John Wesley -- heretic or hero?

Heretic, or continuationist who downplays the sovereignty of God? Grew up Methodist, TUIP (haven’t figured out limited atonement yet), and have any number of disagreements with Wesley on these issues. But that said….heretic? Seems a little strong to me. He doesn’t reject the inerrancy of Scripture, virgin birth, sinless life and death on the cross, bodily resurrection, or second coming as far as I know, nor does he seem to reject Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, or Soli Deo Gloria. The Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds are in the Methodist hymnal and are learned by those catechized in that church to this day.

I’ll go instead with “in error”, and note as well that many of the revivalistic tendencies and legalistic tendencies we deal with are shared with the Methodists. We do not do well to discard their example in toto, because we will fail to learn from their successes and their errors.

George Whitfield, a strong Calvinist who argued back and forth with Wesley in pamphlet form about soteriology, was asked once who he wanted to preach his funeral. He chose Wesley.

• Not heretic


• Not hero


• A major player in modern church history who made some contributions.