Chapter V
SPECIAL DIRECTIONS
400. The special directions are expressions by which The Wesleyan Church seeks to bear
witness to contemporary society concerning the Christian life and character required by its
Articles of Religion and Membership Commitments. While they are not membership commitments,
they are official admonitions to the members, ministers and officials of The Wesleyan Church,
and provide guidelines for bearing public testimony on the issues discussed.
A. Christian Social Concern
410. The Wesleyan Church seeks recognition by the society which surrounds it of the
authority of Almighty God, and the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, in civil, political and
temporal as well as spiritual matters, and the transformation of that society into the image of
Christ insofar as is possible in this present age. It believes that such a transformation of
society shall primarily be accomplished by the divine transformation through faith in Christ
of the individuals who compose society, but that Christians ought also to manifest social
concern in every manner that is in keeping with their Christian testimony. To this end:
(1) Equal Rights. The Wesleyan Church upholds the right of all individuals to equal
opportunity politically, economically and religiously, and pledges itself to an active effort
to bring about the possession of dignity and happiness by all people everywhere (cf. 220;
265:10, 11; 360:3d).
(2) Peace. The Wesleyan Church, knowing that war results in great suffering for the
bodies, minds and souls of men and women, staggering economic loss with its legacy of debt for
future generations, and the unleashing of the baser passions of life, urges that persons and
nations seek by every legitimate means to avoid armed conflict among the peoples and nations
of the world. The Wesleyan Church also urges that holy people everywhere pray earnestly for
those in authority, so that peace may prevail (1 Tim. 2:2), and for the quick return of the
Prince of Peace.
(3) Military Service. The Wesleyan Church teaches respect for properly constituted
civil authority and the proper loyalty to one's country. It recognizes the responsibility of
the individual to answer the call of government and to enter into military service. However,
there are those within the fellowship of The Wesleyan Church who believe that military service
is contrary to the teaching of the New Testament and that their consciences are violated by
being compelled to take part in such. The Wesleyan Church will therefore lend moral support
to any member who asks and claims exemption by legal processes from military service as a
sincere conscientious objector and who asks to serve one's country as a noncombatant.
(4) Substance Abuse. The Wesleyan Church is opposed to the production, sale, purchase
and use of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, narcotics and other harmful drugs, unless for
mechanical, chemical or medicinal purposes (cf. 265:4). The unprescribed use of hallucinogens,
stimulants and depressants, and the misuse and abuse of regularly prescribed medicines should
be prohibited; only on competent medical advice and under medical supervision should such drugs
be used.
(5) Human Sexuality. The Wesleyan Church abhors the trend to ignore God's laws of
chastity and purity, and vigorously opposes public acceptance of sexual promiscuity and all
factors and practices which promote it. The Wesleyan Church maintains a biblical view of
human sexuality which makes the sexual experience, within the framework of marriage, a gift
of God to be enjoyed as communion of a man and woman, as well as for the purpose of
procreation. Sexual relationships outside of marriage and sexual relationships between
persons of the same sex are immoral and sinful. The depth of the sinfulness of homosexual
practice is recognized, and yet we believe the grace of God sufficient to overcome both the
practice of such activity and the perversion leading to its practice.
(6) Divorce and Remarriage. On the basis of a careful study of the Scriptures, and in
keeping with its Membership Commitments (265:5), The Wesleyan Church teaches the following
with reference to divorce and remarriage after divorce:
(a) To obtain a divorce on other than scriptural grounds is a sin against God and humanity.
Such putting asunder of what God has joined is a direct and deliberate act of disobedience
against both the Law and the Gospel. It separates one from God and subjects a member to
Church discipline (5350; 5370).
(b) However, recognizing the fallen state of humanity, divorce has been recognized in the
Scriptures as a valid and permanent dissolution of marriage with all its rights and
responsibilities. Divorce is not reversible. There is no way to "restore" a dissolved
marriage. The divorced (unmarried) status can be changed only by a new marriage to the
same person or another person. No divorced and remarried person has two spouses--only a
former spouse and a present spouse, as in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 and 1 Corinthians 7.
(c) Divorce, however sinful the act and however serious the consequences, is not
"unpardonable." A redeemed sinner or reclaimed backslider is "free" to marry "in the
Lord" or to remain unmarried--a eunuch for the kingdom of God's sake. The one exception
to this freedom of choice is mentioned by the Apostle Paul. It is a believer who disobeys
the commandment of God and puts away a believing spouse. That person must remain
unmarried to leave room for reconciliation to the spouse (1 Cor. 7).
(d) The right to remarry in no way excuses the sin of divorce. It only implies that the
Church must forgive and restore those whom the Lord forgives and restores. Neither
penance nor penalty remain to the truly penitent and restored sinner--or
backslider--whatever the traumatic consequences of the sin may be.
(7) Merchandising on the Lord's Day. The Wesleyan Church opposes the legalization of
merchandising on the Lord's Day (cf. 265:1).
(8) Religion in Public Life. The Wesleyan Church, believing that it is possible to
allow recognition of God and the invoking of His aid in public functions without violating the
Constitution of the United States, advocates the enactment of suitable legislation by the
Congress which will strengthen the present provision for the free exercise of religion in
national life and allow reference to, or the invoking of the aid of God, in any governmental
or public document, proceeding, activity, ceremony or institution. The Wesleyan Church further
affirms its belief in the public school's duty to do full justice to the large place of the
Judeo-Christian tradition in our American heritage, and its conviction that the Bible is an
appropriate book for reading in the public schools and that the right of students to pray
should not be abridged.
(9) Public School Activities. The Wesleyan Church protests the inclusion of such
questionable items as social dancing in the public school curriculum and maintains the right
of its members to seek exemption from participation by their children in all matters that are
contrary to scriptural doctrines and principles as expressed in the Articles of Religion,
Membership Commitments or Elementary Principles of The Wesleyan Church, without prejudice to
academic standing.
(10) Judicial Oaths. The Wesleyan Church reserves for its members the right to affirm
the truth in testimony before the civil and criminal courts rather than to engage in a judicial
oath.
(11) Abortion. The Wesleyan Church seeks to recognize and preserve the sanctity of human
life from conception to natural death and, thus, is opposed to the use of induced abortion.
However, it recognizes that there may be rare pregnancies where there are grave medical
conditions threatening the life of the mother, which could raise a serious question about
taking the life of the unborn child. In such a case, a decision should be made only after very
prayerful consideration following medical and spiritual counseling. The Wesleyan Church
encourages its members to become informed about the abortion issue and to become actively
involved locally and nationally in the preparation and passage of appropriate legislation
guaranteeing protection of life under law to unborn children.
(12) Use of Leisure Time. The Wesleyan Church believes that its members should exercise
responsible stewardship of their leisure time. This will include careful regulation of the use
in the home of mass media, such as current literature, radio and television, guarding the home
against the encroachment of evil (cf. 265:6). It will also involve witnessing against social
evils by appropriate forms of influence, the refusal to participate in social dancing, the
refusal to patronize the motion picture theater (cinema), together with other commercial
ventures as they feature the cheap, the violent or the sensual and pornographic, and the
refusal to engage in playing games which tend to be addictive or conducive to gambling (cf.
265:4).
(13) Modesty in Attire. The Wesleyan Church believes that our people should provide
clear testimony to Christian purity and modesty by properly clothing the body and by dressing
with Christian simplicity.
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