Albert C. Outler and Richard P. Heitzenrater.
Comments
Many would be offended by being called a conventional or mediocre Christian. Indeed, many serious disciples might question whether a mediocre Christian is even a Christian.
Many Christians, and maybe you and I would be, offended to be called, in the words of John Wesley, among the “lower order of Christians.” Indeed, such might sound judgmental, but it is no more judgmental than saying there are higher order and lower order in practically any walk of life. Some baseball players are excellent, while others are mediocre. Some doctors are excellent, some mediocre. Some artists are excellent, some mediocre. Wesley is clear, and so is the Scripture, that some Christians are excellent, some mediocre.
My entire ministry of thirty years has been devoted to an excellent Christianity, or excellence of Christianity. Why? I believe our relationship with the Triune God deserves excellence of action and commitment, and mediocrity in spiritual commitment should not be named among Christians. And, I have discovered that my struggles in ministry have focused on this area: upholding and expecting excellence in commitment to Christ. For this excellence we must be prepared to be open to the Spirit, surrendering again and again our will to the Will of God. The status quo can never be our goal. Human relationships must be surrendered to our allegiance and love of the One, not allowing human, societal, or political ties to lead us astray from the One. We must accept we are on a Journey, going from one place to the next, deeper and more embracing, through the Spirit. There is no room for a lazy discipleship.
However, Wesley concedes some persons choose less than excellence and settle with being just a status quo Christian. Mediocrity, whether we like it or not, has a place in the Church, even if not rightful place. But, such is the Grace of God. And, do we not all have moments of mediocrity in such matters? But, habitual mediocrity is what we need to pray in order not to be guilty of.
Excellence and commitment set some persons off from other persons in the Church, as in any vocation or way of living. Scripture is clear that there are higher order and lower order Christians. One passage that speaks to the higher order identifies those of the higher order as “spiritual ones” (Greek, pneumatikoi):
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Galatians 6.1, ESV).
The spiritual ones here are the ones appealed to as having the Christian maturity and insight to address matters from the Mind of Christ.
Likewise, some passages show that Christians can be of a lower order, even called carnal, yet Christians. For example, I Corinthians 3,where a church stressed spiritual powers and, yet, was acting carnally, unspiritual, is an example of mediocre or worse Christianity:
1But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh [i.e., carnal, unspiritual, self-indulgent], as infants in Christ. 2I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? (ESV)
And, in Galatians 6.1, to another church evidencing carnality and immaturity, St. Paul urges Christians to mature. He writes:
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity [or, perfection],… (ESV)
Wesley is right, for there are two different orders in the Church: a lower, a higher. We each have a choice. Wesley provided Christian habits to practice, called means of grace, to assist us in growing up to be spiritual persons in Christ, exceptional disciples, rather than mediocre Christians. Through spiritual practices, we receive the grace to grow up to be a higher order Christian.
The Eastern Orthodox Church, from the early centuries of the Church to the present, agrees with Wesley. We can move toward deification, which is growing to be infused with the grace of the Triune Being. Not all Christians are so in union with the Trinity. But, we each can be enjoying this union with the One, a union in which we share directly in the uncreated energies of God, or Grace, while we retain our personhood to the Glory of God.
God does not create two orders of Christians, we create the orders, for we have freedom of choice. We can choose to be a nominal or mediocre, common place, status quo Christian; we can choose to be a spiritual Christian, one of what St. Paul calls the pneumatikoi, the spiritual ones. St. Paul gives special assignment to these higher order persons, for they are best equipped to act in Christ-likeness toward the weaker members of the Body of Christ. The pneumatikoi are the persons most ready to lead in the transformations essential to the Body of Christ, changes that do not alter the essence of the Church, but adapt the unchanging relationship with Christ to the changes of time.
One could say, "Brian,this sounds gnostic." No. Why? Partly because there is no secret here. There are no secrets to this. The Scripture and history of the Church is replete with insights and practices to lead any desirous person to be a spiritual one. Indeed, any Christian who chooses excellence will find it. However, the lazy ones regarding discipleship will never be the spiritual ones in and for Christ. And, much lack in churches is due to having lack of leadership from among persons who are among the higher order Christians. Indeed, if a leader tries to encourage higher order Christianity, he or she will often be curtailed or blocked by nominality and lower order.
Remember, God gives grace to the lower order, but the Holy Spirit is about creating excellence and higher order disciples of Christ. Let us pray for higher order churches to sprang up in the name of Christ, to give a witness, not to dead traditionalism, but to excellence in love, joy, and peace.
Reflection
What are the traits you would expect to be evidenced by a higher order Christian?
What trait do you think most typifies a higher order Christian?
Has some higher order Christian influenced your life positively for Christ? Thank God for this person and the ways he or she influenced your walk in Christ.
Is the church you are a member of best described as a lower order church or higher order church? Explain.
Do you consider yourself a lower order or higher order Christian? Explain.
What means of grace do you practice to nurture maturity in Christ?
Why do you think many Christians never mature in Christ?
What does nominal Christian mean? Conventional Christian?
Exercise
List ten qualities you want to evidence as a higher order Christian. For one week, or longer, each morning pray that the Holy Spirit will confirm these in all your thoughts and actions.
Pray about getting involved in one ministry of outreach through your church or community?
Consider, if you are not already, sponsoring a child through Compassion International. You can find out more about Compassion International by going to www.compassion.net to read about sponsoring, in the name of Jesus, children living in poverty. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
To contact Brian, write briankwilcox@comcast.net .
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