John Wesley and the American FrontierThis book seeks to understand John Wesley's theology, which when put into practice, gave birth to a great evangelical revival in the English-speaking world of the eighteenth century. On the American Frontier in the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century, Wesley's theology underwent some significant changes. These changes were in key areas of Wesley's theology: the doctrines of Grace, Christian perfection, and his theology of worship and sacraments. There have always been those who seek church renewal through a return of the 'ole time religion' (the religion of the frontier). This book suggests that we in the twenty-first century need to go back further than the American frontier in our search for church renewal, back to Wesley's theology, unfiltered through the frontier. Dr. Beeson is retired after forty-four years as a United Methodist pastor and District Superintendent in the Western New York Conference. In retirement he has had time to write this book, which has been in the back of his mind for years. He has been a Chaplin in the Army Reserve with the final rank of captain, executive secretary of the Genesee County Council of Churches, mayor of the village of Barker, N.Y. and theology professor in Burundi, Africa. He has written two other books: They Gathered at the Cross 1967 and Deep Pools 1978; a study guide for laity, Theology 101 and a course of study for pastors in Burundi. Dr. Beeson and his wife, Eva, have three grown children and several grandchildren all of whom they are very proud. |
Contents
Theology | 29 |
Distinctive Features of Wesleys | 51 |
The Doctrine of Grace in Wesleys | 63 |
Wesleys Doctrine of Christian | 81 |
The Americanization of Wesleys | 109 |
impacted on Wesleys Theology | 169 |
Common terms and phrases
Account of Christian Albert Outler Aldersgate Aldersgate experience American frontier American Methodism American Methodists Anglican Arminian baptism believe birth Bishop Calvinism Calvinistic camp meeting Catholic chapter Christian perfection Church of England circuit riders colonies concerning conversion doctrine of Christian doctrine of grace eighteenth century emphasis faith Francis Asbury free grace Georgia God's grace God's love heart Holiness movement Holy Communion human Ibid impact instantaneous Jesus Christ John Wesley John Wesley's theology justification lay preachers letter Lord Lord's Supper matter Maxwell means of grace meetings and revivals Methodist Episcopal Church Methodists in North molded Moravians Nashville nineteenth century North America Norwood ordained Peter Cartwright Phoebe Palmer pluralism prayer preaching prevenient grace quote religious sacraments salvation sanctification scripture sermon society soul Sunday Service teaching theologian Thomas Coke tion understanding uneducated clergy United Methodist Wesley saw Wesley seemed Wesley wrote Wesley's doctrine Wesleyan revival Whitefield worship writings