“I felt my heart strangely warmed…” (Wesley, Journal)
Religious experiences of all shapes and flavors are very intriguing. Many of us are at times in a state of desiring the next “mountain top” in the walk in Christ. Others simply want peace — that state of contentment that words can’t really get at.
John Wesley had some interesting words to think over about religious experiences and knowing God. From a stage of doubt and lack of assurance, Wesley felt his “heart strangely warmed” in a Moravian meeting in the south of London. I’ve read that this experience forever changed this man from a doubting person to someone with deep assurance — all because of this particular experience (and perhaps others down the road).
Drawing from Longing for God, here are some interesting statements from Wesley:
- Wesley states that heart religion is confirmed by direct, immediate, inward experiences of God. Just as we know physical reality because of our natural senses, we know spiritual reality by out supernatural senses.
- “…true, scriptural, experimental religion.”
- By using the term ‘experimental,’ Wesley is saying something crucial. He means, first, that our life with God is built on the vitality of our experiences of God. Second, it is based on experiment and the way in which our experience aligns with those recorded throughout the history of the church. Finally, it is an experience of God that can be known by test and experiment in a way similar to the new scientific approaches that were sweeping England.
Fantastic thinking!
How does this resonate with you?
