Could Methodist founder John Wesley have been a Jedi?

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Steve-O

By Christopher Fenoglio

The more I read and learn about John Wesley’s convictions, hard work, and austere lifestyle, the more I believe Methodism’s founder could have made an excellent Jedi.

Of course, the Star Wars stories are complete fiction, set “a long time ago in a galaxy, far, far away.” Still, these films contain motifs that resonate with contemporary audiences, such as the Christian themes of self-sacrifice, faith in the face of persecution, rebirth, and hope for future generations. In diving deeper and reflecting on the Jedi characters, I see parallels with John Wesley’s life and ministry.

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Jedi on Meditation

In Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon battles the evil Sith Darth Maul on the planet Naboo. When the two are separated by an energy field, Qui-Gon drops to his knees for a quick meditation to remain calm and focus on the present. A Jedi must maintain a clear mind, achieved through meditation and contemplation. A cluttered mind causes stress and distracts one from the task at hand. One must purge these unnecessary elements from one’s consciousness on a daily basis.

John Wesley on Meditation
Wesley practiced prayerful meditation during his daily routine. There is a passage in 1 Timothy 4:15, in which Paul is instructing a young pastor: “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”

About this passage, Wesley wrote that “True meditation is no other than faith, hope, love, joy, melted down together, as it were, by the fire of God’s Holy Spirit; and offered up to God in secret. He that is wholly in these, will be little in worldly company, in other studies, in collecting books, medals, or butterflies.”

To read entire United Methodist Communications article, click HERE.

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