R. L. 스테이플스의 웨슬리 성화론 재해석에 대한 비판

Abstract

John Wesley developed his theology through many articles, discussions, and sermons on the Sanctification theory. However, although it is this sanctification theory that is representative of Wesleyan Theology, it is the discussion of the instantaneousness and gradualness of this sanctification that has been prone to misunderstanding and confusion in the study of Wesleyan Theology until recently. The researcher believes that a correct establishment of this topic is essential above all for the powerful dissemination of the correct Wesley Sanctification theory. In this respect, the researcher analyzed and criticized Rob Lyndal Staples' doctoral dissertation, “John Wesley's Doctrine of Christian Perfection, a Reinterpretation”. Because the thesis he focused on was also about the instantaneousness and gradualness of Wesley's Sanctification theory, but his discussion of whether the nature of instantaneousness was possessive or relational was a big misunderstanding of Wesley's own point of view. In this thesis, the researcher first examined the representative controversies from Wesley's time to the 20th century in order to examine the discussion on instantaneousness and gradualness in sanctification. And the researcher also dealt with scholars who approach these debates from a different level, but they focused on relationships rather than the existential approach of sinfulness regarding sanctification. Staples also paid attention to the relationship of Sanctification theory, and in this respect, he reinterpreted Martin Buber's philosophical concept in particular. Some of the important issues that researchers criticized Staples for are: Can Staples' instantaneous sanctification be regarded as Wesley's 'decisive' instantaneous sanctification? And is Staples' assessment that Wesley believed that instantaneousness of sanctification is achieved through faith, but that gradualness is achieved through works correct? Moreover, is it a correct interpretation that Staples characterizes the instantaneousness and gradualness of Wesley's Sanctification theory in terms of 'I-Thou' and 'I-It' by citing Buber?The researcher especially pointed out the injustice of Staples' criticism that Wesley himself contradicted the instantaneousness and gradualness of the Sanctification theory. Staples emphasized that the way to solve the contradiction he pointed out was to reinterpret the momentary as a dimension of repeatable experience like Buber. However, this is a major misunderstanding of Wesley, the researchers noted. This is because, in the first place, the entire sanctification that Wesley spoke of was about the relational belief that one could be newly sanctified into Christ, not legally flawless perfection. The instantaneous experience of the entire sanctification experienced by faith that Wesley spoke of is what energized this love, and while going through the process of gradual sanctification in faith, sanctification as the completion of the law and righteousness in Christ grows in perfect love for God and neighbors. Therefore, the researcher believes that, as suggested by Theodore H. Runyun and Henry H. Knight III, appropriately interpreting the dimension of instantaneousness and gradualness of Wesley Sanctification theory from a relational perspective can contribute to ending the ongoing debate on Sanctification theory.