John Wesley's self-examination questions
- John Wesley's self-examination questions from 250
years ago focused on spiritual accountability and personal character.
- The self-examination questions address issues such as
hypocrisy, honesty, trustworthiness, devotion to scripture, prayer, and relationships with
others..
- The self-examination questions Weskey used prompted people to reflect on their behaviors,
attitudes, and the sincerity of their faith.
How do you match up?
Here are 22 questions similar to those John Wesley gave to members of his
discipleship groups around
250 years ago.
The questions have their origin in the spiritual accountability group started by Wesley when he
was a student at Oxford — a group that detractors called "The Holy Club." The first list
appeared about 1729 or 1730 in the preface to Wesley's second Oxford Diary. Similar
questions appeared in his 1733 A Collection of Forms of Prayer for Every Day in the
Week. In 1781, Wesley published a list of questions like this one in The Arminian
magazine.
- Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am?
In other words, am I a hypocrite?
- Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
- Do I pass on to other people what has been said to me privately and in confidence?
- Can I be trusted?
- Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
- Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
- Did the Bible live in me today?
- Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
- Am I enjoying prayer?
- When did I last speak to someone else of my faith? [ conversation
starter springboards ]
- Do I pray about the money I spend?
- Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
- Do I disobey God in anything?
- Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is
troubled or uneasy?
- Am I defeated in any part of my life?
- Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
- What do I do in my spare time?
- Am I arrogantly proud?
- Do I thank God that I am not like other people, especially like the Pharisee who despised the
publican?
- Is there anyone I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward, or
disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
- Do I grumble or complain constantly?
- Is Christ real to me?
"Encourage one another daily . . . so that none of you may be hardened by sin's
deceitfulness." -- Hebrews 3:13
-- Howard Culbertson,
"No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself, and another to
the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true" —
Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter
Afterword
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, used a series of self-examination questions
to foster spiritual growth and personal accountability within his "societies." These questions
served as a reflective tool. They guided members to assess their adherence to Christian
principles and their progress in personal holiness. Designed to foster introspection and encourage
transparency, these questeions delved into various facets of one's spiritual life. These included
prayer habits, treatment of others, stewardship of time and resources, and purity of heart. By having believers regularly engage with these
self-examination questions in small accountability groups, Wesley sought to create a culture of
mutual support and accountability among participants. He wanted to foster a small communities
dedicated to moral integrity and spiritual growth. The use of the self-examiniaton questions
not only facilitated individual reflection. They also strengthened the bonds of fellowship among
members. That created a framework for communal encouragement and discipleship.
How Can John Wesley's Influence Be Seen in Christianity Today?
- Doctrinal Emphasis: Wesley emphasized the
importance of personal faith, justification by faith, and the pursuit of holiness. His theological
perspecitve, often referred to as "Wesleyan theology," continues to shape the beliefs of many
Christians today.
- Revivalism: Wesley's preaching style and emphasis
on personal conversion played a significant role in the revival movements in Britain and the USA
of the 18th century. His open-air preaching and fervent evangelism led to the conversion
of many people and sparked a revival that impacted Christianity globally
- Social Justice: Wesley was deeply concerned with
social issues. Those included poverty, injustice, and inequality. He believed that true faith should
manifest itself in social action and care for the marginalized. This emphasis on serving the poor
and advocating for social justice continues to influence many Christian churches today.
- Structdures for Discipleship: Wesley's
organizational genius is evident in the discipleship structure he established. He developed a
system of classes and societies to nurture and support believers. Influenced by Wesley's
methodology, many other churches have adopted similar discipleship models.
- Global Missionary Zeal: Wesley's vision extended
beyond the borders of his own country. He encouraged the spread of the Gospel through world
missionary work. This missionary zeal contributed to the global expansion of Christianity,
particularly in the British colonies.
- Church Music: Wesley placed a strong emphasis on congregational singing as a
means of spiritual formation and worship. He wrote numerous hymns himself. His brother
Charles was one of the most prolific hymn writers in history. Their hymns, characterized
by rich theological content and emotive expression, became integral to Christian worship across
denominational lines.
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