Practical Theism

I'm reading a book at the moment called 'Windows on Wesley'. It's one of these books which has variety of contributors writing on different subjects. The chapter I've just read is by the editor of the book - Philip Meadows. He writes about a faith that is alive and is based on right action and not just sound doctrine, that seeks to know God as well as just know of him, that notices God in the whole of creation and not just in the supposedly spiritual bits. It leads him into a spirit of optimism for the world around. He writes:

"Thus, the pessimism of an Augustinian assessment of human nature, which considers the vast bulk of humankind to be reprobates on their way to damnatino, is overthrown by a Wesleyan optimism of grace which sees every human being as a 'candidate for heaven,' to use (Rev. John) Fletcher's expression, or 'a probationer for a blissful immortality." ('Windows on Wesley', ed. Philip Meadows; Applied Theology Press; 1997, p.40)

Wouldn't it be great if the whole church grasped some of that optimism. That saw all people, not as miserable sinners, but as 'candidates for heaven?' That actually saw something of the grace and image of God in all who we meet. Meadows continues to say that conversion is vital, and is concerned with enabling people to recognise the grace of God in them already. A grace that goes before any commitment to follow God.

It reminded me of a lecture from a few weeks back on 1 Corinthians 1. In the opening verses Paul writes to those 'called to be saints' (v2). Now I don't speak Greek, but our lecturer informs us that the correct translation should be that they are saints. His challenge was, how many people sitting in our congregations think of themselves as saints? So often we focus on the need to confess and repent, and they are both very important, but it is also important that people recognise that, in God's eyes, they are already saints.

It sometimes feels as though our beloved Methodist Church needs life breathed into it. Well I suggest, rather than spending so much energy on restructuring, let's proclaim the message of optimism based on God's grace. Let's see the potential in all and encourage them to recognise the grace of God already in their own lives. Because I'd be willing to bet that it would be pretty infectious.