What does it mean to truly embrace diversity within Christianity? John Wesley, Methodism's founder, offered a revolutionary answer in his sermon "On the Catholic Spirit" that still challenges us today.
Against the backdrop of post-Reformation religious division, Wesley chose an unexpected path. Rather than demanding theological uniformity, he found wisdom in the biblical exchange: "Is your heart right as my heart is with your heart? If it is, give me your hand." This seemingly simple invitation became the foundation for a radical understanding of Christian unity that didn't require agreement on every point of doctrine.
Wesley's approach wasn't about watering down conviction but recognizing that God intentionally creates diversity within the body of Christ. Drawing from Ephesians 4, we see that different gifts—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers—aren't accidental but divinely ordained for the growth and maturity of the whole church. Our differences aren't problems to solve but blessings to embrace.
This vision feels especially urgent today, as political and theological polarization threatens to tear apart religious communities. Wesley's words reach across centuries: "Love me not in word only, but in deed and in truth, so far as, in conscience, you can, retaining still your own opinions and your own manner of worshiping God. Join with me in the work of God and let us go hand in hand." In a world desperate for models of unity amid difference, perhaps Wesley's "Catholic Spirit" offers precisely the wisdom we need.
Listen now to discover how this 18th-century theologian might help us navigate our 21st-century divisions. Then share your thoughts—how might Wesley's understanding of unity without uniformity transform your own faith community?
