A Wesleyan Vision of Love Made Perfect
From the beginning, Methodism has proclaimed a bold and hopeful message: God calls believers not only to forgiveness, but to holiness. This holiness is not cold moralism or anxious perfectionism. It is love, healed and empowered by the Holy Spirit, taking shape in every corner of life. John Wesley summarized this vision with remarkable clarity. Christianity exists to spread “holiness of heart and life.”
This post reflects on that call, exploring holiness as personal, social, communal, and always sustained by the grace of God.
Holiness Begins in the Heart
For Wesley, holiness begins with the transformation of the heart. Sin, in its deepest sense, is disordered love. We love ourselves more than God and our neighbors. Holiness, therefore, is the restoration of love to its proper order.
Jesus names this clearly. “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your mind… and love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39, CEB). Holiness is not first about behavior modification. It is about a heart renewed in love.
In his sermon “The Circumcision of the Heart,” Wesley describes holiness as inward religion, a heart cleansed from pride, fear, and self-centeredness. This inner work is essential. Without it, outward actions lose their life and integrity.
Holiness Takes Shape in Daily Life
Wesley insisted that holiness must be visible. A heart transformed by love produces a life shaped by love. Holiness of life includes our speech, our work, our use of money, and our relationships.
Scripture makes this connection unmistakable. “Be holy in every aspect of your lives, just as the one who called you is holy” (1 Peter 1:15, CEB). Holiness is not reserved for extraordinary saints. It is the ordinary calling of every Christian.
As Thomas Oden explains in Classic Christianity, holiness in the Christian tradition is always embodied. It shows itself in concrete practices of obedience, mercy, and justice. Wesley echoed this conviction by teaching that works of piety and works of mercy belong together.
Social Holiness: Love of Neighbor
Perhaps no phrase is more associated with Wesley than “social holiness.” Too often, it is misunderstood. Wesley did not mean that holiness is merely social action. He meant that holiness is never isolated. Love of God necessarily expresses itself as love of neighbor.
The early Methodists lived this out through care for the poor, education of children, prison reform, and medical ministries. These were not political strategies. They were acts of love flowing from hearts shaped by grace.
Jesus makes the connection plain. “Just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40, NRSV). Social holiness is simply holiness that refuses to ignore suffering.
Communal Holiness: Formed Together
Wesley knew that holiness cannot be sustained alone. The Christian life is a shared journey. Accountability, encouragement, and mutual care are essential for growth in love.
The Methodist class meetings embodied this communal vision. As Kevin Watson describes in The Class Meeting, these gatherings helped believers confess sin, testify to grace, and encourage one another in faithful living. Holiness was practiced together, not privately guarded.
Scripture affirms this communal calling. “Let us consider how to encourage each other in love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24, NIV). God shapes holy people by placing them in holy communities.
Holiness Empowered by the Holy Spirit
At every point, Wesley was clear. Holiness is not achieved by human effort alone. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit heals, strengthens, and perfects love within us.
Paul writes, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5, NRSV). This outpouring is the source of all true holiness.
Wesley’s doctrine of entire sanctification rests on this promise. Not sinless perfection, but perfect love. A heart fully oriented toward God and neighbor, sustained by grace and responsive to the Spirit.
A Vision Worth Recovering
In a world weary of hypocrisy and shallow religion, the Wesleyan call to holiness offers a hopeful alternative. It proclaims that God can truly change us. That love can be healed. That communities can reflect the character of Christ.
Holiness of heart and life is not a burden to bear. It is a gift to receive. It is the life God desires for us, and the life God empowers by the Spirit.
As Paul exhorts, “Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27, NRSV). By grace, this life is possible.
Reflection Questions
- How do you understand holiness in your own spiritual journey?
- Where might God be inviting you to deeper love of neighbor?
- What practices or communities help nurture holiness in your life?
A Closing Prayer
Holy God,
You call us to love you with our whole hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Pour your Spirit into our lives. Heal our disordered loves. Shape us into a holy people whose lives reflect your mercy and truth. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
R Y A N S T R A T T O N 