Is Wesley a theological guru or a mentor?

Introduction: John Wesley was born in 1703. He was a founder of Methodism. Wesley played a major role in the religious revival in the 18th century. He was a great evangelist, preacher, writer, organizer, and theologian. But according to Albert C. Outler, his stature as a theologian is not exalted. People have focused on his transformational experience and his zeal for ministry. His biographers mainly emphasized his activities that managing the revival and founding the Methodist church. Non- methodist paid little attention to his contribution. But his contribution as is a theologian is great, according to Alexander Knox Wesley’s primary interest was theology. for Outler Wesley was at once catholic, reformed, evangelical, enlightened, ecumenical, non-dogmatic, pragmatic, pious, anti-confessional, relative to his place and time, pluralist in ecclesiology, and always open to the future.

What is a mentor?: A mentor is like a guide for his students or followers. He judges the merit of work. He leads them to discover their own potential. mentor finds his satisfaction in the success of his student. A mentor is a transformer, opening a door to freedom.

What is Guru?: Guru is a master. He is the “prima dogma” who is to be followed, obeyed, believed, imitated, he set aside personal initiatives. The guru is a minor god. guru seeks to make men into his own image.

Wesleyans have used Wesley both ways,” Guru and mentor”: Wesley never considered himself mentor or guru. Wesleyans have used him both ways. To some, he is a mentor. He shared his resources and everything in his life with them. He leads men with the vitality of intellect and spirituality. Wesley followed in the footsteps of reformers who were before him and encouraged others to follow the same path, not like blindly but wisely, according to the context and to grow in healthy spirituality.

Wesley lived an exemplary life. President Woodrow Wilson says, “The church was dead and Wesley awakened it. They neglected the poor and Wesley sought them out. The Gospel was shrunken into formulas and Wesly flung it fresh in the air once more in the speech of the average person. And men’s spirit responded, leaped at the massage and were made whole as they grasped it.” Wesley entered every kind of society with grace and dignity.

Conclusion: Wesley was a passionate servant of God. He followed the foundational work of reformers. He unlocked the scholastic doors to allow the “word of God” to correct reformation theologies. Wesley, as a mentor, leads us into a biblical and vital concept of holiness. He never considered himself Guru or mentor. But his contribution as a man of God made him a mentor and guru.

Rev. Kailas [Alisha] Sathe.

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