John Wesley for the 21st Century

by John O. Gooch

Health care. Public education. War and peace. Science and religion. The economy. Christian social action. Spiritual growth. Twenty-first century political talking points? Hardly only that. John Wesley, an 18th century British clergyman, addressed these very issues in his own time. His creative answers may open your eyes to new responses for our own 24/7 frenzied ""postmodern"" concerns. Gooch opens the fascinating character of Wesley by looking at these strikingly current topics. He shows how Wesley's ministry grew out of his desire to live a holy life and to invite others to walk in Christian discipleship. His message of grace and salvation led Wesley to suggest innovative solutions to problems of his time, including poverty, education and a whole host of other issues. ""Wesley cared deeply about issues, not just in themselves, but because of their impact on persons created in the image of God,"" writes Gooch. ""We need to care deeply about them as well. It's not just 'talking the talk' but about 'walking the talk.'"" John Wesley for the 21st Century addresses matters very much in the news today - from a theological foundation. Each chapter includes questions for reflection, making this book a great study for individuals and small groups.

127 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2006

Reviews

[Richard Fitzgerald]

This book is good to a point. It, however, is not properly balanced in its focus. It pays scant attention to personal piety which provides the power for much of the rest of the more social holiness the book expounds. It's not that Gooch was wrong on most of the social holiness chapters, but he is proposing a discipleship of doing more than being. This misses the biblical and Wesley's focus on a discipleship of being in Christ. The social aspects will then flow appropriately from that. Gooch also seems to have a weak understanding of Wesley's views on Scripture. And he almost entirely ignores any aspect of the early Wesleyan movement as a Holy Spirit movement. In the end, the book was a tremendous disappointment.

[J. Ewbank]

John Gooch has done a fine job of putting together a readable, understandable, and interesting book about Methodism, its thoughts, ideas, theology, historical background and present potential. Somehow he has packaged this in less than 130 pages. It is undoubtably written for the layperson and I believe he succeeds in his presentation. A good read.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"

[Leroy Seat]

This is a nicely done book elucidating the relevance of John Wesley's thought for Christians today. While written by a retired Methodist pastor primarily for Methodists, the book has plenty of meaning for those who are not members of that denomination.

[Rev.dulce]

This is a great book for teaching a small group the fundamentals of John Wesley.