Today at Monson Community Church we started a three week adventure into Bishop Rueben Job’s understanding of John Wesley’s Three Simple Rules:.

Do No Harm,

Do Good,

Stay in Love with God.

We focused on Romans Romans 12:14-19 and Romans 13:8-9 as a basis to look at the first rule:

Do No Harm.

It is clear John Wesley believes that each of us must live a live that is holy and good. Each of us gets assistance on the journey through a caring community (church or covenant group) that helps us maintain a daily practice of discipline. Each of the disciplines provides ongoing help and instruction. They are necessary to help us stay focused on our journey of knowing God through Jesus Christ.

Wesley gave the Methodist movement General Rules which were the practical application of what it meant to follow Christ – they were outlined and the people were instructed on them within the class structure. Accountability for practice was centered in the classes that formed the United Societies (pg.17 & Discipline ¶103).

The General Rules became distilled into this behavioral trinity –“Do No Harm, Do Good, Stay in Love with God.”

Wesley issued the rules of the united societies in February 1743. Those who wished to enter the society must have “a desire to flee from the wrath to come, to be saved from their sins.” When admitted they were to give evidence of their desire for salvation “by doing no harm; by doing good of every possible sort; by attending upon all the means of grace.”

To Do No Harm is a practice of love and compassion for those we meet on our journey. It requires us to be Radical in how we look at others and our self. Jesus tells us in Mark  12: 29-31 that there is no other commandment greater than loving God with every ounce of our being and Love our neighbor as our self.

Yet on a daily basis we continue to fall short.

Jesus knew this would happen, so did John Wesley. Even though we will fail, we have the grace of Christ to help us overcome these human hurdles and allow us to have the ability to know how we should be. Each new day contains the offering to start over and do the very best we can do. They remind us of our duty as Sons and Daughters of God.

A lot has changed since 1743, and it is obvious to me that we have lost touch with the practices that John wished we would follow. It is too bad that we are not more accountable in our worship, care and outreach. I wish those of us who are part of the Wesleyan ~ Methodist movement would re-examine our call from God, and the way we go around proclaiming Jesus Christ. Could it be that while we were Bible Thumping and Banging in the heads of people to listen we actually did more harm?

I have never thought the Gospel was meant to be preached with Fire and Brimstone, or that you need a Louisville Slugger to make someone except Christ. I have found the Gospel message to be one of Love.

Maybe if we were to love those we meet as much as we say we Love God, the world would hear The Message.

I wonder how much Harm we have inflicted.

Who did you harm last week?

Just my thoughts

P.T.