United Methodist Doctrine: The Extreme Center

by Scott J. Jones

Throughout this book, Scott J. Jones insists that for United Methodists the ultimate goal of doctrine is holiness. Importantly, he clarifies the nature and the specific claims of "official" United Methodist doctrine in a way that moves beyond the current tendency to assume the only alternatives are a rigid dogmatism or an unfettered theological pluralism. In classic Wesleyan form, Jones' driving concern is with recovering the vital role of forming believers in the "mind of Christ, " so that they might live more faithfully in their many settings in our world.

Genres: Theology

311 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

Reviews

[Steve Irby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished "United Methodist Doctrine: The Extreme Center," by Scott Jones.

I love the "extreme center" part; to the far left and right the center is always extreme. It was just this type of center Wesley, and today's United Methodist Church (UMC) was said to occupie. For him/them what mattered were not "orthodoxy, or right opinions, but holiness of Heart and life," p 22.

Some high spots:

The coverage of doctrine specifically starts in part 2 with the Triune God. I like this emphasis from Wesley:

"None of Wesley's standard sermons focuses on articulating a detailed understanding of matters like God's existence, nature, attributes, Christology or Pneumatology. Wesley says human beings are ignorant of how 'these three are one' and about the attributes of the Divine nature," p 100.

The above are great to contemplate but Wesley placed his focus on healing the rift between humankind and God rather than simplicity, impassibility, immutability, substance and subsistence, etc.

Even with his practical approach being salvific Wesley would speak to it from a Trinitarian perspective where salvation is from the Father, Justification from the Son and Sanctification from the Spirit. People were still getting the lesson of the Trinity but not at the expense of salvation.

In speaking about the Father the deepest Wesley gets is attributing to Him omnipresence and omnipotence, then on purity and holiness, but he stands on the love of God. Salvation by grace through faith from the Father aren't abstract concepts but are worship given the mystery of God.

Under scripture it states that therein is contained which is necessary for salvation. It doesn't say that everything it contains is true. That more would think about this along with the difference between being biblical and christlike: stoning disobedient children is biblical, loving ones enemies is christlike. For Wesley scripture was a means of prevenienting grace which could lead to salvation.

Speaking to faith and it's different tenses in Wesley (conditional and unconditional) Jones writes:

"United Methodist Doctrine thus understands true, saving faith to be the kind that, given time and opportunity, will result in good works. Any supposedfaith that does not in fact lead to such behaviors is not genuine, saving faith," p 190.

So kudos for explaining entire sanctification in little ink in a way that removes the initial shock and awe. Also the language about the pastors being "itinerant" really helped me correctly categorize this position of servanthood and at the same time double down on my respect for UMC pastors.

Excellent book on UMC doctrine.

#UnitedMethodistChurch #TheExtremeCenter #ScottJJones #ScottJones #Wesley #JohnWesley #Wesleyanism #Wesleyan #Arminian #Arminianism #UMC

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the end, Jones writes, “It is my hope that this study will contribute to the ongoing process of doctrinal reinvigoration by clarifying the shape and central theme of the teaching of the UMC. (296)” Sadly, that didn’t happen from this book. While Jones does helpfully lay out the ways that UMC doctrine gets established, everything else didn’t really add much to thought about UMC doctrine or thought. The book is fairly dry in the ways it discusses doctrine, and Jones is so careful about avoiding the doctrinal controversies and remaining in the “center” that he adds very little of note. This could have been an excellent overview of Methodist thought, but it sadly fell well short.

[Graham Hoppstock · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm elated to be done with this masterwork on why United Methodism is a failed experiement.

[Joey Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Methodists aren't radical. We only started being political and issue-driven a few decades ago. Then professor Scott Jones, now Bishop, recaptured the heart of Methodism: We hold the extreme center. The issues fall into their proper place -- the background -- when we focus on the things that really matter at the very heart of who we are: A people set apart for the worship of the Living God.

Throughout this book, Scott J. Jones insists that for United Methodists the ultimate goal of doctrine is holiness. Importantly, he clarifies the nature and the specific claims of "official" United Methodist doctrine in a way that moves beyond the current tendency to assume the only alternatives are a rigid dogmatism or an unfettered theological pluralism. In classic Wesleyan form, Jones' driving concern is with recovering the vital role of forming believers in the "mind of Christ, " so that they might live more faithfully in their many settings in our world.

[Jimmy Dees · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book if you are interested in Methodism. It is not an easy read. After reading the book, I thought about the current state of the church and its problems. I wondered if the church would ever reach its potential in the Kingdom of God. In sum, this is good book that should challenge our minds and hearts with respect to the future of the church.

[Shyloe O'neal]

Methodist 101

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually, I haven't finished it yet, but it's so dry it will take a while and I wanted to list some other things I'm reading

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely a text book only for those who really, really care . . . I got something out of it, but see no need to read it all.