February 2018

I have gotten some questions from church members about the uniqueness of the United Methodist Church’s rules, theology, history, doctrine, etc. compared with other Christian denominations. I think that we know and recognize very well our identification as Christians but sometimes we don’t know clearly understand our identification as Methodists. For this reason, I prepared a series of easily understandable articles to explain about Methodism through my ministerial experiences. I hope these articles will help you better understand Methodism and confirm and develop your faithful identification as a Methodist.

Q: What is the Wesleyan Quadrilateral?

United Methodism follows a specific theological framework: Scripture, tradition, experience and reason. According to the Book of Discipline, which constitutes the law and doctrine of the United Methodist Church, “The living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience and confirmed by reason.” The importance of these four guidelines is that belief is ‘revealed, illuminated, vivified, and confirmed,’ which is the means of verifying and embracing our faith firmly.

For example, during my time of Clinical Pastoral Education, my supervisor asked me whether or not I would baptize a stillborn baby at the parents’ request. I answered, “Yes,” based on what has been revealed in Scripture, illuminated by tradition, vivified through my personal experience and confirmed by reason.

I remember Jesus visiting the house of Lazarus, who was dead. Jesus went to comfort the family of Lazarus and cried with them. According to these passages, love always came first over the law for Jesus Christ. In the disputes with the Pharisees and the Sadducees over the Sabbath, Jesus showed love first.

Following the example of Jesus, United Methodists provide baptism to stillborn babies. The tradition of United Methodism is to follow the love of Jesus instead of defining what is right or wrong based on the law. Love came first during my Clinical Pastoral Education experience.

I understand these four criteria to be a critical part of theological interpretation, each making significant contributions yet working together with Scripture as the primary way to witness in the United Methodist context. Through Scripture, tradition, reason and experience, we can maintain a healthy and creative tension between doctrine and reality.

Blessings,

Pastor Kook Ho