2016 Wesleyan Discipline: Church members, relations with one another
From Wesleyan Discipline
Toward The Church
- (8) To work together for the advancement of God’s kingdom and for the mutual edification of fellow believers in holiness, knowledge and love; to walk together in Christian fellowship by giving and receiving counsel with gentleness and affection; by praying for each other; by helping each other in sickness and distress; and by demonstrating love, purity and courtesy to all.
- Rom. 15:1–2; Eph. 4; 1 Thess. 5.
- (9) To grow in the knowledge, love and grace of God by participating in public worship, the ministry of the Word of God, the Lord’s Supper, family and personal devotions and fasting.
- 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Mark 2:18-20; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Acts 13:2-3; 14:23; Rom. 12:12; 1 Cor. 11:23–28; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1–2; 2 Tim. 3:16–17; Heb. 10:25; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1 Peter 2:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2 Peter 3:18.
- (10) To preserve the fellowship and witness of the Church with reference to the use of languages. The Wesleyan Church believes in the miraculous use of languages and the interpretation of languages in its biblical and historical setting. But it is contrary to the Word of God to teach that speaking in an unknown tongue or the gift of tongues is the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit or of that entire sanctification which the baptism accomplishes; therefore, only a language readily understood by the congregation is to be used in public worship. The Wesleyan Church believes that the use of an ecstatic prayer language has no clear scriptural sanction, or any pattern of established historical usage in the Church; therefore, the use of such a prayer language shall not be promoted among us.
Toward Others
- (11) To do good as much as is possible to all people as God gives opportunity, especially to those in the body of Christ; by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the destitute, by visiting or helping those who are sick or in prison; by instructing, correcting or encouraging them in love.
- Matt. 25:31–46; Eph. 5:11; 1 Thess. 5:14; Heb. 3:13; 10:23–25.
- (12) To respect the inherent individual rights of all persons, regardless of race, color or sex.
- 1 Cor. 8:13; 12:13; Gal. 3:28; 1 Tim. 5:21.
- (13) To live honestly, be just in all dealings and faithful in all commitments.