The Wesleyan
Discipline (2004)
Chapter 5
SPECIAL
DIRECTIONS
400. The
special directions are expressions by which The Wesleyan
Church seeks to bear witness to
contemporary society concerning the
Christian life and character required
by its Articles of Religion and Covenant
Membership Commitments. While they are
not covenant membership
commitments, they are official
admonitions to the members, ministers and
officials of The Wesleyan Church, and
provide guidelines for bearing public
testimony on the issues discussed.
A. Christian
Social Concern
410. The
surrounds it of the authority of
Almighty God, and the authority of the Lord
Jesus Christ, in civil, political and
temporal as well as spiritual matters, and
the transformation of that society into
the image of Christ insofar as is
possible in this present age. It
believes that such a transformation of society
shall primarily be accomplished by the
divine transformation through faith in
Christ of the individuals who compose
society, but that Christians ought also
to manifest social concern in every
manner that is in keeping with their
Christian testimony. To this end:
(1) Equal
Rights. The
individuals to equal opportunity
politically, economically and religiously, and
pledges itself to an active effort to
bring about the possession of dignity and
happiness by all people everywhere (cf.
220; 265:10, 11; 360:3d).
(2) Peace. The
suffering for the bodies, minds and
souls of men and women, staggering
economic loss with its legacy of debt
for future generations, and the
unleashing of the baser passions of
life, urges that persons and nations seek by
every legitimate means to avoid armed
conflict among the peoples and nations
of the world. The
pray earnestly for those in authority,
so that peace may prevail (1 Tim. 2:2),
and for the quick return of the Prince
of Peace.
(3) Military
Service. The
properly constituted civil authority
and the proper loyalty to one’s country. It
recognizes the responsibility of the
individual to answer the call of government
and to enter into military service.
However, there are those within the
fellowship of The Wesleyan Church who
believe that military service is
contrary to the teaching of the New
Testament and that their consciences are
violated by being compelled to take
part in such. The
therefore lend moral support to any
member who asks and claims exemption
by legal processes from military
service as a sincere conscientious objector and
who asks to serve one’s country as a
noncombatant.
(4) Substance
Abuse. The
production, sale, purchase and use of
alcoholic beverages, tobacco, narcotics
and other harmful drugs, unless for
mechanical, chemical or medicinal
purposes (cf. 265:4). The unprescribed use of hallucinogens, stimulants and
depressants, and the misuse and abuse
of regularly prescribed medicines
should be prohibited; only on competent
medical advice and under medical
supervision should such drugs be used.
(5) Human
Sexuality. The
ignore God’s laws of chastity and
purity, and vigorously opposes public
acceptance of sexual promiscuity and
all factors and practices which promote
it. The
makes the sexual experience, within the
framework of marriage, a gift of God
to be enjoyed as communion of a man and
woman, as well as for the purpose
of procreation. Sexual relationships
outside of marriage and sexual
relationships between persons of the
same sex are immoral and sinful. The
depth of the sinfulness of homosexual
practice is recognized, and yet we
believe the grace of God sufficient to
overcome both the practice of such
activity and the perversion leading to
its practice.
(6) Divorce
and Remarriage. On the basis of a careful study of the
Scriptures, and in keeping with its
Covenant Membership Commitments
(265:5), The Wesleyan Church teaches
the following with reference to divorce
and remarriage after divorce:
(a) To obtain a divorce on other than
scriptural grounds is a sin
against God and humanity. Such putting
asunder of what God has
joined is a direct and deliberate act
of disobedience against both the Law
and the Gospel. It separates one from
God and subjects a member to
Church discipline (5115; 5120).
(b) However, recognizing the fallen
state of humanity, divorce has
been recognized in the Scriptures as a
valid and permanent dissolution
of marriage with all its rights and
responsibilities. Divorce is not
reversible. There is no way to
“restore” a dissolved marriage. The
divorced (unmarried) status can be
changed only by a new marriage to
the same person or another person. No
divorced and remarried person
has two spouses, only a former spouse
and a present spouse, as in
Deuteronomy 24:1-4 and 1 Corinthians 7.
(c) Divorce, however sinful the act and
however serious the
consequences, is not “unpardonable.” A
redeemed sinner or reclaimed
backslider is “free” to marry “in the
Lord” or to remain unmarried, a
eunuch for the
freedom of choice is mentioned by the
Apostle Paul. It is a believer who
disobeys the commandment of God and
puts away a believing spouse.
That person must remain unmarried to
leave room for reconciliation to
the spouse (1 Cor.
7).
(d) The right to remarry in no way
excuses the sin of divorce. It
only implies that the Church must
forgive and restore those whom the
Lord forgives and restores. Neither
penance nor penalty remain to the
truly penitent and restored sinner, or
backslider, whatever the traumatic
consequences of the sin may be.
(7) Merchandising
on the Lord’s Day. The
opposes the legalization of
merchandising on the Lord’s Day (cf. 265:1).
(8) Religion
in Public Life. The
is possible to allow recognition of God
and the invoking of His aid in public
functions without violating the
Constitution of the
the enactment of suitable legislation
by the Congress which will strengthen
the present provision for the free
exercise of religion in national life and allow
reference to, or the invoking of the
aid of God, in any governmental or public
document, proceeding, activity,
ceremony or institution. The Wesleyan
Church further affirms its belief in
the public school’s duty to do full justice
to the large place of the
Judeo-Christian tradition in our American heritage,
and its conviction that the Bible is an
appropriate book for reading in the
public schools and that the right of
students to pray should not be abridged.
(9) Public
School Activities. The
inclusion of such questionable items as
social dancing in the public school
curriculum and maintains the right of
its members to seek exemption from
participation by their children in all
matters that are contrary to scriptural
doctrines and principles as expressed
in the Articles of Religion, Covenant
Membership Commitments or Elementary
Principles of The Wesleyan
Church, without prejudice to academic
standing.
(10) Judicial
Oaths. The
right to affirm the truth in testimony
before the civil and criminal courts
rather than to engage in a judicial
oath.
(11) Abortion. The
the sanctity of human life from
conception to natural death and, thus, is
opposed to the use of induced abortion.
However, it recognizes that there
may be rare pregnancies where there are
grave medical conditions threatening
the life of the mother, which could
raise a serious question about taking the
life of the unborn child. In such a
case, a decision should be made only after
very prayerful consideration following
medical and spiritual counseling. The
abortion issue and to become actively
involved locally and nationally in the
preparation and passage of appropriate
legislation guaranteeing protection of
life under law to unborn children.
(12) Use of Leisure
Time. The
members should exercise responsible
stewardship of their leisure time.
This will include careful regulation of
the use in the home of mass media,
such as current literature, radio and
television, guarding the home against
the encroachment of evil (cf. 265:6).
It will also involve witnessing against
social evils by appropriate forms of
influence, the refusal to participate in
social dancing, the refusal to
patronize the motion picture theater
(cinema), together with other
commercial ventures as they feature the
cheap, the violent or the sensual and
pornographic, and the refusal to
engage in playing games which tend to
be addictive or conducive to
gambling (cf. 265:4).
(13) Modesty
in Attire. The
should provide clear testimony to
Christian purity and modesty by properly
clothing the body and by dressing with
Christian simplicity.
B. Christian
Worship and Fellowship
420. Rites and Ceremonies of Churches. True religion does not
consist in any ritual observances such
as forms or ceremonies, even of the
most excellent kind, be they ever so
decent and significant, ever so expressive
of inward things. The religion of
Christ rises infinitely higher and lies
infinitely deeper than all these. Let
no one conceive that rites and ceremonies
have any intrinsic worth, or that true
worship cannot subsist without them.
Therefore, it is not necessary that
rites and ceremonies should in all places be
the same or exactly alike, for they
have always been different and may be
changed according to the diversities of
countries, times and customs, provided
that nothing be ordained against God’s
Word.
Acts 15:10, 28-29;
1 Tim. 1:4, 6; 1 Peter 2:16.
430. Healing. The truth that Jesus is both able and willing to heal the
body as well as the human soul,
whenever such healing is for His glory, is
clearly set forth in God’s Word and
attested by the experience of many of His
people at the present day. Prayer for
healing according to the pattern set forth
in the Scriptures shall be encouraged.
Matt. 10:8; Luke 9:2; 10:9; Acts 4:10, 14; 1 Cor. 12:9, 28; James
5:14-16.
440. Christian Liberty. Christ, through His death on the cross, has
freed His followers from sin and from
bondage to the law. Christians are
“called unto liberty” (Gal.
of salvation. They are rather exhorted,
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty
wherewith Christ hath made us free, and
be not entangled again with the yoke
of bondage” (Gal. 5:1 KJV).
This liberty, however, is not to be
construed as license (Gal.
Rather, love for Christ constrains the
Christian to live righteously and holily
as God demands. By the Spirit of God,
His laws are written on the heart
(Heb. 8:10). So Christians resist evil
and cleave to the good, not in order to
be saved, but because they have been
saved.
Within the bounds of Christian liberty,
there will be differences of
opinion. In such cases, the believer
seeks to avoid offending other believers.
The stronger one is mindful of the
opinions of the one with the weaker
conscience (1 Cor.
8 and 10), and is careful not to put a stumbling block in
another’s way (1 Cor.
not criticize the strong (1 Cor.
need instruction.
The recognition and exercise of that
liberty which Christ affords will
glorify God and promote the unity of
the Church.
450. Christian Unity. The
through merger between those of like
precious faith, is fully committed to
that true Christian unity which is
based on scriptural truth and the fellowship
of the Spirit, and deplores the
separation or division of Christians over
peripheral and nonessential matters.
While The Wesleyan Church opposes
the building of one all-inclusive
ecclesiastical organization which regards
450 BASIC PRINCIPLES
44
neither scriptural doctrine nor
practice, it welcomes fellowship with those
who are committed to the same doctrines
and standards of holy living, and
cooperation across denominational lines
with those who hold the cardinal
doctrines of the Christian religion
revealed in the Bible.
C. Christian
Stewardship
460. Meaning of Stewardship. The Scriptures teach that God is the
owner of all persons and all things,
that people are His stewards of both life
and possessions, that God’s ownership
and one’s stewardship ought to be
acknowledged, and that every person
shall be held personally accountable to
God for the exercise of their
stewardship (cf. 265:3). God, as a God of system
and order in all of His ways, has
established a system of giving which
acknowledges His ownership and
humankind’s stewardship. To this end all
His children should faithfully tithe
and present offerings for the support of
the gospel.
465. Storehouse Tithing. Storehouse tithing is a scriptural and
practical performance of faithfully and
regularly placing the tithe into that
church to which the member belongs.
Therefore, the financing of the church
shall be based on the plan of
storehouse tithing, and The Wesleyan Church
shall be regarded by all its people as
the storehouse. All who are a part of The
increase as a minimum financial
obligation to the Lord and freewill offerings
in addition as God has prospered them.
Gen. 14:20; 28:22; Lev. 27:30-32; Deut. 14:22; Prov. 3:9-10;
16:2; 2 Cor. 8:13-14; Heb. 7:1-2, 6,
9.
470. Methods of Fund Raising. In the light of the scriptural teaching
concerning the giving of tithes and
offerings (cf. 465) for the support of the
gospel, and for the erection of church
buildings, no Wesleyan church should
engage in any method of fund raising
which would detract from these
principles, hinder the gospel message,
sully the name of the Church,
discriminate against the poor, or
misdirect the people’s energies from
promoting the gospel.
475. Wills, Bequests and Annuities. It is essential in the exercise of
Christian stewardship that careful
thought be given as to what shall be done
with one’s estate after death. Civil
laws often do not provide for the
distribution of an estate in such a way
as to glorify God. Each Christian
should give careful attention to the
preparation of a last will and testament in
a careful and legal manner, and The
Wesleyan Church and its various
ministries through the local church,
the district, world missions, extension
and evangelism, education and
benevolences are recommended for
consideration. The General Director of
Stewardship Ministries is prepared to
assist in these matters (2070-2075;
4240; 4940).
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