Connected to Pursue Holiness
The entire Wesleyan connection was built so that Methodists could strive together toward that holiness "without which no one will see the Lord." When Wesley said that there is "no holiness but social holiness" he meant that we make this journey toward holiness with other Christians. “You can believe and practice whatever you want as long as you do it by yourself ” is just not a Methodist way of being the church. Our structures exist so that we can help each other live the holy lives to which we have been called.
Methodist conferences, societies, classes and bands were originally organized for one purpose: to support penitent believers in becoming holy. Those who belonged to the societies were required to participate in a class in order to spur them on through repentance and justification to entire sanctification in love.
Anyone could belong to a Methodist society.
“There is only one condition previously required of those who desire admission into these societies: ‘a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins.’ But wherever this is really fixed in the soul it will be shown by its fruits. It is therefore expected of all who continue therein that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation …”
All were welcome to join, but all who belonged were expected to earnestly seek the fullness of God’s salvation: perfection in love, crowning a life of obedience to God’s revealed will sprinkled with common human decency. Members were required to observe three General Rules fleshed out in significantly more detail than “do no harm, do good, and attend upon the ordinances of God.” There were both explicit and implicit behavioral expectations. Continued membership depended on sharing the Methodist way of life, not just Methodist beliefs about God.
“These are the General Rules of our societies; all of which we are taught of God to observe, even in his written Word, which is the only rule, and the sufficient rule, both of our faith and practice. And all these we know his Spirit writes on truly awakened hearts. If there be any among us who observe them not, who habitually break any of them, let it be known unto them who watch over that soul as they who must give an account. We will admonish him of the error of his ways. We will bear with him for a season. But then, if he repent not, he hath no more place among us. We have delivered our own souls.”
Bands were the most intimate structure, in which participants confessed their doubts, sins and temptations. They shared stories of both failure and deliverance. A band meeting sounds a lot like an AA meeting to me. Members prayed for each other, encouraged each other and exhorted each other.
The whole structure existed to support the same end, from the traveling preachers who organized those they evangelized to the local leaders who tended the flock: to convince people of sin, proclaim forgiveness in Christ and put believers in social relationships that would promote a life of holiness.
United Methodism is connectional. If there is a Methodist distinctive, this is it. We organize to spur each other on to holiness by the power of the Holy Spirit in every part our existence. We don't believe that we can be who God calls us to be in isolation, either as individuals or as congregations. We need to be deeply connected beyond ourselves to accomplish God's purpose in the world.
