8) The United Methodist Church holds that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illuminated by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason. What is your understanding of this theological position of the church?

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8) The United Methodist Church holds that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illuminated by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason.  What is your understanding of this theological position of the church?

            In looking at this position, we must first state, as the Discipline does, that “scripture occupies a place of primary authority among these theological sources” (77).  It is the word of God that must be held above the others, for “the Bible bears authentic testimony to God’s self-disclosure” (78).  We are a church that “is at heart a scriptural church which looks to the Holy Bible…as its authority in doctrinal matters” (Abraham 68).  However, we must be aware, as Outler argues, that “Scripture alone (has) rarely settled any controverted point of doctrine” (77).  Understanding this, we seek to use tradition, experience, and reason to aid in our theological task. 

            Since we are not the first to seek Christ, we can learn from those who have gone before.  Outler maintains that Wesley saw tradition as “more than a curiosity or a source for illustrative material.  It was a living string of Christian insight” (83).  Embracing traditions can help us to “think about God in new ways, enlarge our vision of shalom, and enhance our confidence in God’s provident love” (Discipline 80).  We look to the faithful of the past to help us in our understanding of God in the present and for the future.

            Experience also helps us to understand God.  Experience interacts with scripture, giving us a “new eye to see the living truth” that is revealed in God’s word (Discipline 81).  All people have different experiences that shape us, and these experiences can tell us something about God.  We can also learn from other people’s experiences as we see the way that God works in their lives.  What our experience teaches us must always be held up against scripture, but it can be used in our understanding of God.

            Reason also plays a role in our understanding.  The Discipline says that “since all truth is from God, efforts to discern the connections between revelation and reason, faith and science, grace a nature, are useful endeavors in developing credible and communicable doctrine” (82).  Our ability to reason is given to us from God, and in order to engage a fallen world, we need to be able to communicate our beliefs in a reasonable way.  There will always come a point when reason stops and faith must take over, but reason can and should play a role in our understanding and communicating about God.