Scripture, Tradition, Reason & Experience: Understanding the Quadrilateral in Wesleyan Theology
This blog picks back up on an extended summer blog series entitled "Reclaiming The Heart of the Wesleyan Way." In part five of my blog on this series, I shared part of the General Rules of the United Methodist Church and the struggle for a common theological core, which I believe is currently taking place within United Methodism.
The "General Rules" (along with The Standard Sermons of Wesley and The Explanatory Notes on the New Testament) are the heart of the United Methodist doctrinal core. They are contained in Section 3, Paragraph #104 of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2016. Dr. William J. Abraham, Albert Cook Outler Professor of Wesley Studies at Perkins School of Theology, has decisively demonstrated that there is a stated and officially adopted doctrinal core for the United Methodist Church. In this time of identity crisis within United Methodism, Section 3, Paragraph #104 is worth remembering and reflecting upon deeply. Professor Abraham rightly notes: "United Methodist doctrine can actually be identified. It is not an amorphous body of vague proposals. Nor is it some malleable theological method which can be twisted to fit this or that fad or convention of culture. United Methodist doctrine is substantial; it is identifiable; and it is clear in fundamental content" (William J. Abraham, Waking from Doctrinal Amnesia: The Healing of Doctrine in the United Methodist Church, p.14).
As church history will teach anyone with casual knowledge of the past, a clear doctrinal core does not finally, once and for all settle issues of doctrinal content. Deep debate still continues about the meaning of this core, how it applies to a current context and historical setting, and what its implications are for "practical Christianity" in our time. In its collective wisdom the United Methodist Church has adopted a method for engaging in debate and discussions about the meaning of our doctrinal core. It can be found immediately after the section on our doctrinal core. Section 4, Paragraph 105 is entitled "Our Theological Task." Such a critical task - that is of thinking theologically about what we believe and how we are Christian - by very necessity must engage each generation anew.
Section 4, Paragraph #105 of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2016, outlines what is commonly referred to as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. The "quadrilateral" is not itself doctrine. Rather, it is a proposed method for doing theology (that is to say thinking and reflecting on God and ways of God among us). It is made up of four components of how we get at the Truth (capital T) of the Christian faith. (The opening part of Paragraph 105 is well worth a careful reading!)
The four components of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral are: Scripture, Tradition, Experience, and Reason. Each section in Paragraph 105 deserves careful attention. All parts of the quadrilateral do not carry the same weight in theological discourse; thus, The Discipline (as a matter of both doctrine and method) places Scripture above the other three. "United Methodists share with other Christians the conviction that Scripture is the primary source and criterion for Christian doctrine" (Section 4, Paragraph #105 of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2016, p. 83).
Tradition is a reference to what we have learned from the saints of the past. This especially includes the Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed (both found in the United Methodist Hymnal). The importance of tradition can easily be recognized in Scripture as well as in practice. The admonition of Hebrews is instructive. "So then let's also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us" (Hebrews 11:1).
Experience acknowledges the importance of a "heart" faith (not just an intellectual collection of "head" doctrines). Again The Discipline is instructive. "Our experience interacts with Scripture. ... Experience authenticates in our own lives the truths revealed in Scripture and illumined in tradition, enabling us to claim the Christian as our own" (Section 4, Paragraph #105 of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2016, p. 87).
Reason becomes a key component or method by which we put theological and doctrinal discussions together. The Discipline is careful to note at the outset of the section on reason, "we recognize that God's revelation and our experience of God's grace continually surpasses the scope of human language and reason, we also believe that any discipline theological work calls for the careful use of reason" (Section 4, Paragraph #105 of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2016, p. 88).
As a whole the "Quadrilateral" has much to commend itself as a method for doing theology (thinking about God and the ways of God). The danger of heresy, however can slip in when Scripture is subordinated for personal preference backed by a partial reading of Christian history (tradition) and casual application of experience and reason. The tendency in our time is use one of two of the key components (say Scripture and Tradition or Experience and Reason) separate from all four. Instead of an acknowledged method of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, a person then ends up with what is a functioning bilateral or unilateral governance of theological discourse that is bereft of the full wisdom of the faith.
There is more to be said here, much more. For now hopefully, the reader's appetite has been whetted enough to encourage a full reading of both Sections 3 & 4, Paragraphs 104 & 105 of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2016, pp. 65-91. As the "good ole boys" used to say, "there's is gold in them thar hills!"
However we approach issues of deep doctrinal substance, and make no mistake the current threat of schism in the United Methodist Church is ultimately about our doctrinal core, the only truly faithful Christian response is with great humility. "Now we see in a mirror dimly" (I Corinthians 13:12). "This [Our] witness, however, cannot fully describe or encompass the mystery of God" (Section 4, Paragraph #105 of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2016, p. 91)