Author: Deji Okegbile

WESLEY’S “OPTIMISM OF GRACE”: PRECEDENT IN PANDEMIC.

WESLEY’S “OPTIMISM OF GRACE”: PRECEDENT IN PANDEMIC.

Posted by | May 24, 2020 | , , |

An “Optimism of grace” is about John Wesley’s doctrine of the Christian life based on his evangelical conversion, his personal experience of God’s Redemption At Christ Expense on May 24, 1738. The phrase “Optimism of grace” coined by Gordon Rupp, an English Methodist as a defining mantra of holiness theology opposes the Enlightenment “Optimism of nature”  that ‘denied the fact of sin … repudiated the need for grace and of redemption.’[1] For John Wesley, a profound optimism of grave is about salvation of soul, spirit, and body. Wesley said, “By salvation I mean not barely … deliverance from hell,...

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“ALL CHANGE – ALL CHANGE”: THE POST-PANDEMIC ‘NEW NORMAL.’

“ALL CHANGE – ALL CHANGE”: THE POST-PANDEMIC ‘NEW NORMAL.’

Posted by | May 22, 2020 | , |

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts – Rev 9:20-21 The collective and extended fight against COVID-19 calls for people and the church in particular to change to ‘new lifestyle’ that will draw people to God more and to...

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Charles Wesley on Ascension: Hope in Pandemic

Charles Wesley on Ascension: Hope in Pandemic

Posted by | May 21, 2020 | |

An African proverb says “Birds sing not because they have answers but because they have songs.” Charles Wesley wrote hymns not for writing sake but ‘written to feed the faith, steel the nerve, and fire the soul.’ Born at Epworth, December 18, 1707 and died March 19, 1788, Charles Wesley has been assigned the appellation of the “Bard of Methodism.” On his experience and assurance of his salvation, Charles Wesley wrote in his journal, “The Day of Pentecost. Sun., May 21st, 1738. I waked in hope and expectation of His coming. At nine my brother and some friends came,...

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IN TROUBLE BUT NOT TROUBLED: A Choice?

IN TROUBLE BUT NOT TROUBLED: A Choice?

Posted by | May 15, 2020 | , |

Trouble is real. The spiritual reality is that Jesus never promised us trouble-free lives but would provide the means, a choice to rise above the trouble. The COVID-19 pandemic and other troubles in the world are not evidence for the non-existence of God rather shows that we are fragile, vulnerable and ‘increasingly incapable of running this planet ourselves,’ without God (Gen 1). Indeed, the world is in trouble of a serious global health crisis as COVID-19, Malaria, Lassa fever and others poses existential threat to the human race. The reflection is how do we make a choice or react...

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Sir Justice Adebiyi: Imitable Methodist Knight and First Nigerian to take a Harvard Law Degree.

Sir Justice Adebiyi: Imitable Methodist Knight and First Nigerian to take a Harvard Law Degree.

Posted by | May 11, 2020 | , |

“All I’ve ever done is Methodist” – Sir Justice Adebiyi It is an honour and joy for the opportunity to write about Sir Hon Justice Samuel Durojaiye Adebiyi. He was an imitable Methodist Knight of John Wesley and one of Nigeria’s finest jurists who died on 5th March and buried on 1st May, 2020 at the age of 93. I first met Papa Sir Justice Duro Adebiyi in 1994 at the Lagos residence of Rev J. Abimbola Odunlami, a former Conference Public Relation Officer, Methodist Church Nigeria. I went through some mentoring under Rev Odunlami when I resumed work...

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